Assessing the Presence of a Monoculture: From Definition to Quantification

Abstract

The term monoculture is widely used in the scientific literature concerning the agricultural sector. However, it is very difficult to find a clear and shared definition of this term. This study investigates the concept of monoculture in agricultural areas where high specialization in a specific crop is observed. Therefore, we refer to a territorial-level definition, which associates the idea of monoculture to the prevalent presence of a crop in a region including many farms. The objectives of the paper are: (i) to define indicators capable of verifying the existence of this condition; (ii) to test the ability of such indicators in identifying the effective presence of a monoculture. A set of Italian areas identified as monoculture in the recent literature were selected to carry out a quantitative analysis, assessing different indexes of monoculture. On the basis of the obtained results, such an analysis should help in comparing the monoculture indexes and fostering a discussion on their suitability and descriptive capacities.

On the relation between monocultures and ecosystem services in the Global South: A review

“…We did not include global south per se in the search, as this would enhance the likelihood to miss relevant studies. In addition, to delimitate our analysis, we understood monocultures as the prevalent presence of a crop with a high level of specialization on a single crop production within an agricultural region (Franco et al, 2022). Moreover, we considered the global south not as a global location per se, but as a "reference of an entire history of colonialism, neo-imperialism, and differential economic and social change through which large inequalities in living standards, life expectancy, and access to resources are maintained" (Woon, 2013. pp.…”

Balancing food security and environmental safety: rethinking modern agricultural practices

“…Modern agriculture is based on large-scale consumer demand. Monoculture agriculture means the cultivation of a specific single crop species repeatedly year after year in a region or farm (Franco et al 2022). It has become a suitable option in agriculture compared to mixed cultures of crops for its ease in plantation, management, harvesting, marketing, processing, and high yield and profit.…”

Is Hazelnut Farming Sustainable? An Analysis in the Specialized Production Area of Viterbo

“…At the international level, Turkey is the main producer of hazelnuts, with a global production exceeding 70%, whereas Italy is the second-world producer, both in terms of production volumes and cultivated area [1,2,23,24]. Highly specialized areas of hazelnut production in Italy are located in Piedmont, Lazio, Campania, and Sicily, which have favorable environmental and socio-economic conditions [1,25]. The province of Viterbo ranks first in the production of hazelnuts, representing an average of 30% of national production [2].…”