The multifunctionality of agriculture

The concept of the multifunctionality of agriculture is something on which there is still no consensus. However, the multifunctionality of agriculture is recognized for its importance that goes beyond its ability to provide man with food, fiber and energy. Contemporary agriculture takes on other functionalities, and its capacity for interaction between agricultural production and rural development can be highlighted.

Discussions on the multifunctionality of agriculture gained greater dimension when taking part in debates on rural development and the environment, among the main international organizations that deal with issues related to agriculture, food and the environment, especially since Rio-92. The concept of multifunctionality in agriculture can be understood as an instrument for analyzing agricultural systems and their relationships with other sectors of the economy and society. This also favors the introduction of innovations that enable the transition to a development model more coherent with the ideal of sustainability, directly contributing to a territorial approach to development.

 Agriculture, in addition to food production, is directly linked to aspects related to nutrition and health. These, in turn, gain greater importance as people are older, have a better level of income and are increasingly urban and demanding. The multifunctionality of agriculture considers, in addition to the functions already mentioned, environmental, territorial and social functions. The environmental function of agriculture is related to the production of goods and services not regulated by market laws, such as soil and water conservation, preservation of biodiversity and sustainable management of natural resources. The territorial function is directly related to the ability of agriculture and livestock to maintain balance between territories and the social sphere, to its ability to make rural areas socioeconomically viable and, often, urban areas as well.

From this introduction, the importance of agriculture for society in general becomes evident, something that is often still not well understood and perceived, especially by the urban population, which currently houses, in the case of Brazil, 85% of the total Brazilian population. . Given its importance in numerical terms and its ability to form opinions, in addition to its decision-making power, it is necessary to work with this population so that it can adequately understand the real role of modern agriculture in people's lives. Some international organizations such as FAO – the UN body for agriculture and food, the Inter-American Institute of Agricultural Sciences – IICA, in the case of Brazil, the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply, have provided conditions for the multifunctionality of agriculture to be recognized and valued. Today, when we refer to agri-food systems, we are giving agriculture a much broader character. As a result, in 2021, at the UN headquarters in New York, there will be an international event where the central theme will be “Sustainable Agri-food Systems”. The multifunctionality of agriculture is closely related to the issue of sustainability, which is gaining more space in society every day. Increasingly, it is consumers who dictate the rules. They want products produced in an environmentally friendly, socially fair and ecologically sound way. In the case of foods of animal origin, the issue of animal welfare is also strongly considered. Thus, new themes are incorporated and considered when it comes to food production. The new dynamics of agriculture, which incorporates the concepts of multifunctionality of agriculture, the production of safe food and food security, will increasingly require that agriculture be treated in a holistic way, with a systemic vision, where all or most of the factors involved in food production, soil and water conservation, biodiversity preservation and natural resource management are considered. In short, modern agriculture goes far beyond the production of food, fiber and energy. Environmental services, gastronomy, bioprocesses, green chemistry, among others, are closely linked to agriculture.

Fernando Mendes Lamas, Researcher at Embrapa Agropecuária Oeste, Dourados, MS