Interrogating sustainable productivism: lessons from the ‘Almerían miracle’

Article


Juntti, M. and Downward, S. 2017. Interrogating sustainable productivism: lessons from the ‘Almerían miracle’. Land Use Policy. 66, pp. 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2017.04.016
TypeArticle
TitleInterrogating sustainable productivism: lessons from the ‘Almerían miracle’
AuthorsJuntti, M. and Downward, S.
Abstract

Many have suggested that a new form of sustainable agricultural productivism is needed in response to the challenges to food security posed by climate change and population growth. This paper employs elements of ecological modernisation theory and focusses on sustainability challenges and solutions, as well as the knowledge networks and production rationale to assess whether the intensive horticultural industry located in the Spanish province of Almería represents sustainable productivism. The Almerían horticultural industry, lauded as an example of neo-endogenous growth, manifests a range of sustainable technologies addressing environmental impacts. Yet, we argue that Almerían horticulture represents ‘weak ecological modernisation’ and its main sustainability challenges are posed by water scarcity, a demand led production rationale and the precarious situation of family farms that at present provide a degree of economic embeddedness in this highly industrialised production model. A competitive imperative yields marketing organisations huge sway in production decision-making, and while a cost-price squeeze has driven efficiency in the use of farm inputs and product innovation, it has paradoxically made further advances in sustainable water management very difficult to achieve. Transforming the Almerían horticultural industry into a truly sustainable model of productivism would require the concerted efforts of individual farmers and marketing organisations as well as regional and local water governance institutions and land use planning. A significant obstacle to this remains the dominant normative perception that justifies groundwater abstraction on the grounds of its high economic returns and the perceived inability of small farmers to invest in desalinated water or further technological solutions.

KeywordsSustainable productivism; Ecological modernisation ; Horticulture
Research GroupLaw and Politics
PublisherElsevier
JournalLand Use Policy
ISSN0264-8377
Publication dates
Online27 Apr 2017
Print01 Jul 2017
Publication process dates
Deposited27 Apr 2017
Accepted10 Apr 2017
Output statusPublished
Accepted author manuscript
License
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2017.04.016
Web of Science identifierWOS:000403738100001
LanguageEnglish
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