GIAHS as an Instrument to Articulate the Landscape and Territorialized Agrifood Systems—The Example of La Axarquía (Malaga Province, Spain)

Abstract

The theoretical literature makes a connection between the notions of landscape and territorialised agrifood systems, but these connections are rarely specified or explained. Their consideration in development proposals requires the relationship between the two and their magnitude to be made explicit. This article enquires into this and explores its programmatic forecasts from both the theoretical and empirical perspectives. An epistemological and regulatory review points to the FAO Globally Important Agriculture Heritage System (GIAHS) programme as the instrument that articulates the logic of landscape and territorialised agrifood in marginal rural areas. The empirical part of the study focuses on the dried grape (raisin) agrifood system in Axarquía (Malaga province, Spain) GIAHS since 2018. Territorial recognition and semi-structured interviews have enabled a deep study of the praxis of these connections. Axarquía is seen to be an excellent laboratory of the synergies between territorialised agrifood system synergies and landscapes. GIAHS is substantiated as a virtual instrument that can contribute to agriculture-based territorial development. It acts as a stimulus to development and combines forces through territorial governance processes. It highlights the value of agriculture as a cornerstone of development, examines agricultural functionalities in detail, and gives meaning to agricultural landscapes.

The Precarious Survival of an Ancient Cultural Landscape: The Thousand-Year-Old Olive Trees of the Valencian Maestrat (Spain)

“…Unlike other Spanish GIAHS, such as the one in Horta de València [30] or in La Axarquía in Málaga [48], no research article at the international level has been specifically written about the thousand-year-old olive trees of the Valencian Maestrat. This article aims to rectify this situation and highlight the value of this thousand-year-old cultural landscape in the international scientific community.…”

Digital Ecosystem Model for GIAHS: The Barroso Agro-Sylvo-Pastoral System

“…Continuously ensuring the existence of adequate, sustainable development indicators within the specific setting of a GIAHS requires a well-structured strategic approach that involves the primary contexts of these rural territories [84,85]: (a) natural environment; (b) local and regional government; (c) economy; and (d) existing population.…”

The medieval croft plužina field system in a mountain region of central Europe: The interdisciplinary record of the earthen field boundaries in Debrné, Czechia

“…Research on historical field systems is developing rapidly (Brown et al, 2020(Brown et al, , 2021(Brown et al, , 2023Kinnaird et al, 2021;Turner et al, 2021;Vervust et al, 2020). The genesis of different types of landscapes in Europe (Lebeau, 1996;Poschlod, 2015), as well as the historical and ecological factors of parcel boundaries (Kinnaird et al, 2021;Turner et al, 2021) as the main features of field systems in mountainous and foothill landscapes are at the forefront of interest (Fanta et al, 2022;Keller et al, 2023;Silva-Pérez & González-Romero, 2022;Vervust et al, 2020). In the field of research on agricultural settlements in central Europe, the study of the typology and chronology of earthen field-boundary structures (a variation to agricultural terraces) as a key component of the historical landscape has developed (Beneš et al, 2022;Čapek & Holata, 2017;Fanta et al, 2020Fanta et al, , 2022Houfková et al, 2015;Poledník Mohammadi et al, 2023;Shetti et al, 2022;Šitnerová et al, 2020;Škabrada, 2022).…”