TRAJECTORIES OF CHANGE IN OLIVE GROVE EXPANSION AND INTENSIFICATION IN ALENTEJO (PORTUGAL): DISCUSSING A LANDSCAPES APPROACH TOWARDS MORE SUSTAINABLE FUTURES

Abstract

Olive groves in Alentejo (Portugal) have exponentially increased their extent and intensive character over the past 15 years. This has been driven by the rise in global demand for olive oil, in the availability of water for irrigation and by a strong political and social support. As a result of this, whilst in 1998 olive groves in the Alentejo occupied 144,759 hectares (15.38 % of which were irrigated), in 2015 they occupied 169,869 hectares (28.86% of which were irrigated, including 18.32 % located in the Alqueva irrigation system) (EDIA 2016 & 2017). In parallel, the traditional farm structure in olive groves is shifting towards land concentration in areas with access to irrigation, and towards property fragmentation and abandonment in marginal lands. Nonetheless, the existing governance framework is fragmented and has gaps, with policy tools focusing on individual aspects of the system, such as preventing the cutting of olive trees (Despacho Normativo 1/2002) or regulating the price of water (Despacho Normativo 3025/2017). This is all largely underpinned by technological-innovation discourses, with governance and social innovation largely missing from the discussion. A much-needed overarching governance strategy and vision for more sustainable futures of the sector remains absent. In response to such pressing challenges, this paper will discuss the hypothesis of whether a landscape approach can contribute to build novel governance frameworks that drive olive-groves towards scenarios of increased sustainability. The main goal of the paper is to discuss how these gaps in governance can be filled by designing and testing a landscape approach (Sayer et al, 2013; 2015; 2016) that can ultimately foster the co-construction of a more sustainable land-use system. To achieve this, the paper begins by identifying and characterizing the current mosaic of olive groves and land-management models and their current trends. This is then followed by an analysis of the governance actors, networks, levels and institutions driving change in the sector, including the discourses that underpin key challenges, such as sustainable intensification, and the role potentially played by a landscape approach. Scenarios of future change (business-as-usual vs others) are then discussed with a view on the next CAP cycles (2020-2032), including one underpinned by adopting a landscape approach. Research in this paper is based on a trans-disciplinary approach, ultimately aiming to contribute to knowledge co-construction.