ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the role played by tradition in the development of agriculture in Garfagnana, underlining how the influence of tradition can be overcome or exploited through appropriate information and consultation services to the farms of the area. The main characteristic of marginal areas is just that of being on the margins of the socio-economic system in which they find themselves. The growing complexity of systems and methods of production makes the advisor’s work ever more difficult. Those farmers who most need technical support are just those who are most advanced in the direction of modernization and innovation. Especially in marginal area contexts, given the obstacles in the way of innovatory progress, advisory and extension service needs to be inexpensive for the farmer and must therefore be guaranteed above all by public institutions. The story of the Tocchetti family provides an example of efficient advisory and extension service.
