Fruit farming in the Mediterranean has traditionally been associated
with the climatic characteristics and the soil of each region. Despite
that, just as for every other type of farming, it has suffered many
changes. Today we can distinguish two fundamental models of
agricultural production, conventional and organic. As well, there is a
hybrid of the two, known as integrated agriculture. This section
explains these three models.
In the last decades, conventional production
has been the main model. Technology and science are applied to maximize
production goals and efficiency, including mechanization and the use of
chemical pesticides and fertilizers. Some of its main
drawbacks are the losing of soil fertility in the long term, the
economic cost of these products for the farmer, the toxicity
of some of them, the contamination of subterranean waters...
To
counter the negative social, economic and environmental impacts that
has come to be associated with this agricultural model, other types of
agriculture have sprung up. Small and medium scale organic agriculture
is more respectful of people and the environment. Its basic principle
is to respect the innate natural processes of agroecological systems.
So that they can sustain themselves without becoming degraded, use of
foreign or aggressive elements are avoided. Organic farming also links
its origin to other environmental movements which demand an agriculture
which is more humane, more just, and in harmony with the natural
environment. The movement for Food Sovereignty is an example of this.
Integral production is
a controlled form of conventional growing, which is on the rise in
Europe, putting into practice the transition to an agriculture which is
more respectful. In this type of agriculture, more respectful methods,
such as those of organic farming, while the restricting the use of the
synthetics and chemicals of conventional agriculture. For example,
synthetic pesticides are only used when other methods have been
insufficient.