(pdf) Multifunctional agriculture functions and effects

3.2 Multifunctional agriculture’s functions

 

Figure 2.5 shows the organic relationship between the role and the functions of agriculture presented by the IAASTD (2008a). Van der Ploeg and Roep’s (2003) basic theory of Multifunctional agriculture is represented by regrounding, deepening and broadening, but no specific functions or effects are explained. Jung (2014) described the functions of Multifunctional agriculture based on the relationship of the IAASTD’s (2008) social, environmental and economic effects.

From the original perspective of Multifunctional agriculture, its effects can be distinguished into those on economy, society and environment. Multifunctional agriculture means diversification in economic terms, enhanced relations in social terms and sustainability in environmental terms.

First, Multifunctional agriculture exerts an economic effect through activities promoting the added value of agricultural products. These include the differentiation of existing food from new kinds of products, such as organic food and slow and traditional food, and activities that promote farmers’ income, such as processing/cooking activities and direct sales. It also has an economic effect through the creation of new markets for non-food products (services) and vitalizes markets, such as the agricultural and rural tourism, education/experience and recreation/healing service markets, through the promotion of rural multifunctionality. One point to bear in mind is that the non-food (service) market is closely linked to the food product market. In other words, more closely linked non-food (service) and food product markets means more direct selling of agricultural products, processed goods and food to visitors, and visitors experiencing these will promote them to others. These activities lead to the economic vitalization of the rural economy, which can be divided into (1) an increase in the local economic added value focusing on agricultural products and (2) the creation of new jobs in the local economy, mainly embracing vulnerable groups of the community, such as women and the elderly (Huylenbroeck et al., 2007).

The social effects of Multifunctional agriculture are mostly related to the environment, which can be divided into the effects of maintaining the social culture of rural areas through agriculture and the effects of recreation, relaxation and education through non-agricultural people’s experience of farming activities. Maintaining rural communities includes maintaining the rural community spirit, economy and traditional culture. Rural areas provide recreation for the urban population in vacation destinations as well as relaxation and therapies to cure mental disorders and the addictions of certain groups. Education through Multifunctional agriculture programmes helps to inform the general public about the value of agriculture and food from a young age. These social effects can create a new quasi-public service market in the form of payments made jointly by individuals and the government. In other words, most payments are made in the form of social security systems such as national health insurance, public education and social security, and the rest are made by individuals in the private market (Jung et al., 2014).

The environmental effects of Multifunctional agriculture, like the social effects, substantially act as environmental goods, some of which play a premium role in the commodity and service markets. General agriculture, especially conventional agriculture, is known to have negative externalities. Efforts are needed to minimize the adverse effects caused by negative externalities while maximizing the positive effects. In particular, these environmental effects are fundamental to economic and social improvement. Through such efforts, rural multifunctionality can be maintained in general, which can lead to sustainability, such as maintaining biodiversity and water and soil resources while reducing the climate change and global warming impacts resulting from agricultural activities (IAASTD, 2009; Jung, 2014).

 

 

 Figure 2.5 The inescapable interconnectedness of agriculture’s roles and functions

Source: IAASTD (2008).

 

By combining the strategic and effective aspects of Multifunctional agriculture, we can structure the sustainable development direction of agriculture in rural areas, as shown in Figure 2.5.

The purpose of Multifunctional agriculture is to redefine agricultural and rural areas as multi-use spaces, away from the fragility of agricultural production or food production, and enable them to form a value chain with the economic, social and environmental effects of state and rural areas.

 

Source : Jung, H.H. 2022, A Valuation Study on Multifunctionality of Agriculture and Multifunctional Agriculture in South Korea: Beyond 6th Industrialization, Kyoto University Doctoral dissertation.

 

Reference link https://multifunctionality.tistory.com/8  

Reference : A Valuation Study on Multifunctionality of Agriculture and Multifunctional Agriculture in South Korea:Beyond 6th Ind

 

Valuing Multifunctional agriculture and Multifunctionality of agriculture in South Korea beyon_파트16.pdf

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Valuing Multifunctional agriculture and Multifunctionality of agriculture in South Korea beyon_파트17.pdf

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Valuing Multifunctional agriculture and Multifunctionality of agriculture in South Korea beyon_파트18.pdf

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