Annette Piorr

European agricultural landscapes, common agricultural policy and ecosystem services: a review

Since the 1950s, intensification and scale enlargement of agriculture have changed agricultural landscapes across Europe. The intensification and scale enlargement of farming was initially driven by the large-scale application of synthetic fertilizers, mechanization and subsidies of the European Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). Then, after the 1990s, a further intensification and scale enlargement, and land abandonment in less favored areas was caused by globalization of commodity markets and CAP reforms. The landscape changes during the past six decades have changed the flows and values of ecosystem services. Here, we have reviewed the literature on agricultural policies and management, landscape structure and composition, and the contribution of ecosystem services to regional competitiveness. The objective was to define an analytical framework to determine and assess ecosystem services at the landscape scale. In contrast to natural ecosystems, ecosystem service flows and values in agricultural landscapes are often a result of interactions between agricultural management and ecological structures. We describe how land management by farmers and other land managers relates to landscape structure and composition. We also examine the influence of commodity markets and policies on the behavior of land managers. Additionally, we studied the influence of consumer demand on flows and values of the ecosystem services that originate from the agricultural landscape.

Peri-urbanisation and multifunctional adaptation of agriculture around Copenhagen

Abstract Geografisk Tidsskrift Danish Journal of Geography 111(1):59–72, 2011 Peri-urbanisation, as a process of the physical expansion of settlement areas but also socio-economic transformation, has been recognised as a major spatial development beyond the urban fringes. Agriculture, the main land use actor in the hinterlands of many urban areas is increasingly affected by urban encroachment, responds with adaptation strategies and farming activities to cope with the peri-urban framework conditions. Adaptation pathways encompass specialisation into horticulture as well as enhanced environmental and lifestyle orientation offarming—typical elements of multifunctional agriculture. However, due to the heterogeneity of the peri- urbanisation processes also differences in farming transition are expected. Based on a differentiation into displaced-urbanisation, ex-urbanisation, anti-urbanisation and hidden-urbanisation as main types of peri-urbanisation, variances of farming responses are elaborated for municipal entities in the Copenhagen region in Denmark using statistical census data. Under consideration of location determinants, regression models have been applied to analyse the inter-relationship between different peri-urbanisation processes and multifunctional farming activities. Findings confirm that the differentiation of peri-urban processes is meaningful for the explanation of spatial distribution of farm adaptation strategies, particularly in the case of leisure and environmental oriented farm practices.

Horsekeeping and the peri-urban development in the Berlin Metropolitan Region

This article examines the increasing phenomenon of horsekeeping on farms in the Berlin urban fringe. Responding to a growing demand, the equine services became a relevant farming activity in peri-urban agriculture. Although very common in other metropolitan regions, there is only little empirical knowledge on the structure and dimension of the horsekeeping activity. This article assesses farmers’ perspectives on the agricultural environment and the contribution to peri-urban development. Potentials and approaches to support diversifying transition of agriculture, environmental protection, maintenance of cultural landscape and nature and the recreational capacity of the peri-urban landscape are explored. The analysis is based on data derived from a questionnaire survey among 59 horsekeeping farms in the case study area. Results confirm that the particular peri-urban conditions with its strengths and weaknesses are acknowledged by diversification activities taken by farms. The strategies taken resulted in four different horsekeeping farm types, varying in aims and intensification.

International retirement migration in the Alicante region, Spain: process, spatial pattern and environmental impacts

International retirement migration has become an increasing phenomenon in the Mediterranean region of Alicante, Spain. Through an interdisciplinary approach, relationships between the migration process, landscape change and environmental impacts are examined. Lifestyle-related perceptions and demands of UK retirees are studied as a major driving force of urbanisation. The extent and quality of the process is assessed by statistical and land use data analysis. Results reveal a distinctive spatial pattern of in-migration and the emergence of an archetypical landscape, consisting of a mosaic of remaining natural and urbanised landscape along the Mediterranean coast. The paper discusses the necessity of retirees integration into sustainable planning and decision making.

Rural landscapes and agricultural policies in Europe

Multifunctional Concepts, Societal Demand and Impact Assessment.- The Operational Framework of the MEA-Scope Project.- Agricultural Activities, Rural Areas and Natural Environment: Drawing Up the Frontiers of the Multifunctionality Concept.- Multifunctionality Concepts: A Critical Assessment of the Framework Approaches.- Societal Demand for Commodity and Non-commodity Outputs - A Regional Perspective.- TOP-MARD Problematique, Structure and Progress - The Case of Norway.- Modelling of Policy Induced Structural Change and Adaptation of Agricultural Practices.- The MEA-Scope Modelling Approach.- A Scenario-Wise Analysis of Economic and Environmental Impacts in the MEA-Scope Case Study Regions.- Recreating Context in Spatial Modelling of Agricultural Landscapes.- Spatial Characteristics of Land Use Patterns in Mugello (Central Italy) and Policy Impacts on Their Environmental Outputs.- Linking Scales, Policy Issues and Impacts.- Scaling from Farm to Landscape.- Analysing Exemplary Policy Issues Using the MEA-Scope Framework.- Implementing the Indicators of the MEA-Scope Multifunctionality Impact Assessment Approach: A Gap Between Supply and Demand of NCOs?.- Regional and Local Case Study Stories of a Europe in Change.- Environmental Impacts of Pillar I and II with Specific Respect to Designated Areas - Results from the MEA-Scope Case Study in Germany.- Validation of an Agent-Based, Spatio-Temporal Model for Farming in the River Gudena Landscape. Results from the MEA-Scope Case Study in Denmark.- Impacts of Three Direct Payment Options on Farm Structure, Economic Performance and Production Pattern: Results from the MEA-Scope Case Study in Italy.- Possibilities for the Development of Mixed Crop-Beef Farming in the Ko?cian Region Based on Natural Fodder Resources. Results from the MEA-Scope Case Study in Poland.- Multifunctional Farming and Survival Strategies in the Borsodi Floodplain.

Multifunctional farming, multifunctional landscapes and rural development

The Common European Agricultural Policy (CAP) is under transformation towards a Common Agricultural and Rural Policy of Europe (CARPE). During this transformation, substantial parts of the previously direct support for agricultural production (1st pillar measures) are now decoupled from production. Moreover, a share of direct payments is modulated to the rural development programme, which is the 2nd pillar of the CARPE (Table 1).

Agricultural management issues of implementing multifunctionality: commodity and non-commodity production in the approach of the MEA-Scope project

Management practises are actually designed CO-oriented. Following the societal demand for implementing multifunctional agriculture it is necessary to examine in how far the existing management practices are as well feasible to produce NCOs or in how far they are multifunctionally sound (jointly CO/NCO oriented). Multifunctional joint production has to be aware production, considering the specific “yield potentials” of COs and NCOs at a specific natural site. From the farm management perspective, we assume both, CO and NCO as markets existing.

Rural–Urban Regions: A Spatial Approach to Define Urban–Rural Relationships in Europe

The previous chapter introduced the range of issues associated with the peri-urban, the subject of this book. The peri-urban as a specific morphological type was defined and the different dimensions of its dynamics were explored. This peri-urban zone is intimately associated with the transition from a dense urban structure to that of a rural character and since it also involves movements into, out of and across it from both these extremes, it is difficult to consider it properly without understanding the broader regional context and dynamics across the urban–rural gradient. Therefore, this chapter will focus on the broader context of urban–rural relationships. Based on recent scientific debates concerning the concept of functional regions and urban–rural relationships, both current and previous definitions and their political implementations are introduced before presenting a new typology to represent Rural–urban Regions (RUR) spatially. Covering the territory of European Union (EU), this typology classifies regions into different types, considering city size, degree of regional mono- and poly-centricity, as well as their urban, peri-urban or rural predominance. The development of the typology includes a further delineation of regions into urban, peri-urban and rural sub-regions, all based on land use patterns and population distribution and density. The typology was subsequently used throughout the PLUREL project and each of the case studies presented in Part Two refers to one of these types, although not all are represented there, since the case studies were unavoidably selected before the typology was developed.

Target Groups of Rural Development Policies Development of a Survey-Based Farm Typology for Analysing Self-Perception Statements of Farmers

There is a lack of empirical knowledge about the complex factors that shape a farmers decisions to participate in rural development (RD) measures. The objective of this study was to develop and test the suitability of an original typology that identifies distinct groups affected by the thematic objectives of the European Unions RD policies. The results are based on empirical data (n = 277) drawn from two case study areas in Germany, where information related to farm structures was collected along with the self-assessment statements of farmers. The paper emphasizes the description and reasoning of the methodological steps performed to achieve this typology. First, factor analysis was used to reduce datasets and to exclude multicollinearity problems. A two-step cluster analysis was then applied to classify farms into representative types within the derived typology. Finally, farmers self-perception statements were analysed in relation to the farm typology by using qualitative description methods.

The MEA-Scope Modelling Approach

The MEA-Scope project developed, and applied a modelling approach that allows for the ex ante assessment of sustainability impacts of new policies, technologies and market changes. Thereby, the agricultural production at farm level and its effect on social, economic and environmental assets under changing circumstances is examined. The MEA-Scope modelling approach simulates the development of regional agricultural production structures over time. Within the same analysis, the approach considers details of individual farms and soils. During the project duration, three pre-existing models were further completed and interlinked with each other. The modelling approach was applied at two different levels of detail in seven different European regions to examine the effects of five agricultural policy scenarios. The core models involved were AgriPoliS, MODAM and FASSET/Farm-N. In this chapter, the modelling approach, characteristics of the models involved and the policy scenarios are introduced while results as well as details on the different modelling applications can be found in subsequent chapters of this book.