You are on page 1of 3

Agritourism: an organizational choice supporting sustainable agriculture

Quello della sostenibilit un concetto di crescente importanza nelle ultime decadi [1], sia nelle agende politiche che per quanto riguarda la ricerca scientifica [2]. A partire dalla seconda met del secolo scorso sono avvenute una serie di cambiamenti nella vita sociale ed economica e trasformazioni a livello ambientale che hanno inevitabilmente alterato gli equilibri planetari, generando eventi quali il riscaldamento climatico, la perdita della diversit biologica, laumento di disuguaglianza tra ricchezza e povert tra le diverse aree del pianeta e la crisi di risorse nei settori energetico, manifatturiero ed agricolo [3]. Paradossalmente, le attivit economiche che dovrebbero dare risposta ai bisogni umani sono diventate invece lartefice di questa crisi ed una minaccia per gli equilibri biologici e per la vita delle generazioni future. La consapevolezza di tali implicazioni a livello globale cresciuta sempre pi con il passare degli anni. Da un punto di vista politico, un punto saldo rappresentato dal cosiddetto rapporto Brundtland (conosciuto anche come Our Common Future) [4]. Si tratta di un documento rilasciato nel 1987 dalla Commissione mondiale sull'ambiente e lo sviluppo (WCED) in cui, per la prima volta, viene introdotto il concetto di sviluppo sostenibile: lo sviluppo sostenibile uno sviluppo che soddisfa i bisogni del presente senza compromettere la possibilit delle generazioni future di soddisfare i propri bisogni Tale definizione di sviluppo sostenibile senza dubbio quella pi diffusa [1]. Sebbene non si faccia riferimento in maniera diretta allambiente in quanto tale, ci si riferisce ad esso in maniera indiretta, in quanto si fa riferimento al benessere delle persone, e quindi anche la qualit ambientale. Si mette in luce il principio etico della responsabilit da parte delle generazioni d'oggi nei confronti delle generazioni future, toccando quindi aspetti legati al mantenimento delle risorse e dell'equilibrio ambientale del nostro pianeta.

, nonostante non si parli in maniera diretta dell Sullo sviluppo, la relazione afferma che i bisogni umani sono semplici ed essenziali, che la crescita economica, ma anche l'equit di condividere le risorse con i poveri, necessario per sostenere loro, e che l'equit incoraggiata la partecipazione dei cittadini efficace. In materia di ambiente, il testo chiaro: Il concetto di sviluppo sostenibile non implica limiti, ma le limitazioni imposte dallo stato attuale della tecnologia e dell'organizzazione sociale alle risorse ambientali e dalla capacit della biosfera di assorbire gli effetti delle attivit umane intergenerational equity. Although the brief definition does not explicitly mention the environment or development, the subsequent paragraphs, while rarely quoted, are clear. On development, the report states that human needs are basic and essential; that economic growthbut also equity to share resources with the pooris required to sustain them; and that equity is encouraged by effective citizen participation. On the environment, the text is also clear: The concept of sustainable development does imply limitsnot absolute limits but limitations imposed by the present state of technology and social organization on environmental resources and by the ability of the biosphere to absorb the effects of human activities.13

1. Kates, R. W., Parris, T. M., Leiserowitz, A. A., What is Sustainable development? goals, indicators, values, and practice, Environment: Science and Policy for Sustainable Development, Volume 47, Number 3, pages 821, (2005); 2. Camarinha 3. Kates, R., W., et al., Sustainability Science, Research and Assessment Systems for Sustainability Environment and Natural Resources Program, Harvard University Press. 4. WCED, Bruntland Report. Our Common Future: The World Commission on Environment and Development, Oxford: Oxford University Press, (1987).

The notion of sustainability is a subject of growing importance. It is present in most strategic and political agendas, being a prevalent issue in science and technology, and leading to related terms such as sustainable development [1] or even sustainability science. One important milestone was the UNs World Commission on Environment and Development report of 1987 [2], also known as the Brundtland report, which defined sustainability as: Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Environmental and ecological aspects have dominated the discussions on sustainability, which is natural since after all the environment is the elementary basis of life. Nevertheless, such perspective falls short if we do not pay attention to other aspects such as resource management, organizational forms of the society, cultural aspects, etc. Therefore, more recent discussions, as represented in the conclusions of the 2005 World Summit [3], [4], led to the identification of three main pillars of sustainability (Fig. 1): - Environmental aiming at maintaining a stable base of resources, preserving ecosystems and biodiversity, avoiding over-exploitation of renewable resources, safeguarding the quality of the atmosphere, recycling, etc. - Economical focusing on the ability to generate wealth in the long term, namely producing goods and services, creating jobs and prosperity, pursuing efficiency, etc.

At the level of national and supra-national policy, for example, the financial support for farming which had previously been directed at increasing outputs, is now being re-directed, at least in part, at measures aimed to protect rural environments and encourage sustainable rural economies, as evidenced by recent shifts within the European Unions Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) (e.g. Rutherford 2004; Ward and Lowe 2004; Woods 2005 Cited by (Holloway, Cox, Venn, Kneafsey, Dowler, & Tuomainen, 2006)).

The re-localisation perspective supports food produced, retailed and consumed in a specific area, appealing primarily to social (empowering and re-vitalizing local communities) and environmental arguments (reducing pollution caused by the transportation of goods). Local food initiatives are promoted in opposition to the disempowering social and economic effect of globalisation. Reducing the physical distance between producers and consumers is thought to sort out the effect of re-vitalising the rural community, while benefiting local farmers, on one side, and consumers and environment health, on the other. (Fonte & Grando, 2006) rural community social sustainability and environmental sustainability. Shortening the distance that food travels means sustaining local producers income and guarantying better quality food to local consumers (every consumer dollar goes towards the food, rather than going towards packaging, transport, irradiation, colouring, and advertising, NorbergHodge 2002). Reducing the miles food travels means also encouraging diversification of agriculture, reducing pollution and protecting the environment. It is also shortening the social distance created between local producers and local consumers and revitalising rural communities. Rather, in a situation where economic marginalisation is pushing rural communities towards extinction, differentiated markets seem the more appropriate route to revitalize rural communities. . (Fonte & Grando, 2006)

Fonte: tesi cerruti


Alternative farming patterns potentially provide an answer to some main challenges, i.e. representing viable strategies for farmers to improve the marketing of their products and sustain their livelihoods or means to mobilize new knowledge, skills and human capital. Further, alternative food supply chains also provide societal benefits that go beyond the scope of these direct economic advantages for producers involved. There is ample empirical evidence that alternative initiatives retain value added at farm level and within rural areas (i.e. through synergies and multiplier effects), thereby facilitating pathways of sustainable rural development and opening new ways to valorise multifunctional forms of agriculture (Van der Ploeg et al. 2003; Knickel and Renting 2000)

You might also like