Original scientific paper
MULTIFUNCTIONAL CONCEPT OF AGRICULTURE: JUST AN IDEA OR THE REAL CASE SCENARIO?
Darja MAJKOVIČ
Andreja BOREC
Črtomir ROZMAN
Jernej TURK
Karmen PAŽEK
Abstract
Multifunctionality as a feature of agriculture is subject to different
interpretations, depending on the state and context. However,
there is no comprehensive definition of this concept. Multifunctionality
originates in the supposition that agriculture, apart
from the production of food also has other broader social
functions and aspects, such as maintaining production potentials,
encouraging rural development (keeping the population in the
country, cultivating the landscape), and protecting the environment.
In the first chapter the authors present a view of the multifunctional
nature of European agriculture, followed by a presentation
of Slovene agriculture and its most important characteristics
in different contexts – economic and social. If definitions of multifunctional
agriculture published so far are taken into account, it
may be stated that this process is well under way in Slovenia. A
special part of this paper has been devoted to the empirical evaluation
of this phenomenon, where the authors indicate an incomplete
approach to testing and the difficulty in objective quantification
of such a complex phenomenon. Above all, it is necessary
to establish clear criteria for the follow-up of multifunctional
agriculture and its influences on general social interests.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
17859
URI
Publication date:
30.6.2005.
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