Press release: Traditional farming supports food, nature and cultural identity

No. 85 - 16.06.2026

Research team led by Göttingen University studies traditionally farmed landscapes around the world

Traditionally farmed landscapes can help produce food while also protecting nature and keeping cultural traditions alive. A research team led by the University of Göttingen examined “Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS)” as defined and recognized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. The researchers found that these landscapes can offer practical lessons for sustainable land use worldwide — but only if strategies are adapted to local people, environments and farming traditions. The results were published in Ecology & Society.

The study looked at agricultural heritage systems around the world, including terraced rice fields in the Philippines, traditional pastoral systems such as livestock grazing and rye and potato farming in the mountainous areas of Portugal, oasis agriculture where date palms are cultivated thanks to traditional irrigation systems, and mixed farming landscapes. An example from Europe is traditional hay-milk farming in the Austrian Alps, where cows graze on long-established grasslands to support dairy production and help maintain species-rich meadows. Based on a survey of GIAHS sites, the research team identified four main ways these systems remain viable: certified products and local markets; staple foods produced through short supply chains; exports of high-quality specialty products; and a strong focus on cultural values and adaptation to climate change.

“Our analysis of Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems shows that food production and nature conservation do not have to be in opposition,” says first author and PhD Researcher Maria Chiara Camporese at Göttingen University. “Our study highlights that traditional farming landscapes can offer practical examples of how land can be used sustainably while also protecting cultural heritage and supporting local livelihoods.” The study also shows that international recognition can make these regions more visible and support efforts to protect both cultural traditions and agricultural landscapes.

At the same time, these systems face growing pressure from climate change, changing markets, rural depopulation, aging farming populations, and the abandonment of traditional land use. The researchers conclude that there is no single solution for preserving agricultural heritage systems. Instead, each region needs approaches that fit its own landscape, communities and farming practices. In this way, GIAHS provide important examples for connecting sustainable food production with biodiversity conservation and cultural heritage.

Original publication: Camporese, M. C. et al. “Exploring the role of Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems in integrated landscape approaches”. Ecology and Society (2026). DOI: 10.5751/ES-17116-310203

Information on the use of image with CC BY 4.0 licence: Attribution 4.0 Internationilization

Contact:

Maria Chiara Camporese

University of Göttingen

Chair of Social-Ecological Interactions in Agricultural Systems

Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development

Faculty of Agricultural Sciences

Göttingen, Germany

Email: maria.camporese@uni-goettingen.de