Farming by the sea: A qualitative-quantitative approach to capture the specific traits of coastal farming in Brittany, France

The forms and presence itself of farming in coastal territories changed profoundly in the 20th century. By contrast with other interface farming systems, such as mountain or peri-urban farming, coastal farming has rarely been studied as such and has not, until now, been considered as a useful category to describe and analyse production systems. The aim of this article is thus to address the relevance of such a categorization, using empirical data collected in Brittany (France) as well as contextual indicators, but also by carrying out a systemic qualitative-quantitative analysis, questioning the forms, depth and continuity of marine influence on farming activities at the local scale. We show that specific traits of coastal farming do indeed exist. A greater diversity of farming systems exists in coastal strip than inland at the regional scale. Four configurations of coastal farming were identified, which result from distinct dynamics and combinations of urbanization and environmental pressures on agriculture. But these specific features cannot be revealed without a comprehensive and historicized approach of its interactions with the coastal zone as a territory, rather than a biophysical milieu. These configurations are characterized in the typical spatial extent of coastal farming and spatial patterns of the transition to inland farming (gradient, discontinuities). •Coastal farming is a relevant category of analysis of farming systems.•A greater diversity of farming systems exists in coastal strip than inland at the regional scale.•Four configurations of coastal farming emerge from distinct combinations of urbanization and environmental pressures.•Qualitative-quantitative analysis integrating time, is required to capture the complexity of coastal-farming configurations.