Multifunctional agricultural landscapes in the urban fringe

Multifunctional agricultural landscapes in the urban fringe

Christopher Ling

John Antill

Royal Roads University, Victoria, BC

Multi-functionalityMulti-functionality

“an integration of different functions within the same or overlapping land

unit, at the same or overlapping in time”

(Brandt, Trees, & Tress, 2000, p.159)

Multi-functionality in agricultureMulti-functionality in agriculture

the existence of multiple commodity and non-commodity outputs that are jointly produced by agriculture; and

(OECD, 2001)

Multi-functional agricultural landscapes

Multi-functional agricultural landscapes

Adapted from: Potter and Burney (2002)

• producing food,• sustaining rural landscapes• protecting biodiversity• generating employment• contribution to the vitality of rural areas

QuestionQuestion

How do farmers perceive the multi-functionality of their farms?

What relevance do those perceptions have for landscape assessment and management?

Case StudiesCase Studies

68 acre dairy farm

31 acre mixed organic vegetable

and fruit farm

27 acre organic mixed vegetable and

fruit, chicken eggs and cereals

Data collectionData collection

Sequential exploratory strategy (SES)•Qualitative Data: Importance of on-farm landscape features and associated benefits

•Quantitative Data: Evaluated agricultural multi-functionality

QualatativeQualatative

Quality of Life Capital Approach (Natural England, 2008)

‘What Matters and Why?’ in the Landscape.

A framework for integrated assessment of attributes and functions within the landscape

QuantitativeQuantitative

Likert scale evaluation by farmers of:•Ecological function

•Production function

•Economic function

•Cultural function

•Social function

Of each landscape unit

Quality of Life Capital(Natural England 2008)

Quality of Life Capital(Natural England 2008)

‘What Matters and Why?’ in the Landscape. A framework for integrated assessment of attributes and

functions within the landscape

Matrix of benefits (Farm 3)Matrix of benefits (Farm 3)

Landscape features/land use system

Functional Benefit

Importance of benefit (H, M, L)a

Scale of benefit (H, M,L)Farm Region Prov

Vegetable stand area Economic Social

Culture

HHM

H H L

Leaf composting area Production HH L L

Front fields to lower field (vegetable, cereal & flower patches, and orchard)

ProductionEconomic Ecological

HHL

H M L

Mid farm wooded corridor and pondEcological, Production,

Social

HLL

H M L

Upper-fields (vegetable and sunflower patches, fruit trees)

Production, Economic, Ecological

HHL

H M L

Northern wooded area Ecological H H H L

Water supply system Production H H L L

Functional evaluation (Farm 3)

Functional evaluation (Farm 3)

Functional benefits

Vegetable stand area

Leaf compost area

Front and lower field

Forested areas

Upper fields

Water supply system

Ecological 13 14 20 20 18 15

Productive 17 18 20 16 19 19

Economic 20 11 20 10 20 20

Cultural 16 9 13 15 19 12

Social 12 8 15 14 17 13

Total 78 60 88 75 93 79

Functional evaluation (Farm 1)

Functional evaluation (Farm 1)

Is the agri-tourism on the farm more important that the farming?

Ecological

Productive

EconomicCultural

Social

Functional evaluation (Farm 1)

Functional evaluation (Farm 1)

Functional evaluation (Farm 2)

Functional evaluation (Farm 2)

Important supplier to local restaurants, and partly forested landscape

Ecological

Productive

EconomicCultural

Social

Functional evaluation (Farm 2)

Functional evaluation (Farm 2)

Functional evaluation (Farm 3)

Functional evaluation (Farm 3)

Ecological

Productive

EconomicCultural

Social

Long established community farm supplying local community

Functional evaluation (Farm 2)

Functional evaluation (Farm 2)

Components of functionality

Components of functionality

Ecology

Maintains on-farm biodiversity

Supports biodiversity through connectivity to off-farm habitat

Contributes to the ecological health of the farm

Presence of endangered species

Conservation value

Sustaining capacity

Components of functionality

Components of functionality

Production

Diversified agricultural products

Commodities tuned to ecosystem health

Efficiency and high production

Sound natural resource management

Production efficiency

Ecological coherence

Components of functionality

Components of functionality

Economic

Specialized and highly demanded commodity

Independence of external support for production

Profitability of productsAccess commercially viable markets

Profitability

Specialized crops

Components of functionality

Components of functionality

Cultural

Observed and adapted traditional knowledge about on-farm natural resources

Relevant historical heritage, buildings and infrastructures

developing technical and scientific knowledge about farming the land

Adaptability of the farm in the face of unknown future challenges

Knowledge, skills

Heritage

Components of functionality

Components of functionality

Social

Contribution to the surrounding community

Supply of socially appreciated goods and services

Contribution to the public understanding of local agriculture

Potential for alternate land use

Strategic land use

Welfare & social integration

ConclusionConclusion

• Current planning policies and land assessment focus almost exclusively on the production aspects of farm landscapes rather than the multiple functions identified by famers

• Understanding multi-functionality at the farm scale can help to create a framework in which a variety of outcomes and policy objectives can be implemented and examined

• Agricultural land impacts community vitality in many more ways that in areas of food sovereignty and farm livelihoods