Coexistence and Confrontation of Agricultural and Food Models : A New Paradigm of Territorial Development?

This book analyses situations of coexistence and confrontation of agricultural and food models according to four major dimensions of territorial development: the tension between specialisation and diversification; innovation; adaptation; and food transition. New agricultural and food models are being deployed in territories around the world in response to criticisms of the old forms of agriculture and food production, and in order to meet new challenges. These models embody archetypes of the observed diversity, actors’ projects or new norms. A number of conceptual studies and case studies from France and other countries allow us to understand the interactions between these models (confrontation, complementarity, co-evolution, hybridisation, etc.), taking us well beyond the characterisation of their diversity and the evaluation of their relative performances. The coexistence and confrontation of these models build up their capacity for radical change. The book asks original questions about the analytical framework, its methodological challenges and the expected outcomes for the support of agricultural and food development in rural and urban territories. It is intended for researchers, teachers, students and professionals interested in territorial development. Pierre Gasselin, Sylvie Lardon, Claire Cerdan, Salma Loudiyi and Denis Sautier are the scientific coordinators of this book. They are geographers and economists at CIRAD, INRAE and VetAgro Sup, where they conduct research on the transformation of agriculture, food systems and territories in France and other countries. This book is the result of a collective research process involving 36 authors from Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Burkina Faso, France, Japan, Switzerland and Vietnam. Jan Douwe van der Ploeg , author of the Foreword, is Professor Emeritus of Rural Sociology at Wageningen University & Research in the Netherlands and Associate Professor of Agricultural Sociology at the China Agricultural University in Beijing. He has conducted extensive research on processes of agricultural transition and on dynamics of rural development. Foreword: A Bold and Necessary Book Preface to the English Edition Contents Editors and Contributors General Introduction. Questions, Issues and Analytical Framework Part I Specialisation/diversification Productive and Territorial Specialisation: A Hindrance or a Resource? Introduction to Part I Overview of Analytical Frameworks and Hypotheses Modernising Paradigm Versus Sustainable Development Economies of Scale Versus Autonomy and Resilience Land Sparing Versus Land Sharing Hypotheses and Major Questions Testing in the Field Three Illustrations Comparative Reading Conclusion References 1 From Agro-industrial Specialisation to a Plurality of Models in Southern Brazil 1 The 1970s: The Integrated Production Model 2 The 1980s and 1990s: Concentrating Production and Specialising 3 The 1990–2000 Period: A Dual Process of Diversification 3.1 Diversifying Production Areas to Supply Agro-industries 3.2 Developing New Processed Products and Leveraging Agro-industrial Know-How 4 The Return to a Diversified Agricultural Model for Family Farms 5 Identifying the Interplay of Actors in the Processes of Specialisation/Diversification of Activities 5.1 The Interplay of Actors Between 1970 and 1990: ‘What is Good for Agro-industry is Good for the Territory!’ 5.2 From the 1990s Onwards, a System of Actors Spanning a Plurality of Territorial Projects 6 Conclusion References 2 The Construction of Specialisation and Diversification Pathways in Selected Milksheds: Understanding the Plurality of Agricultural Development Models 1 Understanding the Processes of Specialisation and Diversification at a Territorial Scale by Analysing Development Models 2 Construction of Specialisation and/or Diversification Pathways 2.1 An Agro-industrial Specialisation Pathway 2.2 A ‘Territorialised’ Specialisation Pathway 2.3 Pathways that Lead to a Diversity of Models in a Territory 3 Discussion 3.1 Complex Linkages 3.2 Between Food Demands and Territorial Resources 4 Conclusion References 3 Does the Evolution of Agricultural Production Models Allow for Their Coexistence in a Territory? 1 Specialisation of Agricultural Models and Emerging Alternatives 1.1 Regional Specialisation and Concentration in Value Chains 1.2 A Host of Initiatives Proposing Alternatives ... Which Still Remain Relatively Marginal 2 Place-Based Strategies: An Interpretation of Open Specialisation 2.1 European Territorial Development Policies with a 2020 Horizon: Choosing a Place-Based Logic 2.2 The Principles of Regional Smart Specialisation Strategies 2.3 The Requirements for Smart Rural Growth 3 Discussion: Is It Enough to Coexist? 3.1 The Need to Go Beyond the Simple Notion of Coexistence: What Kind of Compatibility of Practices? 3.2 Coexistence Processes to Be Considered in the Context of the Transition of Agricultural Models 4 Conclusion References Part II Innovation Innovation: Driver and Outcome of the Coexistence of and Confrontation Between Agricultural and Food Models. Introduction to Part II Overview of Analytical Frameworks and Hypotheses Sociotechnical Regimes and Innovation Niches Duality and Hybridisation Territorial and Social Innovations Hypotheses and Important Questions Innovations Tested in the field Four Illustrations A Comparative Reading Conclusion References 4 Supermarket Chains as Drivers of Hybridisation and Innovation in Territorial Food Systems 1 The Dimensions of the Agri-chain’s ‘Hybridity’ 1.1 Actor Interactions at Different Levels of Action 1.2 Quality and Territorial Anchoring Are Essential for Economic Value-Addition 1.3 The Link Between Formal and Informal Coordination Mechanisms 1.4 The Mobilisation of Territorial Resources by a ‘Global’ Actor 2 Innovation: From the Agri-chain to the Territory 2.1 Innovations at the Scale of the Agri-chain 2.2 Innovations as Part of a Territorial Approach 3 Conclusion References 5 Coexisting in Farm Machinery Cooperatives: Cooperation Between Heterogeneous Farmers 1 Local Cooperation and Professional Networks 1.1 From the Old Mutual Aid in Villages to the Current CUMAs 1.2 Continued Existence of Local Cooperation: Cognitive and Symbolic Issues 1.3 Impact on Local Networks of the Recent Emergence of Ecological Farming 2 A Strong Reliance on Local Cooperation 2.1 Learning About the Practices of Others Indirectly 2.2 A Tacit Silence Within CUMAs 3 Cooperation Despite the Heterogeneity of Technical Systems and Projects 3.1 Farmers Prefer to Work with Similar Peers but Can Be Flexible 3.2 ‘Pioneer’ Farmers Cooperating with Different Peers 4 Managing Heterogeneity, Including Through Withdrawal 5 Tactics for Cooperating in Reciprocity 5.1 Example of Interactions with Expert Colleagues 5.2 Between Organic and Conventional Farming 6 Conclusion References 6 Emergence and Compartmentalisation of Advisory Subsystems for the Ecological Intensification of Agriculture in Burkina Faso 1 Exploring Ways of Supporting Ecological Intensification 1.1 A Pluralistic and Poorly Coordinated Agricultural Advisory System 1.2 A Diversity of Alternative Agricultural Models 1.3 An Approach Based on the Networks of Actors Involved in Advisory Support and Their Registers of Action 2 Three Advisory Subsystems with Distinct Registers and Areas of Action 2.1 Registers of Action 2.2 Areas of Intervention 3 Interconnected Actor Networks 3.1 The Advisory System for Solving Problems of Sustainability in Conventional Agriculture 3.2 The Advisory System for the Development of Organic Farming 3.3 The Advisory System for Awareness Raising of and Training in Agroecology 4 Political and Theoretical Implications 4.1 The Compartmentalisation of Advisory Subsystems: Obstacles to Ecological Intensification 4.2 Reconsidering the Boundaries of Advisory Systems 5 Conclusion References Part III Adaptation Adaptation: Necessity and Project of Coexistence. Introduction to Part III Transformation of Organisations to Adapt to Territorial Challenges Different Forms of Adaptation Observed in Territories The Adaptive Capacities Conferred on Territories by the Coexistence of Agricultural and Food Models References 7 ProHuerta: From Subsistence Self-production to Throwing Down an Agroecological Challenge to Giants 1 Argentina’s Agrarian Structure 2 The ProHuerta Programme 3 Production and Food Models in Argentina 4 Analyses of the ProHuerta Programme from an Adaptation Perspective 5 Coexistence and Adaptation 6 Conclusion References 8 Hybridisation of Food Chains in Peri-urban Production Systems: The Example of Pisa in Italy 1 A Farming Model that Has to Adapt 1.1 Urban Pressure and Agriculture 1.2 Local Food Systems and Peri-urban Farming Systems 2 The Pisa Case Study and Surveys of Peri-urban Farmers 3 Hybridisation Between Food Chains: Motivations of Peri-urban Farmers and Territorial Scales 3.1 Hybridisation Between ALFCs and CFCs 3.2 Hybridisation of Food Chains and Territorial Scales 4 Discussion and Conclusion References 9 Marketing Tradition: Leveraging the Know-How and Identity of the Brazilian Faxinal Emboque Community 1 The Invented Tradition: A Concept to Understand Adaptation? 2 The Coexistence of Agricultural Models in Brazil 2.1 Transformations of the National Context 2.2 General Characteristics of the Traditional Agricultural Model of the Faxinalense 2.3 The Socio-spatial Organisation of This Agricultural Model 3 The Faxinal Emboque Case Study 4 The Place of Tradition in Faxinal Emboque 4.1 Swimming Against the Tide? The Marketing of Tradition by Faxinal Emboque 5 An Adaptation Based on Four Forms 5.1 New Practices 5.2 A New Meaning Given to Livestock Farming and the Faxinalense Way of Life 5.3 Ways of Assimilating the New 5.4 Practices of Resistance 6 Conclusion: Adaptation as a Way of Conceiving Tradition and Innovation Together References 10 History and Coexistence of Agricultural Development Models. The Cases of Argentina, France and Brazil 1 The Paradox of the Impossible and Necessary Coexistence of Development Models: The Theory of Territorial Pacts 2 Is the End of the Hegemony of the Territorial Pact of ‘Modern’ Agriculture Equivalent to Its Disappearance? 3 Adapting to a New Context 4 Conclusion and Discussion: Coexistence is not the ‘End of History’ References Part IV Transition Considering Transitions Through the Coexistence and Confrontation of Agricultural and Food Models: Scales, Actors and Territorial Trajectories. Introduction to Part IV Analytical Frameworks for Understanding Processes of Transition Towards Sustainability in Agricultural and Food Systems A Predominance of Theoretical Frameworks Oriented Towards the Analysis of Sociotechnical Systems: Regimes and Niches The Emergence of New Analytical Perspectives: The Territorial Conditions During Transition Processes Transition Processes and Coexistence of Agricultural and Food Models in Territories: The Case Studies Conclusion References 11 The Role of Interactions Between Organic and Conventional Farming in the Ecological Transition of a Territorial Food System 1 Farmers’ Trajectories Towards Organic Farming: Combination of Models and Interactions with Conventional Actors 2 A Diversity of Initiatives Originating from Both the Conventional World and the Organic and Alternative One 3 The Difficulty of Forging an Agrifood Project that Involves All Actors 4 The Diversity of Interaction Processes: Combination, Influence, Redifferentiation 5 Conclusion References 12 Contesting and Caring: Forms of Solidarity in Local Buying Groups 1 ‘Making a Community’: A Survey of Buying Groups 2 Contesting, Arguing, Caring: A Diversity of Solidarities 2.1 Caring in What Is Familiar 2.2 Contesting and Arguing in Public for Solidarities 3 Tensions in the Buying Groups Between Regimes of Engagement 3.1 The ‘Investigation’ of Production Conditions as a Source of Tensions 3.2 Yummy-Yum: Pressure on the Regime of Familiarity 4 Solidarity with Producers 4.1 Civic Solidarity ‘at a Distance’ 4.2 Solidarity in Familiarity and Affection 5 Conclusion: Transitioners but Towards What Type of Solidarities? References 13 Governing the Coexistence in a Transition Economy: Trade-Offs Between Smallholders and Mega Farms in the Vietnamese Dairy Sector 1 The Đổi Mới Policies and Support for the Peasant Farming Model 1.1 Peasant Farms at the Heart of the Post-Đổi Mới Dairy Economy 1.2 A Period Marked by a ‘Peasant’ Sociotechnical Regime 2 The Emergence of Mega Farms and the Establishment of a ‘Corporate’ Regime 2.1 Challenges to the ‘Peasant’ Regime 2.2 The Promotion of ‘Commercial Farms’ and ‘Companies’ 2.3 The Emergence of the ‘Mega Farm’ Model 2.4 A Period Marked by a ‘Corporate’ Sociotechnical Regime 3 The Coexistence of Dairy Models: Between Pragmatic Trade-Offs and the Dynamics of Capitalism 3.1 Land Management, a Prerogative of the State to Orient the Transition 3.2 Local Partnerships: A Factor in the Structuring of Milksheds 3.3 The Limits of the Logic of the Agri-chain 4 Conclusion References 14 Considering the Diversity of Transition Trajectories 1 The Necessity of an Agroecological Transition 2 A Two-Dimensional Framework to Situate Transition Approaches 3 Mapping Initiatives to Help Reflect on an Agroecological Transition Pathway 4 Conclusion: The Challenge of Diversity References Part V A new paradigm of territorial development? The Challenge of the Territorial Governance of Coexisting Models. Introduction to Part V New Perspectives in Switzerland and Japan and in the ‘Quality’ Economy Benefits and Limitations of Models The Challenge of the Territorial Governance of Coexistence References 15 Coexistence as Assemblage: The Multiplicity of Dairy Models in Switzerland 1 Multiplicity and Uniqueness of an Agricultural Sector as a Starting Point 1.1 Who? Producing Milk in Switzerland 1.2 Why? The Opposition Between Production and the Environment 1.3 For What and for Whom? ‘Quality’ Agri-chains and Strategies 1.4 How? Grasslands-Rich Country and Yet Fodder Imports 2 Beyond the Hybridisation of Agricultural Models: The Multiplicity of Assemblages 2.1 Some Comments on the Concept of Coexistence 2.2 Coexistence of a Multiplicity of Assemblages 3 Conclusion References 16 Neoliberalisation of Japanese Agricultural Policy and Contradictions Between Agricultural Models 1 Neoliberalisation of Agricultural Policy: A Family Farming Model in Crisis 1.1 Japanese Agriculture and the ‘Family Farming Model’ 1.2 Processes of Neoliberalisation of Japanese Agricultural Policy 2 Contradictions in Agricultural Models Induced by Neoliberalisation Processes 2.1 A Case Study of Dole Food Company 2.2 Reconstruction of the Tohoku Region After the March 2011 Tsunami 3 Conclusions References 17 What Future for the Food Systems Development Model that Emerged at the End of the Twentieth Century? 1 Coexistence 2 Coexistence and Competition Regimes 3 Alternatives and Coexistence of Political Projects 4 Quality as an Institution and in the Markets 4.1 Quality as a Judgment and as an Institution 4.2 Quality in the Markets 5 Quality Crises 6 Conclusion References 18 Agricultural and Food Models: Not to Believe Too Much in Them, but Believe in Them All the Same! 1 Practices that Are Always More Complex than the Models 2 How to and Why Study Models? 3 Conclusion References 19 Confrontation Between Models: Coexistence to Navigate Between the Naivety of Consensus and the Violence of Polarisation 1 Diversity’s Welcome Return 2 Perceptions of Diversity: Scales, Debates and Instrumenta(lisa)tion 3 Coexistence: The Challenge of Managing Diversity 4 The Territory as a Supporting Framework: Yes, but Not Only 5 Conclusion References 20 Governing the Coexistence and Confrontation of Agricultural and Food Models in a Territory: Paradigm, Postures, Methods 1 A New Paradigm? 2 Three Epistemological Postures 3 A Renewed Approach 3.1 From the Model to the Analysis of the Concrete System 3.2 A Framework for the Systemic Analysis of Situations of Coexistence 3.3 Considering Situations of Coexistence and Investigating Controversies 3.4 A Comprehensive but Demanding Approach 4 Conclusion References