Multi-functionality in agriculture the existence of multiple commodity and non-commodity outputs that are jointly produced by agriculture; and (OECD, 2001)
Multifunctional agricultural landscapes in the urban fringe
Christopher Ling John Antill Royal Roads University, Victoria, BC
Multi-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 agriculture the existence of multiple commodity and
non-commodity outputs that are jointly produced by agriculture; and
(OECD, 2001) 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 Question How do farmers
perceive the multi-functionality of their farms? What relevance do
those perceptions have for landscape assessment and management?
Case 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 collection Sequential exploratory strategy (SES)
Qualitative Data: Importance of on-farm landscape features and
associated benefits Quantitative Data: Evaluated agricultural
multi-functionality Qualatative 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 Quantitative 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) What Matters and
Why? in the Landscape. A framework for integrated assessment of
attributes and functions within the landscape Matrix of benefits
(Farm 3) Landscape features/land use systemFunctional Benefit
Importance of benefit (H, M, L) a Scale of benefit (H, M,L)
FarmRegionProv Vegetable stand areaEconomic Social Culture HHMHHM
HHL Leaf composting areaProductionH HLL Front fields to lower field
(vegetable, cereal & flower patches, and orchard) Production
Economic Ecological HHLHHL HML Mid farm wooded corridor and pond
Ecological, Production, Social HLLHLL HML Upper-fields (vegetable
and sunflower patches, fruit trees) Production, Economic,
Ecological HHLHHL HML Northern wooded areaEcologicalHHHL Water
supply systemProductionHHLL Functional evaluation (Farm 3)
Functional benefits Vegetable stand area Leaf compost area Front
and lower field Forested areas Upper fields Water supply system
Ecological Productive Economic Cultural Social Total Functional
evaluation (Farm 1) Is the agri-tourism on the farm more important
that the farming? Functional evaluation (Farm 1) Functional
evaluation (Farm 2) Important supplier to local restaurants, and
partly forested landscape Functional evaluation (Farm 2) Functional
evaluation (Farm 3) Long established community farm supplying local
community Functional evaluation (Farm 2) Components of
functionality Conclusion 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
