Rural Landscapes and Agricultural Policies in Europe

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These final results and reflections stem from the MEA-Scope project, which focused on micro-economic instruments for assessing the impact of multifunctional agriculture within the European agricultural model. As one of the pioneering projects funded under the Scientific Support to Policies initiative of the 6th Research Framework Programme, it aimed to provide insights for policy-makers whose decisions can significantly influence millions of lives. Informed decision-making is essential, and scientific research plays a vital role in guiding these choices. MEA-Scope, alongside another project, addressed research priorities for European rural areas identified during a 2001 EC workshop on Multifunctionality in Agriculture. The initiative seeks to bridge discussions between policy-makers and the research community, identifying topics for a mid-term strategic research program. At the project's inception, the Multifunctionality of Agriculture was recognized as an area with numerous unresolved research questions. There was a clear need for both positivistic approaches focusing on technological aspects of agriculture, forestry, and rural activities, as well as normative research related to trade, food quality and safety, animal welfare, environmental concerns, rural development, and cultural issues.