Guardando il futuro: sviluppo rurale e aspettative di domani nella campagna della Provincia di Alessandria

his article is based on ethnographic research conducted in the province of Alessandria, in northwestern Italy, with a focus on its rural development and the perspectives of its inhabitants. This paper links the characteristics of the rural landscape with how farmers imagine their future and the future of their farm. In the general context of economic stress that the sector is experiencing at a local and national level, the socioeconomic challenges impact on the farmers and affect their very perception of the rural landscape, marking a turning point in the future of agriculture. The paper explores how the farmers’ visions of the future relate to their connection with the rural landscape. It analyzes the meanings associated with the different cultivations and which factors have the greatest influence on defining their visions of the future and, thus, their entrepreneurial choices. In particular, it looks at individual working life expectancy and longevity of the company as decisive factors in either advancing or withdrawing their agricultural activities. In so doing, the paper suggests what entrepreneurial strategies farmers tend to adopt for their farm, building different landscapes in a context of profound ecological transformation.