Mountain Regions as Natural Laboratories for the Evaluation of Agricultural Policies

The increasing differentiation and the evident role of limits make mountain regions like natural laboratories in which the consequences of economic and, especially, agricultural policies can be analysed. The importance of agricultural and forestry activities in mountain regions have diminished in recent decades because of low productivity, well-known environmental constraints, and the elevated costs of production. The multifunctional role of agriculture remains fundamental for the development of mountain areas. Public support to mountain agriculture, despite of some significant results, have not helped to reduce the gap between the stronger and the weaker mountain areas. Contrary to popular belief, the analysis shows economic policy measures generally do not favour mountain regions over other areas. Five conditions are suggested for ensuring sustainable development for the mountain areas: the participation of the local population in defining the objectives of development, the application of flexible rules, the control of natural resources by the local population, adequate technical progress; territorial marketing.