Pressures, opportunities and benefit sharing in mountain landscapes and communities

Mountain areas face the contradictory forces of marginalisation, commodification, conservation, rewilding, ‘green’ industrialisation, and bioeconomy developments. The remaining high nature value farming systems of these areas enabling high quality food production experience varying or limited degree of viability and support. Climate change, ecological crisis, and pandemics interact with ‘surprises’ such as Brexit, stuck container ships, and the return of large carnivores. How may this influence the position of mountain food systems?

This keynote draws on recent research on the accelerating competition for access and control over mountain land and resources. New technology, products and markets (eg wind, bioprospecting) represent opportunities, but also further pressure on local and indigenous land use rights, ownership and land management systems that used to ensure the reproduction of these ‘food landscapes’. Justice and distribution of benefits and costs, and the role of food systems in transforming mountain landscapes are some key concepts and aspects here.