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Copyright of Vegueta: Anuario de la Facultad de Geografía e Historia is the property of Vegueta: Anuario de la Facultad de Geografia e Historia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Monitoring crop phenology is essential for managing field disasters, protecting the environment, and making decisions about agricultural productivity. Because of its high timeliness, high resolution, great penetration, and sensitivity to specific structural elements, synthetic aperture radar (SAR) is a valuable technique for crop phenology estimation. Particle filtering (PF) belongs to the family of dynamical approach and has the ability to predict crop phenology with SAR data in real time. The observation equation is a key factor affecting the accuracy of particle filtering estimation and depends on fitting. Compared to the common polynomial fitting (POLY), machine learning methods can automatically learn features and handle complex data structures, offering greater flexibility and generalization capabilities. Therefore, incorporating two ensemble learning algorithms consisting of support vector machine regression (SVR), random forest regression (RFR), respectively, we proposed two machine learning-aided particle filtering approaches (PF-SVR, PF-RFR) to estimate crop phenology. One year of time-series Sentinel-1 GRD SAR data in 2017 covering rice fields in Sevilla region in Spain was used for establishing the observation and prediction equations, and the other year of data in 2018 was used for validating the prediction accuracy of PF methods. Four polarization features (VV, VH, VH/VV and Radar Vegetation Index (RVI)) were exploited as the observations in modeling. Experimental results reveals that the machine learning-aided methods are superior than the PF-POLY method. The PF-SVR exhibited better performance than the PF-RFR and PF-POLY methods. The optimal outcome from PF-SVR yielded a root-mean-square error (RMSE) of 7.79, compared to 7.94 for PF-RFR and 9.1 for PF-POLY. Moreover, the results suggest that the RVI is generally more sensitive than other features to crop phenology and the performance of polarization features presented consistent among all methods, i.e., RVI＞VV＞VH＞VH/VV. Our findings offer valuable references for real-time crop phenology monitoring with SAR data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Satellite crop identification processes are increasingly being used on a large scale, both to verify the crop and to improve production. As it is necessary to study phenological data over a period of time across a large territory, a lot of storage space is needed to save the satellite images and a lot of calculation time to analyse all this information. Sensing periods are usually established based on subjective expert criteria or previous experience. However, this decision may cause several differences when discriminating crop patterns, besides not guaranteeing good precision. These processes would greatly improve if the appropriate time periods could be found systematically using the minimum number of satellite images in the shortest possible time. In this paper, we propose a new methodology to determine a suitable sensing period for crop identification using Sentinel-2 images, applying hill climbing algorithms to the training sets of neural network models. We have used the method successfully in the 2020 Common Agricultural Policy campaign in the Extremadura region, Spain. The article also describes the use of the method in a case on tobacco detection in this region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Direct payments are meant to support EU farmers being the main component of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and receiving special attention during the new 2014-2020 reform. First introduced in 1992 after MacSharry reform and known as coupled payments (payments per hectare and animal head), they were designed to support farmers income. In 2003, the decoupled payments focused at encouraging farmers have been introduced in order to enhance the competitiveness and sustainability of the EU agriculture. In Spain, in 2006 the new changes in the Single Payment Scheme (SPS) were introduced, at the beginning according to the regime of partial decoupling. In 2012, the coupled payments were integrated under the SPS or transformed into additional payment. The aim of this paper is to analyze the application of direct payments, as the main support tool for EU farmers based on Spain experience. In this context, the authors have used secondary data provided by the Spanish Agrarian Guarantee Fund (FEGA) and the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environment of Spain (MAGRAMA) concerning the amount of allocated direct payments in Spain, number of beneficiaries and their distribution by territorial aspect. So far, the distribution of direct payments in Spain, similarly to other member states, is unequal, as a result of CAP development, diversity of production and the use of historical references to fix the decoupled payments per farm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The regional diversity of communal persistence in nineteenth-century Spain has been well documented by historiographers. Although the explanation of this divergence has been attributed to the social and environmental context, together with the prevailing market incentives, that characterized the different rural societies of this period, there has been no clear assessment of the role played by each of these factors. Through a comparative study of the historical data at the provincial level, this paper analyses the relative contribution of these elements to that divergence. The results diminish the significance of market signals and show how the social and environmental conditions interacted to limit, or promote, the dismantling of the common lands. Apart from the greater need to resort to the commons when it was necessary to increase agricultural production in dry regions, this paper highlights the role of unequal levels of access to land in promoting enclosure. The Spanish case illustrates the limitations of the theories that predict the inevitable drift towards individual property rights. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Purpose - The production of olive oil is one of the most important agricultural activities in Mediterranean countries. As such, and given the importance of wine and food tourism in recent years, there is a potential commitment to the development of olive tourism. Design - This paper aims to analyse the kind of the tourist for whom one of the reasons for travelling to a certain destination is to get to know the production of olive oil. Methodology - The methodology for conducting this research was based on fieldwork to learn about different aspects of tourists interested in learning about olive oil production. Approach - In this paper we present the results of fieldwork in Andalusia (Spain), the most important olive oil producing area in the world, to understand the relationship between olive oil and tourism. This paper also tries to create a profile of this kind of tourist. Findings - The results show the significant judgement that respondent tourists make of this agricultural activity, their satisfaction with the experience and also their relationship with rural activities and culture. Originality of the research - This paper is one of the first studies to be carried out in an important destination for olive tourism in Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Cuadernos de Desarrollo Rural is the property of Pontificia Universidad Javeriana and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Abstract: This article examines the governance structures for managing the location and operation of Intensive Livestock Farming Operations (ILFOs). The article focuses on the hog sector and compares two very different jurisdictions: Manitoba, Canada and Catalonia, Spain. Both are regions that have witnessed recent increases in hog production, including increasing spatial concentration of ILFOs and an increase in size of those ILFOs. Policy has both fostered and sought to manage the increased production. The paper draws on the literature on regulatory regimes, environmental regulation, and political economy to frame the comparative case studies of the impacts of environmental regulations on hog production. Following a brief background description of restructuring, the changing legislative frameworks for Manitoba and Catalonia are described. The paper concludes that environmental policy in Manitoba and Catalonia has been more successful in managing overall production (e.g., manure management, and location of operations) than in limiting total production. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Copyright of Spanish Journal of Rural Development is the property of Spanish Journal of Rural Development and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Cuadernos de Desarrollo Rural is the property of Pontificia Universidad Javeriana and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Water scarcity in Mediterranean countries, especially in drought periods, justifies the use of wastewater. The deficit of water resources influences crop productivity and threatens environmental sustainability. The objective of this paper is to analyse whether agricultural production and irrigation area determine the volume of reused wastewater in Spain. To that end, a panel data model is estimated with 187 observations from 17 Spanish regions between 2004 and 2014. The results obtained show that wastewater reuse depends on agricultural variables as well as factors which affect the supply and demand of water. These include the relative scarcity of water resources; the availability of surface water, groundwater and desalinated water; the population; and the revenues collected for sanitation and wastewater treatment. Prevailing economic conditions, however, are not a determining factor. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop appropriate management systems that guarantee the financing of sanitation and water reclamation services in all the regions that have significant crop production and scarcity of water resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we assess the economic impact of evaporation losses from great dams (GDs) and on-farm agricultural water reservoirs (AWRs) in the semi-arid Segura River basin, SE Spain. Evaporation losses from water reservoirs reduce the high water use efficiency reached in agriculture by means of other techniques such as well-built water pipes or drip irrigation and have a substantial economic impact. Evaporation losses have been calculated using Class-A pan evaporation data and pan coefficients, whereas their economic impact has been assessed using an economic mathematical programming model that simulates land and water allocation in the different irrigated areas of the basin. Our results show that annual evaporation from GDs and AWRs represents 8.7% of the water currently available for irrigation in the Segura basin. The economic impact of such losses has been estimated in a reduction of 6.3% of the value of agricultural production and 5.4% of the farm net margin. As less water is effectively available for farmers the basin's irrigated area is reduced in a 7.5%. This impact is greater, in both absolute and relative terms, in the areas accommodating the most intensive and profitable irrigated agriculture. The applied methodology and results could be useful to regional water agencies and collective irrigation schemes for future planning and management, including the assessment of alternatives for reducing evaporation from reservoirs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing pressure on water systems in the Mediterranean enhances existing water conflicts and threatens water supply for agriculture. In this context, one of the main priorities for agricultural research and public policy is the adaptation of crop yields to water pressures. This paper focuses on the evaluation of hydrological risk and water policy implications for food production. Our methodological approach includes four steps. For the first step, we estimate the impacts of rainfall and irrigation water on crop yields. However, this study is not limited to general crop production functions since it also considers the linkages between those economic and biophysical aspects which may have an important effect on crop productivity. We use statistical models of yield response to address how hydrological variables affect the yield of the main Mediterranean crops in the Ebro river basin. In the second step, this study takes into consideration the effects of those interactions and analyzes gross value added sensitivity to crop production changes. We then use Montecarlo simulations to characterize crop yield risk to water variability. Finally we evaluate some policy scenarios with irrigated area adjustments that could cope in a context of increased water scarcity. A substantial decrease in irrigated land, of up to 30% of total, results in only moderate losses of crop productivity. The response is crop and region specific and may serve to prioritise adaptation strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low fruit set is common in many plant species and may be caused by a variety of factors, such as predation, resource limitation or deficient pollination, or it may be an evolutionary strategy. In this paper, we investigate factors that affect fruit set in Aristolochia baetica (Aristolochiaceae), a Mediterranean pipevine found in southwest Spain. Fruit production was monitored in two populations over 4 years (2002-2005), and the causes of flower or fruit loss were determined. Experimental hand-pollinations were performed, and germinated pollen grains on the stigmas of open-pollinated flowers were quantified. Fruit set was always very low (4-14%). Floral abscission initially reduced reproductive output by more than 50%; then herbivory (6-12%) and fruit abortion (8-26%) caused further reductions. Given that the number of efficiently pollinated flowers was always higher than that of ripe fruits, and that xenogamous hand-pollination did not increase fruit set in relation to open-pollination, the final fruit production of A. baetica seems not to be pollen-limited. Fruit abortion of effectively pollinated flowers supports the idea that resource availability limits fruit set. In A. baetica, fruit abortion could lead to mate selection of the best quality fruits. Moreover, the initiated fruits that finally abort could also satiate predators, contributing to increase progeny fitness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista de Historia Económica / Journal of Iberian & Latin American Economic History is the property of Cambridge University Press and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This paper analyses the geographical proximity impact and the proximity paradox in a regional study of the Spanish agri-food industry. This study is mainly based on the Community Innovation Survey database, from which we get a representative group of agri-food companies in Murcia, Spain. The regional character of this research allows us to discount the institutional effects which could cause differences between companies in different regions. In addition, we consider individual innovative actors and alternative innovation outcomes. Our findings corroborate the significant impact of geographical proximity for the innovation in agri-food companies. We get differences between innovators when the geographical impact on absorptive capacities and innovation is examined: geographical proximity between agri-food companies and industrial states and R&D centres has a significant impact on firms’ absorptive capacities whereas geographical distance to large companies and transport facilities play an important role in determining R&D activities. Our results corroborate the proximity paradox for the geographical dimension finding a non-linear relationship for the absorptive capacity in agri-food companies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Productivity growth for the agricultural sectors of the 17 Spanish regions over the period 1977-88 is studied using non-parametric programming techniques. Productivity changes based on conventional inputs are linked to other economic, geographic and institutional issues. Average technical change in the Spanish regions grew at an annual rate of 2.9%, but with great regional variation. This paper presents a clear characterization of areas with greater technical progress, and the regions with technical regress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Desalination for sustaining agricultural production is conceived as an alternative water source in some Mediterranean countries faced with climatological and hydrological constraints. Although high costs are often cited as limiting factors, how farmers discern desalinated water has not been discussed in-depth in the literature. This paper aims to deepen how desalination is perceived by irrigators, what driving factors are affecting irrigation communities' decision-making processes, and what learnings can be drawn from their experiences regarding desalination acceptance or rejection. Eleven irrigation communities have been selected from Alicante and Murcia regions (South-East Spain), which account for more than 60,000 irrigators and 120,000 ha. Questionnaires were conducted between March and December 2019. Results highlighted the main advantages (water availability and supply security) and disadvantages (high price affecting profitable crop options, high-energy consumption, water quality standards, the production capacity of desalination plants, no seasonal variation in water production, and shortages due to technical problems) of using desalinated water. Additionally, through the analysis of regional and national press news, it can be concluded that socio-political aspects, such as corruption, cost overruns, and political disputes are also considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Plants, People, Planet is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Systematic studies of physico-chemical and stability-related properties, and chemical composition, of extra virgin olive oils (EVOOs) obtained from drupes cropped in specific regions are of special agricultural interest. This is particularly so with new production areas, where careful selection of the most suitable olive varieties for EVOO production is required. This paper reports the first comprehensive chemical characterisation of EVOOs obtained from three different olive varieties (viz., Picual, Morisca and Manzanilla de Sevilla) grown in a new cultivation area in Galicia (NW Spain). The Morisca variety was that providing the highest industrial oil yield (21%). However, the three types of EVOO exhibited no statistically significant differences in standard quality-related indices other than acidity. Morisca EVOO was that with the lowest content in oleic acid (mean = 68%) and highest content in linoleic acid (mean = 13%). Also, Morisca EVOO exhibited the highest sterol levels (mean = 1616 mg/kg) and Picual EVOO the lowest (mean = 1160 mg/kg). Picual EVOO contained greater amounts of the phenolic compounds luteolin and pinoresinol than both Morisca and Manzanilla de Sevilla EVOOs. Finally, Manzanilla de Sevilla EVOO exhibited differential attributes, with banana and olive fruit aromatic series prevailing predominantly over bitter-like, pungent-like and leaf series. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the surroundings of Munigua (municipium Flavium Muniguense), a small Roman town in the ancient province of Hispania Baetica (SW Spain). The city's economy was based primarily on copper and iron mining, which brought financial prosperity to its citizens. Local production of agricultural goods is thought to have been of little importance, as the regional soil conditions do not seem to be suitable for extensive agriculture. To evaluate the recent soil agro-potential and to find evidence for prehistoric and historic land use in the surroundings of Munigua, we applied a pedo-geomorphological approach based on the physico-chemical analysis of 14 representative soil and sediment exposures. Selected samples were analyzed for bulk chemistry, texture and phytoliths. The chronostratigraphy of the sequences was based on radiocarbon dating of charcoal samples. The site evaluation of the present-day soil agro-potential was carried out according to standard procedures and included evaluation of potential rootability, available water-storage capacity and nutrient budget within the uppermost 1 m. The results show that moderate to very good soil agro-potential prevails in the granitic and floodplain areas surrounding Munigua. Clearly, recent soil agro-potential in these areas allows the production of basic agricultural goods, and similar limited agricultural use should also have been possible in ancient times. In contrast, weak to very weak present-day soil agro-potential prevails in the metamorphic landscape due to the occurrence of shallow and sandy to stony soils. In addition, the study provides pedo-geomorphological evidence for prehistoric and historic land use in pre-Roman, Roman and post-Roman times. Catenary soil mapping in the vicinity of a Roman house complex reveals multi-layered colluvial deposits. They document phases of hillslope erosion mainly triggered by human land use between 4063 ± 82 and 3796 ± 76 cal BP, around 2601 ± 115 cal BP, and between 1424 ± 96 and 421 ± 88 cal BP. Moreover, geochemical and phytolith analyses of a Roman hortic Anthrosol indicate the local cultivation of agricultural products that contributed to the food supply of Munigua. Overall, the evidence of Roman agricultural use in the Munigua area indicates that the city's economy was by no means focused solely on mining. The production of basic agricultural products was also part of Munigua's economic portfolio. Our geoarcheological study thus supports the archeological concept of economically diversified Roman cities in the province of Baetica and in Hispania. Kurzfassung: Diese Studie untersucht die Umgebung von Munigua (municipium Flavium Muniguense), einer kleinen römischen Stadt in der antiken Provinz Hispania Baetica (Südwestspanien). Die Wirtschaft der Stadt basierte in erster Linie auf dem Kupfer- und Eisenbergbau, der den Bürgern finanziellen Wohlstand bescherte. Es wird angenommen, dass die lokale Produktion von landwirtschaftlichen Gütern von geringer Bedeutung war, da insbesondere die regionalen Bodenbedingungen für eine extensive Landwirtschaft nicht geeignet zu sein scheinen. Um das rezente landwirtschaftliche Potenzial der Böden zu bewerten und mögliche Hinweise für prähistorische und historische Landnutzung in der Umgebung von Munigua zu finden, wurden geoarchäologische Untersuchungen durchgeführt, im Zuge derer 14 repräsentative Boden- und Sedimentaufschlüsse bearbeitet wurden. Ausgewählte Proben wurden auf ihre physikalisch-chemischen Eigenschaften sowie Phytholiten untersucht. Die chronostratigraphische Einordnung erfolgte auf der Grundlage von Radiokohlenstoffdatierungen. Die Standortbewertung des heutigen landwirtschaftlichen Potenzials der Böden wurde nach Standardverfahren durchgeführt und umfasste die Bewertung der potenziellen Durchwurzelbarkeit, der verfügbaren Wasserspeicherkapazität und des Nährstoffhaushalts. Die Ergebnisse zum landwirtschaftlichen Potenzial der Böden zeigen, dass in Granit- und Auengebieten rund um Munigua ein mäßiges bis sehr gutes Ertragspotenzial vorherrscht, dass die begrenzte Produktion von landwirtschaftlichen Erzeugnissen erlauben würde. Eine vergleichbar begrenzte landwirtschaftliche Nutzung dürfte auch in der Antike möglich gewesen sein. Die Böden in der umgebenden Metamorphitlandschaft besitzen im Gegensatz dazu ein nur schwaches bis sehr schwaches Agrarpotenzial und Hinweise auf eine antike Agrarnutzung sind nicht vorhanden. Darüber hinaus liefert die Studie weitere Hinweise auf prähistorische und historische Landnutzung in vorrömischer, römischer und nachrömischer Zeit. So zeigt eine Catena, die in der Nähe eines römischen Hauskomplexes angelegt wurde, eine reliefabhängige Bodenabfolge mit mehrgliedrigen Hangkolluvien, die anthropogene Bodenerosion zwischen 4063 ± 82 und 3796 ± 76 cal BP, um 2601 ± 115 cal BP, und zwischen 1424 ± 96 und 421 ± 88 cal BP dokumentieren. Darüber hinaus weisen geochemische und Phytolithen-Analysen eines untersuchten römischen Gartenbodens (Hortic Anthrosol) auf den lokalen Anbau landwirtschaftlicher Produkte hin, die zur Nahrungsmittelversorgung von Munigua beitrugen. Die im Rahmen dieser Untersuchung erzielten Belege für eine landwirtschaftliche Nutzung im Gebiet von Munigua zeigen, dass die Wirtschaft der Stadt keineswegs nur auf den Bergbau ausgerichtet war. Auch die Produktion von landwirtschaftlichen Grunderzeugnissen gehörte zum wirtschaftlichen Portfolio Muniguas. Die Hypothese, dass die lokale Produktion von landwirtschaftlichen Gütern aufgrund eines unzureichenden Ertragspotentials der Böden unbedeutend war, kann somit nicht bestätigt werden. Vielmehr unterstützt diese Studie das archäologische Konzept einer wirtschaftlich diversifizierten römischen Stadt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper examines the challenges that exist in Brazil, with respect to the institutionalization of geographical indications of agricultural food products, based on the European experience. The recent expansion in the number of experiences of differentiation has not been able to engender changes required to stabilize a system that currently shows up extremely fragile and lacking coordination. The study is based on a comparative approach between the Brazilian and European legal framework considering the existence of diverse experiences of geographical indications of Spain (Andalusia) and Rio Grande do Sul (Serra Gaucha). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Traditionally, energy balances in agrarian production have been used to calculate the impact of food on the Spanish economy in physical terms. However, this tool is clearly insufficient. Human diet has undergone significant changes in recent decades. Between production and consumption, previously non-existent or insignificant processes such as transportation, packaging, processing, distribution, preservation, etc. have come to the fore. This article aims to evaluate the energy cost of the Spanish agri-food (AFS) system in the year 2000 with a view to ascertaining the relative importance of each link in the agri-food chain. This information is essential when it comes to designing any strategy for sustainable de-growth. The results of this research show that feeding the Spanish population is an inefficient process: the Spanish AFS currently consumes 1408 PJ, while all of its residents combined consume only 190 PJ. Agrarian production is effectively the main source of this inefficiency (34% of the primary energy consumed), but not the only one: processes such as the preservation and preparation of food in the home (18%), transportation (17%) and packaging (10%) show that the way we feed ourselves is not sustainable. The paper makes a strong point that a fundamental transformation of the AFS is required. A move towards organic farming and corresponding new consumption patterns (i.e., local, seasonal food, less meat consumption) may considerably reduce resource use in the AFS and contribute to sustainable de-growth in Spain. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: There has been a growing literature on alternative food networks (AFNs); structures that reconfigure the systems of production, distribution and consumption of food. Part of this literature emphasises the local scale and the idea of proximity. In a world that is increasingly urban, AFNs at a local scale can be more easily developed by linking peri-urban farmlands and cities. However, agriculture in the rural–urban fringe struggles to survive in the face of urban pressures and sprawl; a process which undermines viable agricultural production in the city''s countryside. A widely used strategy to address these pressures has been farmland protection, undertaken in different ways depending on the legal framework of particular countries. This paper considers farmland conservation and AFNs development issues through a case-study of the Baix Llobregat Agricultural Park (BLAP) in metropolitan Barcelona. It concludes that AFNs in peri-urban areas are only possible if farmland preservation is guaranteed, and that the former does not come as a direct consequence of the latter. The specific conditions in which both can occur will be of interest for scholars as well as policy-makers and planners. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Currently, agro-food cooperatives have not been making widespread use of websites despite the potential benefits of their successful integration and management. The advantages that websites offer include ease and reliability in processing orders, the increased quality of the services offered and improving relations with their stakeholders. In this context, the objective of this paper is to explore the level of website use among agrifood cooperatives, examining the history behind their adoption and the consequences of their implementation. For this purpose, it proposes a theoretical framework to identify these factors and reports on an empirical study of information obtained from a survey of Spanish agri-food cooperatives. The results of the study indicate that the adoption of websites is favoured by the site not being perceived as complex and by the managers having more training, among other factors. In view of these findings, it is suggested that it is important to make a more advanced use of the service, relating it correctly to the achievement of the company's objectives, in order to increase the adoption and extent of website use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper explains the process followed to generate the model used as a decision support tool for agricultural production planning in the most agrarian areas in Galicia (NW Spain). The model comprises three procedures that use 44 social, environmental and economic indicators developed using both monographic information and field data. The indicators allow for the selection of the most suitable crops and land uses for each agrarian area, and allow decision makers to define key factors for performing a diagnostic analysis and proposing relevant actions regarding agricultural production planning. The potential of the tool for defining a hierarchy of potential crops and land uses according to their degree of suitability has been illustrated by applying the model to one of the 88 Ecological and Economic Units studied (EEUs). The proposed model can be a useful tool for production managers, agricultural associations, governmental agencies and even non-governmental organizations in underdeveloped countries. The most innovative aspects of the model are the feasibility of grouping indicators to perform a diagnostic analysis of different scenarios, and that it can be adapted to any other region in the world, by adjusting the objectives of agricultural production planning and the corresponding indicators. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Pasture productivity depends on soil hydro-physical properties, which in turn are deeply affected by livestock grazing. However, the comparative response of different soil types, and particularly gypseous soil types, to grazing has hardly been studied before. This paper compares the effect of grazing on the soil hydro-physical properties of silty gypseous (Gy) and non-gypseous (NGy) soils located in a semi-arid region (Middle Ebro Valley, NE, Spain). Two different soil managements were selected: ungrazed natural shrubland (N) and grazed shrubland (GR) soils. The gypsum, CaCO3 and organic matter content (OM), soil texture, soil bulk density (ρ b ), penetration resistance (PR), saturated sorptivity (S), hydraulic conductivity (K), and the water retention curve (WRC) for undisturbed soil samples from 1 to 10cm depth soil layer were measured. The ρ b and PR in NGy soils were significantly higher than those observed in the Gy ones. Soil compaction due to grazing treatment tended to increase ρ b and decrease the K and S values. While no differences in PR were observed in the Gy soils between grazing treatments, the PR measured in the NGy soils under GR was significantly higher than the corresponding values observed under N. Differences in K and S between GR and N treatments were only significant (p <0.05) in NGy soils, where K and S values under the N treatment were almost four times greater than the corresponding values measured under GR. Overall, no differences in the WRCs were observed between soil types and grazing treatments. While the WRCs of NGy soils were not significantly affected by the grazing treatment, Gy soils under N treatment present a significantly higher level of soil macropores than under GR treatment. The hydro-physical features of Gy soils tended to be less affected by grazing than those of the NGy soils. These results suggest that livestock grazing, in both Gy and NGy soils, has a negative effect on the physical soil properties, which should be taken into account by land managers of these semi-arid regions where silty gypseous and non-gypseous areas coexist. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Copyright of Spanish Journal of Rural Development is the property of Spanish Journal of Rural Development and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Economic History Research / Investigaciones de Historia Económica is the property of Asociacion Espanola de Historia Economica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Economic History Research / Investigaciones de Historia Económica is the property of Asociacion Espanola de Historia Economica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Abstract: For the last decades, many traditional farm buildings have lost their original function because of the great changes in the European agricultural sector. The respectful conversion of these derelict constructions to adopt new economic or social uses constitutes an interesting practise to protect the rural landscapes and to set in motion complementary gainful activities to the agricultural production. The starting of a regional or local scheme to protect the built heritage in a particular rural area requires an appropriate knowledge of construction techniques and typological characteristics of the traditional architecture. According to the practical experience of the author in Central Spain, this paper deals with the proposal of methodological bases for data collection and subsequent analysis of the vernacular constructions in a particular rural area. The systematic assessment of the suitability for reuse of old agricultural buildings by multicriteria decision-making techniques to ensure the preservation of the most valuable examples is also discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Copyright of Ager: Journal of Depopulation & Rural Development Studies / Revista de Estudios sobre Despoblación y Desarrollo Rural is the property of Rolde de Estudios Aragoneses and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Abstract: Since 2002, the Galician Administration (NW Spain) has been working in the development of a decision support system for Agricultural Production Planning. To this end, an initial decision tool, Gestop®, was developed. However, the tool had a number of limitations for practical use because of the lack of differentiated data about the real situation of farms. With a view to improving the initial tool, a combinatorial method (CM) was developed. Such a combinatorial method used official census data to classify farms based on the different production processes, sizes and geographical locations of farms, among other factors. The combinatorial method proved very useful as a source of differentiated data for the decision support system. Yet, validating the results using robust statistical methods was considered essential in order to guarantee the suitability of the model for use. This paper uses discriminant analysis (DA) techniques to validate the types of dairy farms obtained from the combinatorial method for Galicia. Results clearly validate the combinatorial method and its use as a data source for decision support systems in Agricultural Production Planning. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This paper compares the degree of actual implementation of different farming techniques used by organic and conventional olive growers in Andalusia (a region in the south of Spain) as a means to achieve a twofold objective. On the one hand, the aim is to assess if the analysed farming techniques are significantly different between both types of olive growers and whether their implementation is widespread. On the other hand, it is necessary to establish whether the aforesaid techniques can be considered to be the best possible options from an environmental, economic and/or agronomic point of view. The analysis has taken into account many relevant techniques in olive growing so that planting, soil management, irrigation, fertilization, phytosanitation, harvesting, transport and pruning have all been studied. Results show how in organic farming, in almost all the cases, more appropriate techniques from an environmental, economic and/or agronomic perspective are being used than in conventional farming. However, there is still a long way ahead until the optimal techniques are the trend in both types of production systems. In this sense organic agriculture must be ahead of conventional and other alternative forms of agriculture to prove and increase its superior value to society. Organic farming regulations should better define obligatory, recommended and forbidden organic practices, for each crop cultivated and in as local a context as possible, and so overcome the present lack of regulation of some technical aspects, prevent the diffusion of undesired agricultural practices and encourage implementation of sustainable and rational ones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing biodiversity generally enhances productivity through selection and complementarity effects not only in natural, but also in agricultural, systems. However, the quest to explain why diverse cropping systems are more productive than monocultures remains a central goal in agricultural science. In a mesocosm experiment, we constructed monocultures, two‐ and four‐species mixtures from eight crop species with or without fertilizer and both in temperate Switzerland and dry, Mediterranean Spain. We measured physical factors and plant traits and related these in structural equation models to selection and complementarity effects to explain seed yield differences between monocultures and mixtures. Increased crop diversity increased seed yield in Switzerland. This positive biodiversity effect was driven to almost the same extent by selection and complementarity effects, which increased with plant height and specific leaf area (SLA), respectively. Also, ecological processes driving seed yield increases from monocultures to mixtures differed from those responsible for seed yield increases through the diversification of mixtures from two to four species. Whereas selection effects were mainly driven by one species, complementarity effects were linked to larger leaf area per unit leaf weight. Seed yield increases due to mixture diversification were driven only by complementarity effects and were not mediated through the measured traits, suggesting that ecological processes beyond those measured in this study were responsible for positive diversity effects on yield beyond two‐species mixtures. By understanding the drivers of positive biodiversity–productivity relationships, we can improve our ability to predict species combinations that enhance ecosystem functioning and can promote sustainable agricultural production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this paper is to estimate technical efficiency in the horticultural production sector in Navarra (Spain). Tomato and asparagus production are analysed separately. Both a non-parametric and a parametric approach to a frontier production function are used and the differences in the results are discussed. In a second stage we examine the degree to which the calculated efficiency correlates with a set of explanatory variables representing different features of farms such as size, factorial returns and economic performance. The results indicated that both tomato and asparagus production are relatively inefficient, with potential in both cases for reducing input or increasing output. These results hold regardless of whether the frontier was parametric or non-parametric. The estimated measures of technical efficiency were positively related with the partial productivity indices and negatively related with the cultivation costs per hectare. No conclusive results were obtained for the relation between size and efficiency. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• Landscapes are the result of human societies interacting with their environment. • Transdisciplinary research is crucial for the study of long-term landscape dynamics. • Historical landscapes are facing degradation caused by Modern mechanisation. Cultural landscapes are the result of human societies interacting with their environment, which is reflected in the onset and evolution of social practices such as settlement and agricultural production. This paper discusses the results of a transdisciplinary research program carried out on the vineyard landscape of the Rioja Alavesa district, one of the main wine-producing regions of Spain, focusing on the deserted village of Torrentejo (Basque Country, Spain). The study of archival records, combined with extensive archaeological survey and excavation, as well as the intensive analysis of geoarchaeological core samples, permitted the reconstruction of a long sequence of human settlement and agricultural practices extending over ~4000 years. The oldest documented records refer to a Chalcolithic occupation, developed on a buried gypsisol and possibly related to the climatic event at 4.2 ka BP. After a long hiatus, four phases of landscape transformation were documented above this Chalcolithic occupation: (1) the formation of a nucleated village in the Early Middle Ages, represented by the construction of a terraced agricultural landscape, and its passage under the control of different seigneurial powers over the High Middle Ages; (2) the abandonment of the village during the Late Middle Ages and the subsequent concentration of settlement in the charted town of Bastida; (3) a complete reorganisation and expansion of the local terraced systems in the 18th–19th centuries, in a context of specialisation and commercialisation of agricultural production; and (4) present-day mechanisation and capitalisation. These results therefore offer an interesting overview on the complexity and diversity of the historical trends that lie beneath the vineyard landscape of Torrentejo, proving the value of interdisciplinary research approaches for the investigation of the role of human settlement and agriculture in the formation and evolution of agricultural landscapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) is an important plant pathogen, causing economic impacts on crop production, especially in vegetable crops, including pepper. Resistance breeding is the most effective technique to manage TSWV epidemics. In pepper, the Tsw resistance gene is used. However, rapid emergence of resistance breaking (RB) strains of TSWV has hampered the control of TSWV. RB strains have previously shown clear geographic distribution that parallel each similar wild type (WT) strain. The present study collected pepper-infecting RB TSWV strains in limited districts of Spain and Turkey, and these strains clustered to two main clades based on the NSs protein amino acid sequences. Results verified the coexistence of the different strains in both countries. On the basis of amino acid sequence comparison of the collected isolates, common alteration responsible for resistance breaking was not identified in accordance with the preceding observations. These results emphasize the increasing diversity of the RB TSWV strains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Cuadernos Dieciochistas is the property of Ediciones Universidad de Salamanca and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

ABSTRACT Climate variability and change can have important impacts for crop production. Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate projections of the wheat yield in an increasingly warm climate. To address our objectives, we determined relationships between wheat yield in Spain and large-scale variables. Partial least squares regression was applied to determine the modes of the climate variables that drive wheat-yield variability, revealing a significant influence of surface solar radiation. Based on seasonal patterns of solar radiation, we determine models to estimate inter-annual wheat-yield variability. We find that the performance of the models based on solar radiation is better than that of earlier studies based on temperatures and precipitation variables. In this way, we use simulations of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 ( CMIP5) to project wheat-yield trend under warming climate by implementing direct statistical downscaling. The expected range of projected wheat yield trend for 21st century indicates decreases of about 6-8% across Spain. The suggested models could be applied for adaptation and planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista de Historia Económica / Journal of Iberian & Latin American Economic History is the property of Cambridge University Press and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The proportion of agricultural production that is being transformed into biofuels has been growing worldwide over the last decade. This has spurred the food versus fuel debate. This article aims at shedding light on this issue by studying price volatility relationships between food and biofuel prices in Spain. We use an asymmetric MGARCH model to evaluate volatility spillovers between the Spanish biodiesel blend and refined sunflower oil prices. Empirical results confirm that there are bidirectional and asymmetric volatility spillovers between these two prices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Analyzes the main factors which influences the agricultural and food technologies on Spanish society. Problem on agricultural production; The Spanish public lack of information on scientific research being carried out in European agriculture; Questions that have to be answered by the Spanish society before taking any actions on that scientific research.

Many studies have analyzed the impact of climate change on crop productivity, but comparing the performance of water management systems has rarely been explored. Because water supply and crop demand in agro-systems may be affected by global climate change in shaping the spatial patterns of agricultural production, we should evaluate how and where irrigation practices are effective in mitigating climate change effects. Here we have constructed simple, general models, based on biological mechanisms and a theoretical framework, which could be useful in explaining and predicting crop productivity dynamics. We have studied maize in irrigated and rain-fed systems at a provincial scale, from 1996 to 2009 in Spain, one of the most prominent “hot-spots” in future climate change projections. Our new approach allowed us to: (1) evaluate new structural properties such as the stability of crop yield dynamics, (2) detect nonlinear responses to climate change (thresholds and discontinuities), challenging the usual linear way of thinking, and (3) examine spatial patterns of yield losses due to water constraints and identify clusters of provinces that have been negatively affected by warming. We have reduced the uncertainty associated with climate change impacts on maize productivity by improving the understanding of the relative contributions of individual factors and providing a better spatial comprehension of the key processes. We have identified water stress and water management systems as being key causes of the yield gap, and detected vulnerable regions where efforts in research and policy should be prioritized in order to increase maize productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vine water status, yield and berry composition are variables within a vineyard. There is current interest in defining zones of similar yield and berry composition. The aim of this study was to compare two methods for identifying zones of similar yield within a 7.5-ha 'Pinot noir' vineyard. The two methods were based on: spatial distribution of average midday leaf water potential (Ψ) and plant cell density (PCD = near-infrared/red) which is a vegetation index. A proposal for splitting the vineyard into eight new irrigation zones was assessed. A 'blind' zonation based on regular polygons of equal sizes was also established as a standard for comparison. Coefficients of variation ( C) in yield for both methods were compared with that of the blind zonation. In 2006 and 2007, a k-means cluster analysis indicated that variability in Ψ was mainly effected by soil properties. In both years, the vineyard was fully irrigated (100 % ET). The two methods did not improve yield C for full irrigation in 2006 and 2007 compared to blind zonation. In 2009, regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) was applied resulting in higher variability in Ψ and yield. The Ψ method of zonation significantly reduced coefficient of variation under RDI but PCD method did not despite the reduction in C by 16.7 %. We recommend irrigation zonation based on Ψ when RDI is applied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cost-benefit analysis was performed to determine the profitability of producing wine grapes under different irrigation regimes. Vines irrigated by regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) and partial root-zone drying (PRD) were compared with vines grown under full irrigation in a typical vineyard in a semiarid environment with scarce water resources (south-eastern Spain) during three consecutive years. Five irrigation treatments were applied. The Control treatment irrigated at 60% of the ETc (Crop evapotranspiration) throughout the orchard cycle. PRD-1 and RDI-1 provided deficit irrigation from fruit set to harvest (irrigated 30% ETc) and post-harvest (45% ETc). PRD-2 and RDI-2 provided deficit irrigation from fruit set to harvest (irrigated 15% ETc) and post-harvest (45% ETc). From an economic point of view, only the Control, PRD-1 and RDI-1 treatments were economically viable since their profitability indicators were positive, although low, especially PRD-1. The more severe deficit irrigated treatments (PRD-2 and RDI-2) were unviable. The most profitable treatment was the Control which had a Net Margin/total cost ratio (NM/C) (representing the overall profitability of the vineyard) of 25.37% compared with the 1.90% of RDI-1 and 0.57% of PRD-1. The threshold price of water indicates that only the Control remains profitable with higher water prices of up to 0.46 € m. When the cost-benefit analysis took into account the extra quality achieved in PRD-2 and RDI-2, it indicated that these treatments, which were otherwise economically unviable, achieved high returns (17 and 16%, respectively) and were close to the Control treatment. Thus, a low or moderate bonus that encourages extra berry quality for premium wine production would make deficit irrigation practices profitable. Moreover, the financial indices estimated suggest that in the present situation, and with our soil and climatic conditions, PRD is less economically profitable (higher installation cost, lower NM/C, and threshold price of water) than RDI under the same conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista de Antropología Social is the property of Universidad Complutense de Madrid and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Water management in the Andarax river basin (Almeria, Spain) is a multi-objective, multi-participant, long-term decision-making problem that faces several challenges. Adequate water allocation needs informed decisions to meet increasing socio-economic demands while respecting the environmental integrity of this basin. Key players in the Andarax water sector include the municipality of Almeria, the irrigators involved in the intensive greenhouse agricultural sector, and booming second residences. A decision support system (DSS) is developed to rank different sustainable planning and management alternatives according to their socio-economic and environmental performance. The DSS is intimately linked to sustainability indicators and is designed through a public participation process. Indicators are linked to criteria reflecting stakeholders concerns in the 2005 field survey, such as fulfilling water demand, water price, technical and economical efficiency, social and environmental impacts. Indicators can be partly quantified after simulating the operation of the groundwater reservoir over a 20-year planning period and partly through a parallel expert evaluation process. To predict the impact of future water demand in the catchment, several development scenarios are designed to be evaluated in the DSS. The successive multi-criteria analysis of the performance indicators permits the ranking of the different management alternatives according to the multiple objectives formulated by the different sectors/participants. This allows more informed and transparent decision-making processes for the Andarax river basin, recognizing both the socio-economic and environmental dimensions of water resources management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent decades, approaches to evaluating irrigation efficiency have undergone a radical reevaluation. Classical models considered drainage water “lost” to irrigation by flowing out of the system. The recognition that drainage water can remain in the system and become available for use by downstream irrigators has forced the reassessment. Irrigation may be relatively inefficient at the irrigation system and field levels but quite efficient at the basin level. The implications for small-scale, gravity-flow canal systems managed by farmers, which constitute 85% of the world's irrigated area, are significant. These implications are explored in an historic and ethnographic analysis of the chain irrigation system of the Orbigo valley of northwestern Spain. This system of drainage and reuse helps to account for high and sustained agricultural productivity by farmers in the region over several centuries. The property rights institutions devised by farmers to manage this system are discussed and its internal organization compared with south Asian cascade irrigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, anthropologist Sharon R. Roseman examines the historical consciousness of labor of two former sharecroppers living in a rural village located in the Spanish Galician province of A Coruña. The common thread of most accounts of individual and household struggles for economic survival from the 1920's-1990's in rural A Coruña focus on people's goal of having maintained a mixed livelihood comprised of a cash income and secured access to agricultural holdings that would provide subsistence staples such as potatoes, rape, kale, maize, laying hens, chickens, and pigs.