Abstract
Local Productive Systems (hereinafter LPSs) based on agro-food industries constitute alternative models of development in peripheral rural areas that are subject to internal and external dynamics and processes. The main objective of this research is to investigate these processes and their consequences on four LPSs based on the Iberian Pig Transformation Industry (hereinafter LPS-IPTI) in SW Spain: Fregenal de la Sierra, Higuera la Real, Cumbres Mayores and Jabugo. Using secondary data, a comparison is made between 2002 and 2020 to establish the changes, causes and consequences on the LPS-IPTIs studied. The results obtained indicate (1) the business and territorial concentration of LPS-IPTIs; (2) changes in the structure of the LPS-IPTI due to internal and external causes that were already present before the international economic crisis; (3) productive and territorial specialisation in standardised products and quality products that generated the polarisation of the sector; (4) simplification of industrial processes; (5) loss of employment, especially female; (6) external control of companies in the sector which, accordingly, brings about the loss of prominence of local actors in favour of foreign companies, reduced social capital and the progressive loss of ownership of the LPS.
Highlights
The municipalities of Fregenal de la Sierra, Higuera la Real, Cumbres Mayores and Jabugo in SW Spain were the cases analysed in this research. This methodology implies the extensive collection of quantitative information for two different periods: the year 2002, in which the IPTIs were in full expansion; and the year 2020, in which they were in post-international economic crisis recovery
This concentration did not alter, between 2002 and 2020 the number of industrial establishments and companies increased in the four LSP-IPTIs
By type of activity, the highest growth occurred in all LSP-IPTIs in the HDs by 181.82%, with those in Cumbres Mayores standing out, as well as in Jabugo and Higuera la Real in absolute numbers
Summary
Rural and marginal spaces have experienced a structural economic, demographic and territorial crisis since the middle of the 20th century [1,2]. They turned into marginal areas to the dominant development processes resulting in depopulation, lack of proper transportation connection and inability to adjust to the markets [3,4]. These zones can be considered disadvantaged in terms of the absence of public and private services and low levels of investments [5,6] as well as marginalised due to the lack of demand thresholds, low profitability or “few voters” [6] where development seems to flee from [7]
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