A comparative analysis on intensification and extensification in mediterranean agriculture: dilemmas for LFAs policy

Despite the low degree of production intensification relatively to northern countries, rising overall trends in the intensification process are appare nt in the plains of the lowland of Mediterranean countries, following the e xtensification (in the sense of abandonment of traditional/extensive produc tion systems) in mountainous communes. This development, which implied a nu mber of other changes in the Mediterranean farm sectors and was strengthene d by the CAP, has had serious negative implications for the environment of both the uplands and the lowlands. Current trends in the CAP point to an in creasingly restrictive farm price policy which, in some cases, is likely to affect negatively production and incomes. This could lead to further aband onment of production in certain less-favoured zones of particular nature co nservation value, with severe negative impacts on biodiversity and landscap es. On the other hand, measures which are aimed to combat abandoment and ma rginalization in mountainous communes (e.g. the sheepmeat regime or the LFA s Regulation) have often led to overexploitation of marginal land with equa lly negative environmental implications. This paper attempts to highlight t he contradictions and dilemmas which agricultural policy faces in trying to achieve less intensive agricultural practices and to promote and preserve extensive ones, mainly in mountainous-LFAs-of the Mediterranean region. Due to the limited statistical information available, the analysis is qualitat ive and based mostly on a review of the literature rather than on original research. The conclusions make clear what policy makers have increasingly c ome to recognise (as is reflected in recent proposals for reform in the CAP ): that such policy conflicts can be resolved if there is more focused supp ort to specific parts of LFAs and if environmental conditions are attached to any policy measure. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.