Conflicting agricultural territories and unsolved public problems. The case of Val di Non in Italy

Abstract

Beginning with UN Agenda 2030, the European Commission has recently adopted strategic policies such as Farm to Fork, the Biodiversity Strategy, and the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), setting objectives for addressing environmental and climate challenges. Using both quantitative and qualitative research methods, this study analyses land-use changes and landscape transformations in Val di Non, an important apple-production area in the Trentino Region of Italy. The paper reflects on the gap between policy formulation and implementation through spatial planning. It argues that the local production system is unlikely to change unless territorial planning addresses the growing social demand for more sustainable agricultural policies and practices. The study highlights the need for planning tools capable of mediating between planning and social practices in territories shaped by monoculture agriculture.