Assessing the ecological resilience of Slovak family farms: an application of the idea method

Purpose: This study investigates the ecological sustainability of family farms in Slovakia, evaluating how managerial and socio-demographic factors (age, gender) and structural characteristics (farm size, management type) influence environmental performance. Methodology/approach: Using the IDEA (Indicateurs de Durabilité des Exploitations Agricoles) framework, 57 family farms were assessed. Data were analysed using hierarchical cluster analysis (to identify sustainability profiles, while Kruskal–Wallis, Mann-Whitney U, and Monte Carlo simulations (10,000 iterations) were employed to ensure statistical robustness. Linear regression was further applied to evaluate the relationship between farm area and ecological outcomes. Findings: Management philosophy emerged as the dominant driver, explaining 29.77% of sustainability variability (η2= 0.2977). Younger managers (under 45) and female farmers achieved significantly higher and more consistent ecological scores (p < 0.05), highlighting a clear generational and gender-based divide in performance. A significant inverse relationship (r = -0.48) exists between farm size and sustainability, with smaller holdings (under 30 ha) consistently outperforming large-scale operations (exceeding 100 ha).Originality: This research represents the first application of the IDEA methodology in Slovakia. It provides a novel diagnostic tool for the region, demonstrating that generational renewal, gender empowerment, and management approach, rather than traditional factors like formal education or experience, are the primary drivers of the green transition in family agriculture.