Sustainable Agriculture in Vilanova i la Geltrú: current state of art, critical issues and future perspectives

Transcription

1 5 th International Seminar on Sustainable Technology Development Sustainable Agriculture in Vilanova i la Geltrú: current state of art, critical issues and future perspectives Andrew Grzelak Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA Anabel Mostajo Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain Alma Pira-Edman Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden Maddalena Ripa Graz University of Technology, Graz, Austria Meike Van den Broek Delft University of Technology, Delft, Nederland

2 A thing is right when it tends to preserve the integrity, stability and beauty of the biotic community. It is wrong when it tends otherwise. Land Ethic, Aldo Leopold s (1949) 2

3 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1 Objective of the study» Outline of the report 1.3 Current trends of agriculture: the case-study»» DIAGNOSIS METHODOLOGY» 7 3. DEFINITION OF THE FRAMEWORK» 8 4. PROBLEM ANALYSIS» 9 5. DISCUSSION» CONCLUSION» MAIN REFERENCES» 13 3

4 1. Introduction 1.1 Objective of the study Agriculture provides not only food to the society, but also construction materials, fibers, chemicals, energy, environmental services and landscape protection. The performance of local agricultural activity needs to be assessed both in the interest of the farmer and even more importantly, in the interest of the population and the country. Many aspects have to be considered to obtain a global overview of the agricultural system. The final goal of this report is to provide an analysis of the local case-study regarding periurban space in Villanova i la Geltrù. The economic, ecological, technological and social viewpoints were combined in order to show what factors need to be jointly taken into consideration for the sustainability of the local agricultural system. The approach proposed here aims at providing a comprehensive evaluation of agricultural system in Vilanova i la Geltrù. Its purpose is to establish and discuss a basic framework that can help achieve a global picture of the investigated system in order to suggest possible scenarios improvement. 1.2 Outline of the report Apart from the conclusions, the study is divided in five main parts. The Introduction describes the agricultural knowledge in general, underlining the multifunctional role and the importance to develop this sector in order to pursue the sustainable development, socially, environmentally and economically. Diagnosis Methodology sets the basis of the research by describing the stages, dwelling on its effectiveness in the light of the current trends in local agricultural management. Definition of the Framework zooms into the field of the local situation in Vilanova i la Geltrù describing the main local relevant framework conditions and driving forces (economic, legal, social, technological, environmental, etc). Problem Analysis deals with the evaluation of the main causes and implications of local agricultural system on socio-ecological patterns. Discussion identifies future possibilities to improve the sustainability of the agricultural system. Finally, Conclusions, summing up the previous ones, offers some concluding remarks, as well as thoughts for future developments of this research. 1.3 Current trends in agriculture: the case-study Agriculture plays a key role in the development policies of both developing and industrialized countries. The European Union (EU) is the world s biggest importer of farm products and by far the largest importer of agricultural products from developing countries. The EU imported 53 billion worth of goods on average over the period (Common Agricultural Policy- CUP-, 2010). In view of this, agriculture represents a crucial sector for poverty reduction, food security and land degradation. Nevertheless, food has a different importance worldwide. It varies from one country to another and even within the same country, since the interests of urban consumers and rural producers may not always coincide. It supports the livelihoods and subsistence 4

5 of a very large number of people worldwide and it is vital to rural development and poverty alleviation, as well as food and non-food production. Agriculture is the main activity by which mankind continually organizes and defines interactions with the surrounding ecosystem. The multiple functions of agriculture and their intersection with other global concerns, including loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services, climate change and water scarcity, must be integrated in order to achieve a sustainable and equitable outcome. Development and deployment of human resourcefulness to enhance agriculture, which is defined most broadly to include managing ecological processes in ways that capture and sustain human opportunity, are important challenges worldwide. Since agriculture is not only the activity that provides food to society but it has a multifunctional role, a global vision that combines economic, ecological, technological and social standpoints has to be investigated in order to implement the agricultural sustainability (International Assessment of Agricultural Knowledge, Science and Technology for Development, IAASTD, 2008) (Figure 1). Nowadays, it is important to analyze different aspects: How to reduce hunger and poverty; How to improve rural livelihoods; How to facilitate an environmentally, socially and economically sustainable development; How to reduce land degradation and so on. Figure 1 shows how many factors need to be jointly taken into consideration. Figure 1. Interconnectedness of agriculture with social and environmental aspects. (IAASTD, 2008). Therefore, the concept of multifunctionality expresses the inescapable interconnectedness of agriculture s different roles and functions with social, economic and environmental aspects: Agriculture provides food, feed, fiber, fuel and other goods. It influences other essential ecosystem services. It plays an important social role, providing employment and a way of life; it is also a medium of cultural transmission and cultural practices worldwide. It represents a foundation for economic dynamics. 5

6 Moreover a range of fundamental natural resources (e.g., land, water, air, biological diversity including forests, fish) provide the indispensable base for the production of essential goods and services upon which human survival depends, including those related to agricultural ecosystems. Given the multifunctional nature of agriculture, it is critical to consider links across ecosystems in which agricultural systems are embedded, as these have important implications for the resilience or vulnerability of these systems. Linkages between natural resource use and the social and physical environment are an important issue for sustainable development, with significant implications for natural environment and the mitigation of adverse impacts. According to this perspective, at the global, regional, national and local levels, decision makers must be acutely conscious of the fact that there are diverse challenges, multiple theoretical frameworks and development models and a wide range of options to meet development and sustainability goals. In other words, all countries have to develop strategies at local to national levels to institutionalize and affirm traditional and local knowledge for the combined goals of sustainable agricultural modernization. In this report the agricultural system in Vilanova i la Geltrù is investigated. Vilanova i la Geltrú (33.5 km 2 ) (Ajuntament de Vilanova i la Geltrù, 2005) is a city in the province of Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain and the capital of the Garraf comarca. Originally a fishing port, the city has a growing population of approximately 61,427 (Ajuntament de Vilanova i la Geltrù, 2005), and is situated 40 km south-west of Barcelona. Figure 2. Map of Vilanova i la Geltrù with a focus on Ortoll (GoogleMaps) 6

7 Vilanova i la Geltrù has a long-history and its economy includes textile, paper industries, iron foundries and an important agricultural sector. In the last decades urbanization and industrialization are exerting pressure on the environment and on the natural resources of the city with resultant land degradation.the current need of preserving traditional agriculture and green areas (such as Ortoll, an extensive area of 100 hectares which is the last non-urbanized regions of the metropolitan area of Barcelona) represents one of the main problem in order to achieve sustainable development at urban level. In this work, the local agricultural system is carefully investigated from different points of view in order to understand the main driving forces of its performance and its dynamical interaction with the surrounding environment and the main economy in which it is embedded. 2. Diagnosis Methodology The methodology aims to explain the approach taken in analyzing the local situation in Vilanova i la Geltrú. Working with the aforementioned definition of agreoecology in the introduction, the first step in analysis was to develop a competent understanding of this field. As was mentioned, there are many different areas of focus all working under the umbrella term of agroecology (food, energy, textiles etc.). In order to complete a meaningful analysis, a thorough understanding of how to focus an agroecological project will lead to more accurate problem identification. This local case study in Vilanova, focuses on the costal park area of Ortoll. There are currently debates about the use of this space which will be discussed further in the following sections. Regarding the methodology, the need was to have a concrete understanding of the significance of this space, and why there is such an effort to preserve it. A review of the most relevant information about the local case-study has represented one of the key point in the methodological approach; it was based, in part, on a literature and documents review, but it also needed to provide a critical point of view about the collected information in relation to the context of the identified questions and issues within the specified framework. The collection of information was followed by the definition of the key questions as: 1. How have the framework conditions affected the protection of rural and green areas in Vilanova i la Geltrù? 2. What are the most critical factors causing ecosystem changes? 3. What options exist to manage local agriculture sustainably? 4. What can be done to enhance well-being and conserve ecosystems? What are the strengths and weaknesses of response options that can be considered to realize or avoid specific futures? Because of the specific scope of the report and the complexity of the interactions between social and natural system, it proved to be difficult to provide statistical/scientific information for some of the issues addressed in the report. Relatively few documents have been the focus of research and, as a consequence, data are sometimes inadequate for a detailed global assessment. Despite of the gaps in data and information, the report is able to identify the policy-relevant questions from being answered and the report can help to guide research that may allow those questions to be answered in future assessments. 7

8 3. Definition of the Framework Vilanova i la Geltrú is the capital of Garraf and it is situated 40 km from Barcelona and 45 km from Tarragona. The economy was originally based on agriculture and maritime trade in wine (s. XVIII-XIX). After that, during the industrialization period it was based on the textile sector (s. XIX) and then on textile, chemical and metal industries. Nowadays, the city has again a considerable agricultural activity (Figure 3) and it is one of the most important maritime trade center in Catalonia. Figure 3. Land use in Vilanova i la Geltrù (Ajuntament de Vilanova i la Geltrù, 2011): the productive agricultural areas are shown in yellow and the green protected areas are shown in green. As you can see, Vilanova has an important agricultural and maritime culture, and it is reflected in its gastronomy. The vineyard is one of the most important resource in Vilanova, where many types of wine and champagne with the Penedés Guarantee of Origin and Quality are made. Other main crops include cereals, forage and vegetables. Concerning the socio-political situation, since the complex situation of crisis in Spain is involving also local realities such as Vilanova i la Geltrú, the preservation of ecosystems doesn t seem the most relevant aspect in the urban development policy, not as the economical aspects at least. This is why, although the local government in Vilanova i la Geltrù has an environmental legislation following the legislative lines proposed by the central government La Generalitat de Catalunya, the main actions towards environmental protection mainly come from social groups. As a consequence, citizens and local farmers in Vilanova i la Geltrù are fighting to preserve food security and local agricultural tradition. One of the most proactive group in Vilanova i la Geltrù is called Slow Food. This group, originated in USA in order to preserve the traditional and regional 8

9 food, encourages local farmers to protect food biodiversity and traditions. Nowadays, this group has grown and is established in 150 countries ( According to the same purpose, a group called Transició local appeared in Vilanova i la Geltrú few years ago (Grup de Transició VNG, 2010). Currently they are making people environmentally conscious to change their habits, involving them to come back to the traditional agriculture. This is why they started to implement urban orchards, to give support to local projects and so on. In view of these initiatives, consumers are giving more consideration in choosing local agricultural products. Nevertheless there is a net loss of local lands that are abandoned everyday. Everyday, we are losing a lot of traditional and local products. Local agriculture is not the only resource that Vilanova is losing because of recklessness. L Ortoll is one of the last non-urbanized, green and natural space in Barcelona and Tarragona areas ( It is situated between the sea and the protected area of Platja Larga; it links with Parc del Foix and in the north side with Parc del Garraf. In this space there is a large diversity of animals, plants and landscapes. We can find huge pine trees, rural properties, historical heritage (as a school, antique ways, etc), agricultural heritage (as les Mussales and el Molí de l Escardó). L Ortoll is a natural and open space for leisure time where people can go jogging, enjoy biodiversity, and spend their daily activities close to nature. In this special space people have been fighting against the urbanization for a long time. Although currently the task of preserving natural environment seems to be very difficult to achieve, the new local government has fixed the purpose to improve this green space with the proposition of making two new ways to get faster to the beach by car. 4. Problem Analysis In view of the framework conditions, the main problems concerning the agricultural system in Vilanova i la Geltrù include the application of non-sustainable agricultural practices and consequent environmental impacts (such as soil erosion, GHG emissions and so on), land abandonment and the need of local healthy agricultural products (Valentí Montgay, 2011). Moreover the recklessness in preserving natural environment and the increasing urbanization proposed by local government at the expense of green areas, are generating a general discontent in the Vilanova community. In fact in the future of Ortoll, it seems that the government wants to urbanize the area, although there are groups that want to preserve the local area: housing construction for 5000 inhabitants is expected in the part Ortoll I which is closest to the city; at the same time social groups are committed to protect Ortoll area and maintain its current status. There should be a way that could please both sides. If it was not for the financial crisis in 2008 that strucks Europe, these houses would probably have been built. One of the consequences of this crisis was that companies invested less and the production stagnated. As mentioned earlier, local lands are abandoned every day. Urbanization might be the answer to that. People, particularly new generations, are leaving the countryside to move into the cities, where there are more jobs available and there is often better health care. Important to mention is also that the distance is a lot shorter in urban areas: houses are closer to health care, schools and work. As a result, urbanization continues and rural lands are abandoned. 9

10 5. Discussion There is no single, globally applicable sustainable management solution for agriculture. This is because agricultural practices depend on site-specific variables, such as climate, ecology, geography, demography, affluence and regulation. Nonetheless, sustainability principles can be applied across different management systems. In spite of several problems, using agroecological principles ( Vilanova i la Geltrù could become a city of the future, a model that more countries should build after. Integrated natural resource management INRM approaches are options to consider when choosing a productive agriculture to meet sustainability and development goals. Some of these include: Organic Local Farming can improve agricultural performance, as well as food security, environmental quality and social equity. In particular when you choose local traditional products (as requested from Vilanova social groups), you are supporting local farmers and at the same time local food is fresh, healthy and tasty without any loss of nutrients; local farmers who sell directly to consumers or to local stores, markets, or institutions can get better prices for their food, which means that farm families can keep their farm operating; buying foods locally also provides opportunities for research on foods that will thrive in changing climate conditions; when you buy locally grown food, you are doing something to help preserve the land needed to help our community have access to food; food that is grown and sold locally travels a much shorter distance, so it represents a more sustainable choice from an environmental point of view. Reduced tillage and conservation agriculture in order to avoid soil degradation and to mitigate GHG emissions; Advance local policies and legal frameworks to provide incentives for agroecological production. This may include the adoption of a local definition of agroecological production and a high-level policy statement in support of measures to facilitate the transition to agroecological production; Facilitate increased professional education on agroecological production, especially through agronomy programs at national university systems and increased scientific investigation; Agro-tourism and ecotourism is also something that should be considered. Hotels and restaurants close to the rural and green areas could tempt with organic and locally produced food, resulting very attractive to the tourists. Barcelona and Vilanova i la Geltrù are increasing in size, and urbanization is a fast and convenient way to make space for the increasing population. Before the last non-urbanized region is urbanized, the government should take a leading role in starting to develop the city in a sustainable way. All the prerequisites are there. The people of Vilanova are committed and seem to want to preserve their natural environment. The Green trend is increasing, and even green tourism is growing. With only 40 km to Barcelona, a city which is visited by 7.1 million tourists every year, there is a huge potential. Rural and green areas in Vilanova i la Geltrù (as Ortoll) should be preserved according to agroforestry principles (IAASD, 2008). Agroforestry is a dynamic, ecologically based natural resource management system that through the integration of trees into agricultural landscapes, 10

11 diversifies and increases production, while simultaneously promoting social, economic and environmental benefits for land users this approach is very similar to the concept of multifunctional agriculture. The agroforestry rehabilitates degraded land; increases above -and below- ground biodiversity, increases C sequestration, and protects soils and watersheds. According to these principles, rural and green areas in Vilanova could provide a lot of added values: useful and marketable products for income generation, fuel, food and nutritional security/health and the enhancement of local livelihoods; complex mature and functioning agroecosystems akin to natural woodlands and forests; and linkages with culture through the food and other products of traditional importance to local people. Keeping this in mind Ortoll should be built up satisfying both the population of Vilanova i la Geltrù and the government s need of urbanization ( Instead of building a faster way to get to the beach by car, a fast train rail should be developed between Barcelona and Vilanova. Tourists could come and explore a green suburb to Barcelona, and people could also live in Vilanova, and work in Barcelona. When the government now stands in front of the decision of urbanizing Ortoll, they should rethink. Instead of drowning the city in cement, they should consider taking a leading role in sustainable urban development and use agroecological principles to truly develop sustainably. Obviously the preservation of natural environment and traditional agriculture has to be participatory and an increasing social awareness has to be requested as one of the most critical issue in achieving sustainable development. 6. Conclusions Natural resources, especially those of soil, water, plant and animal diversity, vegetation cover, renewable energy sources, climate, and ecosystem services are fundamental for the structure and function of agricultural systems and for social and environmental sustainability, in support of life on earth. Agroecology, considered as the foundation of sustainable agriculture, is the science and practice of applying ecological concepts and principles to the study, design and management of sustainable agroecosystems. According to agroecology principles, new sustainable agricultural and ecological systems are needed in Vilanova i la Geltrù that enhance sustainability while maintaining productivity in ways that protect the natural resource base and ecological provisioning of agricultural systems. Successfully meeting development and sustainability goals and responding to new priorities and changing circumstances would require a fundamental shift to sustainability, including science, technology, policies, institutions, capacity development and investment. Such a shift would recognize and give increased importance to the multifunctionality of agriculture and green areas, accounting for the complexity of ecological systems within diverse social and ecological contexts. It would require new institutional and organizational arrangements to promote an integrated approach to the development and deployment of agricultural sustainability. It would also recognize farming communities, farm households, and farmers as producers and managers of ecosystems. This shift may call for changing the incentive systems for all actors along the value chain to internalize as many externalities as possible. 11

12 In conclusions we can say that the new motto in order to achieve sustainability has to be It's not sufficient to do things better, we need to do better things (by Mark Shayler, Eco designer). 12

13 7. Main References 1. Agroecology. Principles of Agroecology and Sustainability. Date of last access: Ajuntament de Vilanova i la Geltrù. Date of last access: Common Agricultural Policy -CUP-, How the EU's agriculture and development policies fit together. European Commission, Luxembourg. 4. Grup de Transició VNG, Crida Mundial contra el cambi climàtic. Diari de Vilanova, 8th of October IAASTD (International Assessment of Agricultural Knowledge, Science and Technology for Development), Agriculture at a Crossroads. Global Report. Island press, Washington DC, 590 pp. 6. Latinamerika Grupperna, Agroekologi är den långsiktiga lösningen på matkrisen. Date of last access: UPC, Ortoll: The Green Lung of Vilanova and One of the Last Protected Coastal Spaces Between Barcelona and Tarragona Valentí Montgay, Les dificultats dels pagesos per mantenir l agricultura tradicional. Diari de Vilanova, 23th of December