摘要：This paper explores the roles of agriculture, food production and food marketing in the sustainable development of Europe’s mountain regions. A key starting point for any such exploration is to define the term ‘mountain’. Currently, the only legal definition of mountain areas at the scale of the entire European Union (EU) is that of Article 18 of the Less Favoured Areas (LFAs) legislation (Regulation (EC) No 1257/99). This definition accounts for over a quarter of all agricultural land in the EU and characterises mountains as areas exhibiting specific geographic characteristics (e.g. altitude and steep slopes, resulting in harsh climates and short growing seasons) which result in increased production costs (EC, 2009). However, according to a common topographic definition of mountains, many areas not included under Article 18 can also be considered as mountains. Such approaches characterise 29% of the EU as mountainous, providing a home to over 16.9% of the population; these proportions (of land area and population) increase to 41% and 25% when Turkey, Norway and Switzerland are included (ESPON et al., 2012; EEA, 2010). Furthermore, as much as 30% of mountain area defined under Article 18 is not topographically mountainous, due to an agreement made on the accession of Sweden and Finland that all areas north of 62°N would be classified under Article 18 (EEA, 2010). Despite these discrepancies between approaches, mountains clearly represent a significant component of Europe’s land and society. Below, we evidence the disproportionate importance of agricultural and food production in these regions, in terms of socio-economic factors, the delivery of ecosystem services, and sustainable development. This is followed by a review of the role of food labelling and certification in distinguishing mountain foods in the marketplace, potentially strengthening food supply chains and contributing to the delivery of positive externalities.
其他摘要：Recent research has demonstrated significant demand for foods from Europe’s mountain areas; the production of these foods delivers significant positive externalities, despite producers facing greater constraints than their lowland equivalents. Existing markets often fail to account for these factors due to a lack of clear definition of mountain products. This research investigated the current and potential future role of food labelling and certification to support mountain food supply chains and sustainable mountain development, using expert/stakeholder interviews, spatial analysis, and email survey. Results demonstrate that existing EU Geographical Indication schemes are important for marketing mountain foods; however, they are less suitable for small-scale producers. National schemes for certifying mountain products have limited effectiveness, although considerable scope for enhancement exists. Recent EU legislation defining mountain products represents a considerable opportunity; however, challenges and potential trade-offs remain regarding the development of criteria on the location of supply chain stages and environmental factors, certification and control methods, and definition of mountain areas.
关键词：produits alimentaires de montagne ; labellisation alimentaire ; certification
