Viticulture in Jumilla (Spain). Contributions to sustainable territorial development

Abstract

Sustainable development is a concept that appears for the first time with the publication of the Brundtland Report (World Commission on Environment and Development, 1987), which warned of the negative environmental consequences of economic development and globalization and tried to find possible solutions to the problems derived from industrialization and population growth on the landscape and territory. Viticulture is an agricultural practice that respects the environment and, specifically, in the case study at hand, whose topic, the designation of origin of Jumilla, has been one of the main economic drivers of this territory. Viticulture represents important opportunities for economic and social development, consolidates jobs and respects environmental balance. Through the methodology offered by analysis of weaknesses, threats, strengths, opportunities (SWOT) and the exploitation of statistical data offered by official organizations, the growing importance of seasonal crops that are replacing vineyard plantations and other crops is observed. traditional, since they offer greater profitability, although they produce negative environmental effects due to the use of pesticides, as well as water consumption that endangers the recharge capacity of aquifers. It is necessary to increase vine cultivation and promote new activities related to wine tourism that can help the competitiveness of the crop through competitive profitability that will help establish the population and safeguard the value of the land, its landscapes and an inherited environmental heritage. for almost two millennia.