Filières agro-alimentaires et développement territorial : une lecture des dynamiques de proximités institutionnelles

Overview & Synopsis

Research on local agrifood industrial systems calls for the integration of the analysis of territorial dynamics. This article uses the theoretical approach of ‘Dynamics of proximity” in order to analyze the territorial dynamics in terms of specification process and territorial trajectory. The concept of proximity can, indeed, provide some interesting insights to observed coordination patterns and, thus, the dynamics of territories. This paper presents the results of two case studies of local food systems in the region of Midi-Pyrénées: the “summer fruits” and the “veau sous la mère” (calves raised with cow milk) systems. Although it raises the problem of measurement, the use of the concept of proximity allows us to encompass the simple identification of some closed links within the systems. It also helps to understand the complex combination of both competition and cooperation relationships among local actors, who are reunited within a food chain project. Moreover, the dynamic analysis implied by the issue of territorial trajectories brings us to define more precisely the nature of externalities potentially yielded by the different proximities. We show that externalities are not always sufficiently positive and that territorial trajectories are not stable. Other analytical tools can be developed in order to take into account the process of resources accumulation and changes in territorial trajectories. The authors examine various issues to analyze non-market relationships and collective actions. They suggest that the concept of “territorial capital” can be useful to explain the link between market and non-market local dynamics generated by those agrifood supply chains.