Challenges and issues for developing milk production in Mediterranean countries - Overview of future scenarios

The natural traits of the Mediterranean regions are not globally favourable to the mass intensive dairy production, even if it is observed a large spread of the productivity of the technical production systems. Nevertheless, numerous economic and social factors are involved in the dairy development. This paper, taking into account this complex situation and alternatives which could be followed, aims to design the possible forms of public policies focussed on the needs for mass consumption. Three main scenarios for the future are designed, according to the methodology of the <<morphologic analysis>> developed by the French prospectivist school: (1) <<Providing the cities>>, <<Producting for the cities>>, (3) Developing the rural areas.