Biology and Geology Department, Andalusian Center for the Assessment and Monitoring of Global Change (CAESCG), University of Almeria, La Cañada de San Urbano, 04120 Almería, Spain.
Department of Biological Sciences, Idaho State University, 921 South 8th Avenue, Pocatello, ID 83209, USA.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019 Oct 24;16(21):4097. doi: 10.3390/ijerph16214097.
Globally, current food consumption and trade are placing unprecedented demand on agricultural systems and increasing pressure on natural resources, requiring tradeoffs between food security and environmental impacts especially given the tension between market-driven agriculture and agro-ecological goals. In order to illustrate the wicked social, economic and environmental challenges and processes to find transformative solutions, we focus on the largest concentration of greenhouses in the world located in the semi-arid coastal plain of South-east Spain. Almería family farming, predominantly cooperative, greenhouse intensive production, commenced after the 1960s and has resulted in very significant social and economic benefits for the region, while also having important negative environmental and biodiversity impacts, as well as creating new social challenges. The system currently finds itself in a crisis of diminishing economic benefits and increasing environmental and social dilemmas. Here, we present the outcomes of multi-actor, transdisciplinary research to review and provide collective insights for solutions-oriented research on the sustainability of Almeria's agricultural sector. The multi-actor, transdisciplinary process implemented collectively, and supported by scientific literature, identified six fundamental challenges to transitioning to an agricultural model that aims to ameliorate risks and avoid a systemic collapse, whilst balancing a concern for profitability with sustainability: (1) Governance based on a culture of shared responsibility for sustainability, (2) Sustainable and efficient use of water, (3) Biodiversity conservation, (4) Implementing a circular economy plan, (5) Technology and knowledge transfer, and (6) Image and identity. We conclude that the multi-actor transdisciplinary approach successfully facilitated the creation of a culture of shared responsibility among public, private, academic, and civil society actors. Notwithstanding plural values, challenges and solutions identified by consensus point to a nascent acknowledgement of the strategic necessity to locate agricultural economic activity within social and environmental spheres.This paper demonstrates the need to establish transdisciplinary multi-actor work-schemes to continue collaboration and research for the transition to an agro-ecological model as a means to remain competitive and to create value.
全球范围内，当前的食物消费和贸易模式对农业系统提出了前所未有的需求，同时也给自然资源带来了更大的压力，这使得在食品安全和环境影响之间需要进行权衡，尤其是在市场驱动型农业和农业生态目标之间存在紧张关系的情况下。为了说明寻找变革性解决方案所面临的复杂的社会、经济和环境挑战和过程，我们以世界上最大的温室集中地之一——位于西班牙东南部半干旱沿海平原的阿尔梅里亚为例。20 世纪 60 年代以后，阿尔梅里亚地区以家庭为基础的农业开始以合作社的形式大规模建设温室，进行集约化生产，这给该地区带来了巨大的社会和经济效益，但也对环境和生物多样性产生了重要的负面影响，同时也带来了新的社会挑战。目前，该系统正面临经济效益不断减少、环境和社会困境不断增加的危机。在这里，我们展示了多利益相关者、跨学科研究的成果，以回顾和提供面向可持续性的阿尔梅里亚农业部门解决方案的集体见解。多利益相关者、跨学科的研究过程得到了集体实施，并得到了科学文献的支持，该过程确定了向旨在减轻风险和避免系统崩溃的农业模式过渡的六个基本挑战，同时平衡对盈利能力和可持续性的关注：（1）基于共同承担可持续性责任文化的治理，（2）可持续和高效利用水资源，（3）生物多样性保护，（4）实施循环经济计划，（5）技术和知识转移，以及（6）形象和身份。我们得出的结论是，多利益相关者跨学科方法成功地在公共、私营、学术和民间社会行为者之间创造了一种共同承担责任的文化。尽管存在多元价值观，但共识所确定的挑战和解决方案表明，人们开始认识到将农业经济活动纳入社会和环境领域的战略必要性。本文表明，需要建立跨学科的多利益相关者工作方案，以继续合作和研究向农业生态模式的过渡，作为保持竞争力和创造价值的一种手段。
