Multifunctionality of Farms – the Effects on Land Use Change
Multifunctionality of Farms – the Effects on Land Use Change

Summary/Abstract: One of the main goal of the rural development researches is to find such trajectories which have positiveimpact on human welfare without negative effects on natural resources. In this paper we investigate, ifmultifunctionality of farms can be a sustainable development trajectory, focusing on land use. The aimof the study is to show links between different development paths and their impact on land use intensityat the farm household level. The research bases on the 30 structured in depth interviews conducted inBavarian Mittelgebirge – Germany, during which the farmers or former farmers reported the 60 yearsfarm’s history. The results show the general trend to extensify land use and prove that the larger farmsare more active in provision of new function that their peers with smaller farm size. The broadeningstrategy is the only multifunctional form which ensures the extensive land use approach. This retrospectivestudy can be useful for regions with fragmented agriculture, big share of family farms and highlandlandscape like south Poland, Rumanian or Slovak highlands, where the natural constraints in agricultureencourage to search for such development paths, which do not exceed the environmental limits whileensuring the socio-economical welfare of inhabitants.

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