Predictable patterns of unsustainable intensification

To increase understanding of agricultural intensification processes over time and their sustainability, we studied dimensions of sustainability in the context of ongoing expansion of intensive, commercial mono-cropping of banana in Southwestern Uganda. In our approach we considered five dimensions o...

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Autores principales: Rietveld, Anne M., Groot, Jeroen C.J., Burg, Margreet van der
Formato: Journal Article
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: Informa UK Limited 2021
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/114143
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author Rietveld, Anne M.
Groot, Jeroen C.J.
Burg, Margreet van der
author_browse Burg, Margreet van der
Groot, Jeroen C.J.
Rietveld, Anne M.
author_facet Rietveld, Anne M.
Groot, Jeroen C.J.
Burg, Margreet van der
author_sort Rietveld, Anne M.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description To increase understanding of agricultural intensification processes over time and their sustainability, we studied dimensions of sustainability in the context of ongoing expansion of intensive, commercial mono-cropping of banana in Southwestern Uganda. In our approach we considered five dimensions of sustainability: economic, agricultural productivity, environment, social and human. We compared farming systems in 1998 and 2018 and integrated a gender lens. A total of four focus group discussions, two group interviews and fifteen individual interviews (8m / 7f) were conducted, complemented with a discourse analysis of newspaper articles. Results show that although intensification of banana production increased the average income level indicating improvement in the economic dimension, it did not yield sustainable outcomes in the other dimensions. The integrated analysis of five dimensions of sustainability illuminated aspects often neglected in assessment studies or policy-making around agricultural intensification, in particular socio-economic and gender dynamics. We further recognized that the observed local trends are part of a set of patterns that take place throughout the world. We conclude that to advance sustainable development, stakeholders should move away from the current over-emphasis on economic values prioritizing the individual, and that avoiding patterns of unsustainable development requires broadening to environmental and community values.
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spelling CGSpace1141432025-11-11T18:51:25Z Predictable patterns of unsustainable intensification Rietveld, Anne M. Groot, Jeroen C.J. Burg, Margreet van der sustainable intensification intensive farming gender analysis intensificación sostenible explotación agrícola intensiva análisis de género To increase understanding of agricultural intensification processes over time and their sustainability, we studied dimensions of sustainability in the context of ongoing expansion of intensive, commercial mono-cropping of banana in Southwestern Uganda. In our approach we considered five dimensions of sustainability: economic, agricultural productivity, environment, social and human. We compared farming systems in 1998 and 2018 and integrated a gender lens. A total of four focus group discussions, two group interviews and fifteen individual interviews (8m / 7f) were conducted, complemented with a discourse analysis of newspaper articles. Results show that although intensification of banana production increased the average income level indicating improvement in the economic dimension, it did not yield sustainable outcomes in the other dimensions. The integrated analysis of five dimensions of sustainability illuminated aspects often neglected in assessment studies or policy-making around agricultural intensification, in particular socio-economic and gender dynamics. We further recognized that the observed local trends are part of a set of patterns that take place throughout the world. We conclude that to advance sustainable development, stakeholders should move away from the current over-emphasis on economic values prioritizing the individual, and that avoiding patterns of unsustainable development requires broadening to environmental and community values. 2021-06-24 2021-06-29T13:43:05Z 2021-06-29T13:43:05Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/114143 en Open Access application/pdf Informa UK Limited Rietveld, A.; Groot, J.C.J.; Van der Burg, M. (2021) Predictable patterns of unsustainable intensification. International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability, Online first paper (24 June 2021). ISSN: 1473-5903
spellingShingle sustainable intensification
intensive farming
gender analysis
intensificación sostenible
explotación agrícola intensiva
análisis de género
Rietveld, Anne M.
Groot, Jeroen C.J.
Burg, Margreet van der
Predictable patterns of unsustainable intensification
title Predictable patterns of unsustainable intensification
title_full Predictable patterns of unsustainable intensification
title_fullStr Predictable patterns of unsustainable intensification
title_full_unstemmed Predictable patterns of unsustainable intensification
title_short Predictable patterns of unsustainable intensification
title_sort predictable patterns of unsustainable intensification
topic sustainable intensification
intensive farming
gender analysis
intensificación sostenible
explotación agrícola intensiva
análisis de género
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/114143
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