Being the most common operational farming model, family farming has ensured the growth of Europe’s agricultural sector for centuries. Today’s ambitious European Union (EU) policy  framework is designed to take account of the different models of agriculture existing in the EU, including the diverse types of family farming. It focuses strongly on providing a clear response to citizens’ demands for food security and aims to meet continuously rising expectations with

regards to the safety, quality, value, origin and diversity of food. At the same time, the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) has helped to maintain rural lifestyles, and has provided a significant contribution to rural economic and social development..