Small-scale farming communities in Scotland have developed innovative strategies that boost their resilience against economic challenges stemming from capitalism. A recent study highlights how these small-scale food producers are gradually breaking away from reliance on large market systems by prioritising autonomy and self-subsistence. In times of social and economic crises, these approaches provide a meaningful alternative to conventional, capitalist-driven agriculture.
The rise of subsistence farming amid economic crises
Since the 2007 economic crisis, food poverty has surged, worsening during events like the COVID-19 pandemic. In response, there has been a significant rise in subsistence and semi-subsistence farming, which allows people to gain more control over their food supply—especially in times of austerity, high unemployment, and low wages. Across Europe, subsistence farming has grown alongside the agroecology movement in countries like Italy, Greece, and Spain. This shift reflects a broader issue: not just a crisis in capitalism but in its capacity to reproduce itself. The growing desire for economic independence has led to transformative strategies that foster new social, economic, and cultural values.
Recent research shows how small-scale farming communities in Scotland have proven to be resilient during the recent crises of capitalism due to their use of strategies such as agroecology, food sovereignty and land sovereignty.
Dr Steven Speed
Direct sales and community ownership
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Scotland’s small-scale farming communities saw a notable increase in direct sales. Between 2013 and 2019, the number of registered crofts—small-scale farms typically ranging from 2 to 5 hectares—increased by 10%. Over the last 30 years, community land ownership has also expanded, as seen in the Assynt Crofters’ Trust, which brought 21,000 acres under community control in 1993. Globally, small farms now produce about one-third of the world’s food, and more than 80% of farms occupy less than two hectares. While common in lower-income countries, this trend is also rising in agricultural powerhouses like Brazil and the United States, where farmers increasingly pursue self-sufficiency over dependency on larger markets.
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Global movements supporting local farming
This movement is supported by organizations like La Via Campesina, a global network representing over 200 million small-scale farmers since 1992, uniting them against neoliberal agricultural policies. In Scotland, La Via Campesina is represented by the Scottish Crofting Federation and The Land Workers’ Alliance, both advocating for local farming communities.
Redefining relationships with land and community
These examples highlight a growing desire for autonomy within small-scale farming, not only to provide food security but to reshape relationships with the land and community. Scottish crofters exemplify this shift, as seen in the increased demand for crofting land, the rise of community land ownership, and the growth of direct sales from small farms.
Land rights initiatives: Reducing dependency on capitalism
Crofting communities in the Scottish Highlands demonstrate the potential for alternative agricultural practices that break away from the pressures of capitalist farming. This shift has been supported by land rights initiatives that help to reverse some effects of “primitive accumulation” (a process in which resources are extracted from communities for profit by outside businesses). Through measures like community land trusts, common grazing rights, and crofting legislation, these communities have gained more control over their economies, reducing reliance on long supply chains and external markets. This local autonomy has allowed small-scale farmers to resist pressure to expand and maintain their communal identities and shared responsibilities.
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The gift economy: A return to social values
In the Highlands, shared ownership is deeply ingrained. Organizations like the Assynt Crofters’ Trust and the North Harris Trust, both democratically run, give crofters greater economic control and foster informal welfare systems to support their communities. Social interactions here are less commercialized than in much of the UK. Instead of trade-driven exchanges, these communities practice a kind of “gift economy,” where goods and services are shared within close-knit networks, helping to forge strong social bonds and sometimes forming what crofters call “friendship groups.” This gift-based system strengthens social ties, with giving and receiving seen as essential to community life.
Balancing commercial and non-commercial practices
While many in these communities still participate in commercial activities, the presence of a gift economy highlights how local, shared ownership can resist the commercialization of everyday life. In areas like Assynt, engaging in these alternatives is now normalized, woven into daily life as people work together to meet their needs. Capitalism still exists here, but it is less dominant.
The role of distance and dependency on the land
A key factor in sustaining this type of local economy is the distance from urban centers and major infrastructure. In remote areas, where large markets can’t easily meet subsistence needs, communities turn instead to the land. This creates a shift in dependency—from capital to land—and fosters a culture of environmental and social sustainability. With a closer connection to their resources, these communities become more mindful of their social and environmental responsibilities, resulting in practices that nurture both the land and social ties. This shared access to land and resources enables more sustainable and responsible approaches to farming and community life.
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Journal reference
Speed, S. (2024). Scottish Crofting and an Alternative to Capitalism. Capitalism Nature Socialism, 1-19. https://doi.org/10.1080/10455752.2024.2402302
