Multifunctional agricultural landscapes in the urban fringe
Multifunctional agricultural landscapes in the urban fringe
Christopher Ling
John Antill
Royal Roads University, Victoria, BC
Multi-functionalityMulti-functionality
“an integration of different functions within the same or overlapping land
unit, at the same or overlapping in time”
(Brandt, Trees, & Tress, 2000, p.159)
Multi-functionality in agricultureMulti-functionality in agriculture
the existence of multiple commodity and non-commodity outputs that are jointly produced by agriculture; and
(OECD, 2001)
Multi-functional agricultural landscapes
Multi-functional agricultural landscapes
Adapted from: Potter and Burney (2002)
• producing food,• sustaining rural landscapes• protecting biodiversity• generating employment• contribution to the vitality of rural areas
QuestionQuestion
How do farmers perceive the multi-functionality of their farms?
What relevance do those perceptions have for landscape assessment and management?
Case StudiesCase Studies
68 acre dairy farm
31 acre mixed organic vegetable
and fruit farm
27 acre organic mixed vegetable and
fruit, chicken eggs and cereals
Data collectionData collection
Sequential exploratory strategy (SES)•Qualitative Data: Importance of on-farm landscape features and associated benefits
•Quantitative Data: Evaluated agricultural multi-functionality
QualatativeQualatative
Quality of Life Capital Approach (Natural England, 2008)
‘What Matters and Why?’ in the Landscape.
A framework for integrated assessment of attributes and functions within the landscape
QuantitativeQuantitative
Likert scale evaluation by farmers of:•Ecological function
•Production function
•Economic function
•Cultural function
•Social function
Of each landscape unit
Quality of Life Capital(Natural England 2008)
Quality of Life Capital(Natural England 2008)
‘What Matters and Why?’ in the Landscape. A framework for integrated assessment of attributes and
functions within the landscape
Matrix of benefits (Farm 3)Matrix of benefits (Farm 3)
Landscape features/land use system
Functional Benefit
Importance of benefit (H, M, L)a
Scale of benefit (H, M,L)Farm Region Prov
Vegetable stand area Economic Social
Culture
HHM
H H L
Leaf composting area Production HH L L
Front fields to lower field (vegetable, cereal & flower patches, and orchard)
ProductionEconomic Ecological
HHL
H M L
Mid farm wooded corridor and pondEcological, Production,
Social
HLL
H M L
Upper-fields (vegetable and sunflower patches, fruit trees)
Production, Economic, Ecological
HHL
H M L
Northern wooded area Ecological H H H L
Water supply system Production H H L L
Functional evaluation (Farm 3)
Functional evaluation (Farm 3)
Functional benefits
Vegetable stand area
Leaf compost area
Front and lower field
Forested areas
Upper fields
Water supply system
Ecological 13 14 20 20 18 15
Productive 17 18 20 16 19 19
Economic 20 11 20 10 20 20
Cultural 16 9 13 15 19 12
Social 12 8 15 14 17 13
Total 78 60 88 75 93 79
Functional evaluation (Farm 1)
Functional evaluation (Farm 1)
Is the agri-tourism on the farm more important that the farming?
Ecological
Productive
EconomicCultural
Social
Functional evaluation (Farm 1)
Functional evaluation (Farm 1)
Functional evaluation (Farm 2)
Functional evaluation (Farm 2)
Important supplier to local restaurants, and partly forested landscape
Ecological
Productive
EconomicCultural
Social
Functional evaluation (Farm 2)
Functional evaluation (Farm 2)
Functional evaluation (Farm 3)
Functional evaluation (Farm 3)
Ecological
Productive
EconomicCultural
Social
Long established community farm supplying local community
Functional evaluation (Farm 2)
Functional evaluation (Farm 2)
Components of functionality
Components of functionality
Ecology
Maintains on-farm biodiversity
Supports biodiversity through connectivity to off-farm habitat
Contributes to the ecological health of the farm
Presence of endangered species
Conservation value
Sustaining capacity
Components of functionality
Components of functionality
Production
Diversified agricultural products
Commodities tuned to ecosystem health
Efficiency and high production
Sound natural resource management
Production efficiency
Ecological coherence
Components of functionality
Components of functionality
Economic
Specialized and highly demanded commodity
Independence of external support for production
Profitability of productsAccess commercially viable markets
Profitability
Specialized crops
Components of functionality
Components of functionality
Cultural
Observed and adapted traditional knowledge about on-farm natural resources
Relevant historical heritage, buildings and infrastructures
developing technical and scientific knowledge about farming the land
Adaptability of the farm in the face of unknown future challenges
Knowledge, skills
Heritage
Components of functionality
Components of functionality
Social
Contribution to the surrounding community
Supply of socially appreciated goods and services
Contribution to the public understanding of local agriculture
Potential for alternate land use
Strategic land use
Welfare & social integration
ConclusionConclusion
• Current planning policies and land assessment focus almost exclusively on the production aspects of farm landscapes rather than the multiple functions identified by famers
• Understanding multi-functionality at the farm scale can help to create a framework in which a variety of outcomes and policy objectives can be implemented and examined
• Agricultural land impacts community vitality in many more ways that in areas of food sovereignty and farm livelihoods
Top Related