Ambiguities of the multifunctionality of agriculture - The prospects coming along with the notion of the multifunctionality of agriculture (MFA) depend on the uncertainties of the MFA in scientific and policy debates. The paper explores several aspects of this ambiguity. It stresses out the historic role of the mfa in a process of doctrinal and policy change, as a synthesis of several paths of policy measures. It shows the ambiguity and possible contradictions between several definitions of the mfa resulting in policy consequences. It sketches the pattern of particular versions of the MFA in different states and regions. At last, the paper shows that the mfa leads to a basic uncertainty about its possible final result, between a sector regression and a new development paradigm.
