"The sustainability of agricultural intensification in the early 21st century: insights from the olive oil production in Alentejo (Southern Portugal)"

Abstract

Widespread consensus has emerged around the importance of further agricultural intensification, if the nutritional requirements of the everexpanding global population are to be met (fao 2017). Mainstream models of agricultural intensification, closely linked to specialization, have proved to have a strong impact on the environment while also disconnecting agriculture from rural communities (Woods 2011; Primdahl and Swaffield 2010). Climate change and increasing urbanization pressures add urgency to the challenge of ensuring global food security without compromising the sustainability of social-ecological systems.