Geoff A. Wilson

From productivism to post‐productivism … and back again? Exploring the (un)changed natural and mental landscapes of European agriculture

This paper has evolved out of a growing dissatisfaction with the relatively uncritical acceptance in contemporary debates that agriculture in advanced societies has moved from ‘productivism’ to ‘post-productivism’. A brief review of current conceptualizations of productivist and post-productivist agricultural regimes reveals inconsistencies in current understandings these dualistic terms. The problem has partly been that the conceptual literature on post-productivism has largely failed to take into account the wealth of actor-oriented and behaviourally grounded research. Productivist and post-productivist agricultural regimes have also been conceptualized from a UK-centric perspective that has largely failed to discuss whether the concept has wider applicability within Europe and beyond. The paper discusses the time-lag and spatial inconsistencies in the adoption of post-productivist action and thought, and emphasizes that different localities are positioned at different points in a temporal, spatial and conceptual transition from ‘pre-productivist’ to ‘post-productivist’ agricultural regimes. The notion of the ‘territorialization’ of productivist and post-productivist actor spaces highlights the wide-ranging diversity that exists within the productivist/post-productivist spectrum, and that productivist and post-productivist action and thought occurs in multidimensional coexistence leads one to question the implied directionality of the traditional productivist/post-productivist debate. It is suggested that the notion of a ‘multifunctional agricultural regime’ better encapsulates the diversity, non-linearity and spatial heterogeneity that can currently be observed in modern agriculture and rural society.

Agri-environmental policy in the European Union

Introduction - the emergence of Regulation 2078, Henry Buller, et al France - farm production and rural product as key factors influencing agri-environmental policy, Henry Buller and Helene Brives Denmark - implementation of new agri-environmental policy based on Regulation 2078, Erling Andersen, et al Sweden - agri-environmental policy and the production of landscape qualities, Helene Carlsen and Knut Per Hasund Greece - late implementation of agri-environmental policies, Leonidas Louloudis, et al United Kingdom - from agri-environmental policy shaper to policy receiver?, Kaley Hart and Geoff A. Wilson Germany - complex agri-environmental policy in a federal system, Annegret Grafen and Jorg Schramek Spain - first tentative steps towards an agri-environmental programme, Begona Peco, et al Austria - towards an environmentally sound agriculture, Michael Groier and Elisabeth Loibl Switzerland - agri-environmental policy outside the European Union, Hansjorg Schmid and Bernard Lehmann Portugal - agri-environmental policy and the maintenance of biodiversity-rich extensive farming systems, Peter Eden and Miguel Vieira Regulation 2078 - patterns of implementation, Henry Buller conclusions - agri-environmental policy beyond Regulation 2078, Geoff A. Wilson, et al.

Theorising transitional pathways in response to climate change: technocentrism, ecocentrism, and the carbon economy

The carbon economy has emerged over the last decade as an important but controversial development in the harnessing of economics to address the challenge of climate change. In this paper we utilise the concepts of policy change and transition theorisations to analyse carbon commodification within the broader range of possible responses to the climate problem. We argue that the neoliberal, technocentric, and ecological modernisation values underpinning the carbon economy create serious obstacles for the incorporation of alternative or complementary transitional strategies, particularly those involving ecocentric changes, into mainstream policy. From this we contend that a more holistic approach to the conceptualisation of change processes is needed, and that transition theory provides a useful lens for identifying and assessing existing constraints and future possibilities.

A survey on attitudes of landholders to native forest on farmland

Results of a survey on attitudes of landholders to remnants of native forest on private land will be presented in this study. The Catlins District, an isolated forest area in the south-east of the South Island of New Zealand, was chosen as the research area. The basis for analysis was provided through an extensive questionnaire survey which included tangible attitudinal variables such as frequency of use of private and surrounding forests, past and future clearing behaviour and subscription to conservation organizations, and less tangible variables such as mental images about forests, opinion on attitudinal change over time and the importance of private native forests for their aesthetic value. Spatial attitudinal differences within the research will be mentioned, and particular attention will be given to variables such as age, education, amount of native forest on the farm and time spent on the farm by the family. The findings will be compared with similar surveys carried out in other agricultural landscapes with remnant natural ecosystems.

EU member state responses to Agri-Environment Regulation 2078/92/EEC – towards a conceptual framework?

Abstract This paper analyses implementation of Regulation 2078/92/EEC (the ‘Agri-environment Regulation’) in two selected European Union (EU) member states: Spain as an example of a country that has been relatively slow to respond to the Regulation, and Germany which has been characterised by an enthusiastic response. Building on implementation theory, possible underlying factors influencing differential responses to the Regulation will be discussed. More specifically, the paper will discuss the suitability of a conceptual model to explain policy implementation suggested by Winter (1990) [ Winter, S. , 1990. Integrating implementation research. In: Palumbo, D.J., Calista, D.J. (Eds.). Implementation and the Policy Process: Opening up the Black Box. Greenwood Press, Westport, CT, pp. 19–38] as a basis for explaining the differential implementation of agri-environmental policy among these member states. The paper argues that Winter’s model is suitable for the analysis of the agri-environmental policy implementation process at the national (and possibly local) level, but that the adaptation of the model may be difficult for the analysis of a regulation that emanates from EU institutions.

The Yellow Pages as a sampling frame for farm surveys: Assessing potential bias in agri-environmental research

Abstract The Yellow Pages business directory has often been used as a sampling frame to select respondents for farm surveys. Studies in the UK have suggested that the directory both provides a sufficiently accurate estimate of population parameters for most purposes and offers the best alternative when the comprehensive MAFF lists are not available. However, two recent studies of farmers in the Marston Value Community Forest and the Cambrian Mountains ESA scheme demonstrate that drawing samples from the Yellow Pages may exclude less-commercial or ‘life-style’ farmers. These farmers, although still deriving much of their income from farming (unlike ‘hobby’ farmers), are generally more conservation-oriented in their environmental management approach and farm on a lower profit margin. Consequently, it is strongly recommended that caution be exercised when using the Yellow Pages as a sampling frame for environmental management research.

Assessing the environmental impact of the environmentally sensitive areas scheme: a case for using farmers’ environmental knowledge?

Abstract This study analyses the environmental impact of the Cambrian Mountains ESA scheme (1A northern part) through a 100% census survey of farmers in the area. It is argued that farmers’ knowledge of ecological change on their farms provides useful information about ecological change induced by agri‐environmental schemes, and that this important source of information has been neglected by researchers in the past. The results suggest that while the ESA has been successful at halting the further decline of threatened habitats in the area at the landscape level (i.e. quantity of habitat), it has done little to improve the quality of these ecosystems. Further, the ESA scheme has done little to change farmers’ commitment toward environmentally sensitive farming, and more environmental education of farmers (as stipulated in EU Regulation 2078/92/EEC, for example) is needed to make the ESA scheme environmentally sustainable in the long term.

Selective Targeting in Environmentally Sensitive Areas: Implications for Farmers and the Environment

This paper examines socio-economic and environmental implications of targeting strategies adopted in one of the UKs Environmentally Sensitive Areas (ESAs): Cambrian Mountains ESA, northern part. Larger farms with larger remnant habitats have benefited disproportionately from scheme participation and payments. This has created a two-tier system of farmers inside and outside the scheme within the designated ESA. Smaller wildlife habitats on farms at the margins of the ESA have been neglected by this selective targeting, which has placed greater emphasis on the conservation of large contiguous habitats in the centre of the area. Farmers of marginal ESA eligibility are disillusioned, as they are excluded both from ESA payments and potential participation in schemes outside the ESA area. Two alternative scenarios are suggested. First, ESA scheme prescriptions could be changed to allow farmers with only small or dispersed habitats to enter the scheme (e.g. very high payments for the first few hectares of a habitat entered). Second, the boundaries of the ESA could be redrawn to exclude the clusters of small non-participants. This would enable these farms to make full use of other schemes currently not available for farmers within ESAs (e.g. Tir Cymen or Countryside Stewardship Scheme).

Global multifunctional agriculture: transitional convergence between North and South or zero-sum game?

There is much debate about the ‘exportability’ of theories developed in advanced economies to developing countries. This issue is assuming particular importance for debates on the exportability of the notion of ‘multifunctional’ agriculture. By focusing on recent conceptualizations of multifunctionality that see it as a normative concept ranging from weak to strong multifunctionality, this paper argues that, with some modifications, the notion of multifunctional agriculture can be applied to both the developed and developing world. Based on these concepts, the paper investigates whether and how multifunctionality pathways differ between the developed and developing world, to what extent strong multifunctionality pathways in one area may be predicated on weak multifunctionality in another (global agricultural multifunctionality as a zero-sum game or as a win-win situation), and how the global transition towards strong multifunctionality could best be managed and by whom.

The Rejuvenation of Productivist Agriculture: The Case for ‘Cooperative Neo-Productivism’

Originality/value – This chapter presents the first framework of the different neo-productivist forms and describes the new concept of cooperative productivism.