The Value of Multifunctional Agriculture: a case study in northern Europe

Abstract

In some of the most biodiverse regions of the world, people have farmed for centuries, shaping magnificent agricultural landscapes. Multifunctionality recognizes agriculture as a multi-output activity producing not only private (market) goods such as food, feed, or fibre, but also public (nonmarket, non-excludable, non-rival) goods such as agricultural landscapes, farmland biodiversity, water quality, or soil functionality. Additionally, multifunctional agriculture sustains rural development, including tourism and recreation, and preserves cultural heritage values such as the production of local high-quality foods linked to the territory.