New uses for old traditional farm buildings: The case of the underground wine cellars in Spain

Traditional buildings are important features of the rural landscape and a valuable documental source about rural technology and ways of life in the countryside. For the last 60 years many traditional farm buildings have lost their original function because of the great changes in the European agricultural sector. Their respectful conversion to adopt new activities provides economic, socio-cultural and landscape benefits for promoters and the whole rural community. Traditional wine caves used for the production and storage of wine are particular good examples of redundant rural buildings needing for viable new uses. The aims of this paper are to present the architectural features of these agro-industrial spaces and to discuss suitable new uses for them. The technical, socioeconomic and legal contexts of the reuse are also examined in the paper. The use of traditional wine cellars in the production of high-quality artisanal wines, cheeses and cured meats, for cultural activities, as restaurants, or in the production of mushrooms, among others, are viable reuse proposals according to the current needs in the Mediterranean rural areas. Nevertheless, special care must be taken when restoring these spaces in order to respect the identity and the aesthetic appeal of the ancient cellars and not to come into conflict with the planning and building regulations.     

The contribution of organic farming to rural development: An exploration of the socio-economic linkages of organic and non-organic farms in England

Organic farming has experienced considerable growth in recent years. Proponents of organic farming point to the environmental and nutritional benefits of organic systems, although these are contested by some. More recently, it has been argued that organic farming can provide rural development benefits through enhanced employment and through closer connections with the local economy, reconnecting consumers with producers and stimulating positive economic multipliers. Against the background of claims made for the rural development potential of organic farming, this paper considers the generation and retention of income, purchasing patterns, and direct employment impacts of a large sample of organic and non-organic farmers in England. The paper reveals some important distinctions between the characteristics of organic and non-organic farms and farmers. It is argued that most of these differences do not stem directly from differences in farming systems but, rather, reflect considerable differences in the people who operate organic farms as well as the distinctive business configurations they frequently adopt.     

中国农业农村发展七十年:成就、经验与展望——中国农业经济学会第十次会员代表大会暨2019年学术研讨会综述

<正>2019年是新中国成立70周年,是实施乡村振兴战略、全面建成小康社会、实现第一个百年目标的关键之年。深入贯彻党的十八大、十九大精神和习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想,全面总结新中国成立70年来农业农村取得的巨大成就,深刻分析成功经验,研判当前形势,探讨乡村振兴战略实施路径,将对推动农业农村现代化、推进乡村振兴战略实施具有重要的理论价值和现实意义。为此,中国农业经济学会第十次会员代表大会暨2019年学术研讨会,于2019年11月 15—1     

中国政府履行政治职能注意力配置研究——基于中央人民政府工作报告(1979-2019)的文本分析

政治职能是政府职能的核心职能,高效履行政治职能对维护社会稳定、保障国家有序发展至关重要。文章以1979-2019年41篇中央人民政府工作报告为研究样本,依据注意力基础观,采用Nvivo 11软件对41篇报告中涉及政治职能的内容进行定性和定量分析。研究发现:1979-2019年间,中国政府对法制维度的注意力处于较高水平,对祖国统一维度的注意力起伏变化最大,对廉政建设维度的注意力连续位于最高,对民主维度注意力逐渐稳定,对思想政治教育、外交、军事维度的注意力有上升趋势,对社会稳定维度的注意力自1994-1998年后逐时期下降。最后,为进一步优化中央人民政府政治职能注意力配置提出建议。     

农村土地整治创新模式的思考——基于广西壮族自治区崇左市龙州县“小块并大块”的启示

研究目的:分析龙州县"小块并大块"成功的基本经验,为完善农村土地整治制度、建设高标准基本农田提供借鉴。研究方法:通过实地走访、座谈、归纳总结做法及经验,对比现行制度,提出改进完善农村土地整治的建议。研究结果:龙州县开展"结对并地"进而"小块并大块"后,有利于农业机械化作业、产业结构调整和规模经营,促进了农民增收、农业增效。建议进一步改革完善土地整治模式,建立适应农业现代化、经营规模化发展需求的多元化项目选择机制,完善与群众及基层组织主体地位相适应的的项目组织模式,建立面向广大农村农民的普惠制资金安排方式,完善与中国耕地利用基本国情相适应的多层次的工程标准。