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On the Social Sustainability of Industrial Agriculture Dependent on Migrant Workers. Romanian Workers in Spain’s Seasonal Agriculture

Author

Listed:
  • Yoan Molinero-Gerbeau

    (Institute of Economy, Geography and Demography (IEGD) of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), 28037 Madrid, Spain)

  • Ana López-Sala

    (Institute of Economy, Geography and Demography (IEGD) of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), 28037 Madrid, Spain)

  • Monica Șerban

    (Research Institute for Quality of Life (ICCV), Romanian Academy, 050711 Bucharest, Romania)

Abstract

Since the beginning of the 21st century, Romanian migrants have become one of the most significant national groups doing agricultural work in Spain, initially coming via a temporary migration program and later under several different modalities. However, despite their critical importance for the functioning of Europe’s largest agro-industry, the study of this long-term circular mobility is still underdeveloped in migration and agriculture literature. Thanks to extensive fieldwork carried out in the provinces of Huelva and Lleida in Spain and in the counties of Teleorman and Buzău in Romania, this paper has two main objectives: first, to identify some of the most common forms of mobility of these migrants; and second, to discuss whether this industrial agriculture, hugely dependent on migrant work, is socially sustainable. The case of Romanian migrants in Spanish agriculture will serve to show how a critical sector for the EU and for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development of the United Nations, operates on an unsustainable model based on precariousness and exploitation.

Suggested Citation

  • Yoan Molinero-Gerbeau & Ana López-Sala & Monica Șerban, 2021. "On the Social Sustainability of Industrial Agriculture Dependent on Migrant Workers. Romanian Workers in Spain’s Seasonal Agriculture," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-17, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:3:p:1062-:d:483927
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Luiz Carlos Bresser-Pereira, 2016. "Reflecting on new developmentalism and classical developmentalism," Brazilian Journal of Political Economy, Center of Political Economy, vol. 36(2), pages 237-265.
    2. Efrat Eizenberg & Yosef Jabareen, 2017. "Social Sustainability: A New Conceptual Framework," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(1), pages 1-16, January.
    3. Beate Littig & Erich Griessler, 2005. "Social sustainability: a catchword between political pragmatism and social theory," International Journal of Sustainable Development, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 8(1/2), pages 65-79.
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    Cited by:

    1. Marcos Lacasa Cazcarra, 2024. "Machine Learning Analysis of the Impact of Increasing the Minimum Wage on Income Inequality in Spain from 2001 to 2021," Papers 2402.02402, arXiv.org.
    2. Florian Ahlmeyer & Kati Volgmann, 2023. "What Can We Expect for the Development of Rural Areas in Europe?—Trends of the Last Decade and Their Opportunities for Rural Regeneration," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-17, March.
    3. Silvia Marcu, 2021. "Towards Sustainable Mobility? The Influence of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Romanian Mobile Citizens in Spain," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-18, April.
    4. Miriam Martín-Moreno & Katia Hueso-Kortekaas & Jose C. Romero, 2023. "Social Life Cycle Analysis of Intensive Greenhouse Farming: A Qualitative View of Tomato Production in Almeria (Spain)," World, MDPI, vol. 4(3), pages 1-13, September.
    5. Valentina Constanta Tudor & Toma Adrian Dinu & Marius Vladu & Dragoș Smedescu & Ionela Mituko Vlad & Eduard Alexandru Dumitru & Cristina Maria Sterie & Carmen Luiza Costuleanu, 2022. "Labour Implications on Agricultural Production in Romania," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(14), pages 1-22, July.
    6. Hannah Gosnell & Kelsey Emard & Elizabeth Hyde, 2021. "Taking Stock of Social Sustainability and the U.S. Beef Industry," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-23, October.

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