Agricultural multifunctionality and territory. Some reflections and proposals for analysis

Abstract

Applying the concept of sustainability to agriculture entails the recognition that, apart from the production function, it has other roles (environmental, social, cultural) closely linked to its territorial substratum that are in ever greater demand. This is expressly embraced by the notion of agricultural multifunctionality and is understood as such from other conceptual and regulatory frameworks which had hitherto had no connection with the sector, but which are showing more and more interest in agricultural areas as territorial structures, repositaries of cultural heritage- and landscape-related resources. Notwithstanding, the way that they understand territory is quite different, their analytical scales extremely disparate, and their implications for regulation Í€“some sectoral, some territorial- contradictory and redundant. The present article approaches multifunctionality from the angle and the problems of territory, investigating any links there might be between the two. For this, it spotlights the current state of affairs and the regulatory treatment that territory deserves from these perspectives, and concludes with a methodological proposal underpinned by integrated territorial development approaches.