Issues Paper:
The Multifunctional Character of Agriculture and Land

Paper prepared for FAO/Netherlands Conference
on " The Multifunctional Character
of Agriculture and Land"

Table of Contents

Executive Summary

THE MULTIPLE FUNCTIONS OF AGRICULTURE AND LAND

A CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

THE WAY FORWARD

Processes at the National and International Levels

Acknowledgements

Chapter 1

Introduction

Chapter 2

The MFCAL Concept

2.1 THE MULTIFUNCTIONAL CHARACTER OF AGRICULTURE AND LAND

2.2 KEY FUNCTIONS OF AGRICULTURE

2.2.1 Food Security

2.2.2 The Environmental Function

2.2.3 The Economic Function

2.2.4 The Social Function

Chapter 3

Illustrative Evidence

3.1 MFCAL PARAMETERS

3.1.1 Space and Scale

3.1.2 Time and Sequence

3.1.3 Multiple Impacts

3.1.4 Trade-Offs

3.1.5 Cross-Functional Benefits

3.1.6 Enabling Factors

Chapter 4

A Conceptual Framework

4.1 THE CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK: A WAY OF LOOKING AT TRENDS IN AGRICULTURE AND LAND

4.1.1 Regions with low natural resources potential and low institutional development

4.1.2 Regions with high natural resources potential and low institutional development

4.1.3 Regions with low natural resources potential and high institutional development

4.1.4 Regions with high natural resources potential and high institutional development

4.2 TRENDS IN MARKET DEVELOPMENT, TRADE AND MULTIPLE FUNCTIONS

4.2.1 Regions with weak markets, with low or high utilisation of multiple functions

4.2.2 Regions with well-defined markets and low utilisation of multiple functions

4.2.3 Regions with well-defined markets, with growing public and private demand for the multiple functions of agriculture and land

4.3 POLICY IMPLICATIONS OF THE CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

CHAPTER 5

The Way Forward

5.1 THE NATIONAL PROCESS

5.2 THE INTERNATIONAL PROCESS

References