Sustainability dimensions related to agricultural-based development: the experience of 50 years of intensive farming in Almería (Spain)

Gómez, Emilio Galdeano; Aznar-Sánchez, José A.; Mesa, Juan Carlos Pérez

doi:10.1080/14735903.2012.704306

Cited by 56 publications

(50 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…The use of technologies aimed at efficient use of natural resources has allowed growers to maintain, and even improve, their profitability. At the same time, the sector has oriented production towards more organic methods, which has managed to keep it competitive in a market with greater requirements of healthy and quality food [35].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Is Sustainability Compatible with Profitability? An Empirical Analysis on Family Farming Activity

2016

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Sustainability is a social concern and a new strategic factor for productive and economic viability. Nevertheless, research on this subject in a holistic approach is limited, and even to a lesser extent when dealing with family farms. This paper analyzes the impact of different aspects of sustainability (socio-economic characteristics, environmentally respectful practices, and innovation) on profitability. The data collection instruments include a survey questionnaire on farming in Almería, a province in Southeast Spain, and the methodology followed involves a two-step regression model. The main results show how several socio-economic and environmental-innovation features of family farms have positive effects on their economic performance. Among others, profitability increases when there are better educated and younger family farm decision-makers; the farm is specialized and supported by more efficient cooperatives: and, particularly, when the family farm displays greater concern for environmental practices and better disposition towards agroecological innovation.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Is Sustainability Compatible with Profitability? An Empirical Analysis on Family Farming Activity

2016

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“…On these farms, high quality commercial seeds are used that are F1 hybrids that have been chemically treated and contain resistance genes against diseases [19]. The yields obtained are generally high and the produce is sold on the national and European market [20].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Influence of Crop Habitat and Control Strategies on Pepper Viruses in Andalusia (Spain)

et al. 2016

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Andalusia, southern Spain, is a major horticultural production region within the Mediterranean, where over 10,000 ha are dedicated to the production of pepper (Capsicum annuum L.). Approximately two-thirds of the area dedicated to this crop is in a greenhouse and the remaining one-third is comprised of open field crops. Using pepper as a model, we identified and compared the major diseases caused by viruses in the different geographic regions and agronomic systems within the region. Pepper crops in plastic-covered greenhouses were predominantly associated with arthropod-transmitted virus diseases, such as TSWV. CMV was predominant in provinces located inland, and PMoV was found independent of the agrosystem, disease control methods, or geographic location.

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“…Almería represents a particular development model: in the last five decades, from the beginnings of subsistence farming in near desert conditions, Almería has fostered an economic base of family farmers that has created an innovative cooperative community based on greenhouse specialised in fruit and vegetables (F&V) production [18][19][20]. The farmland, which occupies only 4% of the area of the province, is divided into small side-by-side parcels amongst 15,000 small-scale family farmers, each cultivating an average of approximately 2 hectares.…”

Section: Background Discussion Of Almería Agricultural Cooperativesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…With this in mind, our analysis identifies the socio-economic and eco-social components according to several studies focused on this cooperative farming system, as well as additional indicators contained in this paper. These studies are of an inter-disciplinary nature, because many aspects have been analyzed from the perspective of development and agricultural economics (e.g., Galdeano-Gómez et al, 2013) [20], agronomy (e.g., Medina 2009) [30], sociology (e.g., García Lorca 2010) [31], geography (e.g., Tout 1990) [32], ecology (e.g., Godoy-Durán et al, 2017) [33], organizational studies (Giagnocavo, et al, 2013) [19], or history (e.g., Aznar-Sánchez et al, 2011) [22]. The data and information that are drawn from these studies outline several indicators that demonstrate the influence of the multiple/diverse factors in cooperatives' longevity in an integrated way.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Cooperative Longevity and Sustainable Development in a Family Farming System

2018

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This paper focuses on small holding, family farming in Southeast Spain where agricultural economic activity is predominantly organized around cooperative business models. A variety of diverse studies on the Almería agricultural and credit cooperative sector and the exploration of social-economic and eco-social indicators, in addition to economic-market indicators are presented. Each correspond to a cooperative "logic" that spans theoretical perspectives from the dominant economic-market model, new institutionalism, and an eco-social approach, echoing theories on collective coordination governance, and the avoidance of the "tragedy of the commons". The latter is of particular importance given environmental challenges and scarce resources for agricultural activity. The cooperatives in Almería have increasingly relied on collective collaboration and coordination in order to meet social-economic and social-ecological challenges, transforming their role from that founded on a market dominant logic to that of cooperation as a coordination mechanism based on the mutual benefit of the community and environment. In turn, their ability to meet a wide range of needs and challenges of members and the community leads to their longevity. Cooperatives are able to act as both a market and non-market coordination mechanism, balancing the economic, social, and environmental dimensions, such that neither market nor non-market logics are dominant or exclusive.

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Sustainability dimensions related to agricultural-based development: the experience of 50 years of intensive farming in Almería (Spain)

Cited by 56 publications

References 27 publications

Is Sustainability Compatible with Profitability? An Empirical Analysis on Family Farming Activity

Is Sustainability Compatible with Profitability? An Empirical Analysis on Family Farming Activity

The Influence of Crop Habitat and Control Strategies on Pepper Viruses in Andalusia (Spain)

Cooperative Longevity and Sustainable Development in a Family Farming System

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