Ghosts of a productive past: Derelict buildings and transformations in food production in the second half of the 20th century in Montalegre, Northern Portugal

Abstract

This paper examines the transformation of Montalegre, a small Portuguese town near the Galician border, through the lens of its publicly-funded agricultural buildings and their evolving functions during three key historical periods: the corporatist dictatorship (1933- 1974), the revolutionary period (1974-1976), and the years leading to European integration in 1986. These facilities reflect different state-driven strategies to modernize agricultural production. However, these once-vital structures now stand abandoned, symbolizing the decline of food production and investment in Portugal’s interior. Yet, signs of resilience remain, such as the weekly farmers’ market and the recent occupation of municipal spaces by a new cooperative. This study is based on primary sources from construction, architectural, audiovisual, and local media archives, as well as interviews and conversations conducted in Montalegre between February and December 2024. This diachronic approach looks at past structures to contribute to broader discourse on food production, territorial cohesion, and food sovereignty.