International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability

International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability 6 (2008) 3–21

Article

Global multifunctional agriculture: transitional convergence between North and South or zero-sum game?

Geoff A. Wilson

There is much debate about the ‘exportability’ of theories developed in advanced economies to developing countries. This issue is assuming particular importance for debates on the exportability of the notion of ‘multifunctional’ agriculture. By focusing on recent conceptualizations of multifunctionality that see it as a normative concept ranging from weak to strong multifunctionality, this paper argues that, with some modifications, the notion of multifunctional agriculture can be applied to both the developed and developing world. Based on these concepts, the paper investigates whether and how multifunctionality pathways differ between the developed and developing world, to what extent strong multifunctionality pathways in one area may be predicated on weak multifunctionality in another (global agricultural multifunctionality as a zero-sum game or as a win-win situation), and how the global transition towards strong multifunctionality could best be managed and by whom.

Keywords: multifunctional agriculture; travelling theory; productivism; non-productivism; global multifunctionality; managing multifunctionality