EVALUATION OF THE TERRITORIAL IDENTITY, PUBLIC POLICIES AND STRATEGIES OF TERRITORIAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE COUNTRIES OF THE MERCOSUR

Benedetto presents an approximation of the territorial development processes being implemented in the Southern Cone Common Market countries (MERCOSUR). She looks at the principal historical stages agriculture has passed through in Latin American countries in general, and in the MERCOSUR countries in particular. She then reviews the central issues in the current rural policies of the MERCOSUR member countries, especially regarding their management of trade marks and designation of origin. There is no common policy on rural development. National agricultural policies are developed by sector only and are directed at promoting productivity and competition by reducing costs instead of valuing quality. However, in the past decade, not only rural geographic characteristics are being reevaluated, but also the valorization of lifestyles, food, goods and services, resulting in the cultural identity of the local populations. Finally, two initiatives for valuing rural cultural identity in Argentina are presented: Los Caminos de Altamira - San Carlos and Mendoza, and El Vino de la Costa - Berisso, Buenos Aires.