Multifunctional Agriculture, Ecology and Food Security : International Perspectives

Multifunctional agriculture first received wide attention in 1998, when Japan, South Korea, and the European Union used the term to describe the multiple environmental and social benefits derived from agriculture. However, it is developing countries that have a comparative advantage in multifunctional agriculture, as it tends to be dominated by small-holder farming, low external inputs, ecologically sustainable production, family labour and in tune with local conditions. Recently, critical food security issues and rising food prices have brought the concepts of multifunctional agriculture, food sovereignty, and socio-economic and ecological sustainability to the forefront of agricultural policy. The United Nations Environment Programme's Global Green New Deal has noted that the current state of agricultural policies distorts agricultural profitability to the disadvantage of sustainable farming, and argues for a new incentive system of subsidies, taxes and regulations that encourage environmentally responsible behaviour in agriculture. In addition, increasing awareness is prompting consumers to demand organic, ecological and locally produced products for their benefits to health, rural vitality, environment, biodiversity and other related factors. This book comes at an important time in the development of agricultural policies especially in developing nations. It contains 23 chapters dealing with a broad spectrum of multifunctional agriculture issues, authored by leading experts and researchers in the field. It can be considered as a scholarly reference work for libraries and researchers across the world and as a supplementary text for courses in development, agricultural, resource and environmental economics.