LA MULTIFUNCIONALIDAD DE LA AGRICULTURA EN EL MARCO DEL COMERCIO INTERNACIONAL: CASO DE SUBVENCIONES EUROPEAS AL SECTOR DEL PLÁTANO EN CANARIAS

Abstract

The multifunctional role of agriculture —in its productive, social and environmental aspects— is considered a legitimate objective of agricultural policies. However, there is much debate about the best way to promote these functions together, and criticism about the European agricultural model. These discussions need to be complemented with studies that enrich the debate with empirical data and a local perspective. The purpose of this paper is to analyze from this local perspective the legitimacy of the European support to agriculture under the multifunctionality argument. In this sense, a case of study was chosen: the banana sector in the Canary Islands; and a participatory study with all stakeholders was made. The results show that European support to this sector —criticized for its capability to distort trade flows— contribute to social and environmental objectives through the maintenance of production and trade quotas. It is also detected that this support should put more effort into achieving product differentiation quality and promote the competitiveness of the sector. In any case, multifunctionality arguments will have credibility as long as Europe shows its interest in the multifunctionality of agriculture in other regions of the world. Keywords: multifunctionality; agriculture; agricultural policy; international trade; banana sector; Canary Islands