The Neglected Enterprising Family in Agriculture: A Review and a Proposal for a Research Agenda in Management Sciences

Abstract

While the UN’s proclaimed decade of family farming (2019-2029) unfolds, management research has still not sufficiently explored the enterprising family in agriculture. Our article aims at exploring the literature on agricultural family businesses in the field of management sciences, towards suggesting future research directions. We present an overview of the definitional efforts and specificities of these family businesses, followed by a systematic literature review over the past decade. Our analysis identifies three clusters of dimensions that underpin the existing knowledge: entrepreneurial behavior, succession process, and psychological dynamics, in relation with three major outcomes that are growth, resilience, and continuity. Building on the existing research limitations and the current research trends, we craft a comprehensive agenda for scholars to advance our understanding of enterprising families in agriculture.