Evaluating the Sustainable Intensification of arable farms. (1st March 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gadanakis, Yiorgos; Bennett, Richard; Park, Julian; Areal, Francisco Jose
• Is Part Of: Journal of environmental management. Volume 150(2015:Mar.)
• Page Start: 288
• Page End: 298
• Publication Date: 2015-03-01
• Subjects: Sustainable Intensification -- Agriculture -- Data Envelopment Analysis -- Eco-Efficiency -- Environmental pressures -- Double bootstrapped truncated regression; Environmental policy -- Periodicals; Environmental management -- Periodicals; Environment -- Periodicals; Ecology -- Periodicals; 363.705
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2014.10.005
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0301-4797

Abstract

Abstract: Sustainable Intensification (SI) of agriculture has recently received widespread political attention, in both the UK and internationally. The concept recognises the need to simultaneously raise yields, increase input use efficiency and reduce the negative environmental impacts of farming systems to secure future food production and to sustainably use the limited resources for agriculture. The objective of this paper is to outline a policy-making tool to assess SI at a farm level. Based on the method introduced by Kuosmanen and Kortelainen (2005), we use an adapted Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) to consider the substitution possibilities between economic value and environmental pressures generated by farming systems in an aggregated index of Eco-Efficiency. Farm level data, specifically General Cropping Farms (GCFs) from the East Anglian River Basin Catchment (EARBC), UK were used as the basis for this analysis. The assignment of weights to environmental pressures through linear programming techniques, when optimising the relative Eco-Efficiency score, allows the identification of appropriate production technologies and practices (integrating pest management, conservation farming, precision agriculture, etc.) for each farm and therefore indicates specific improvements that can be undertaken towards SI. Results are used to suggest strategies for the integration of farming practices and environmental policies in the framework of SI of agriculture. Paths for improving the index of Eco-Efficiency and therefore reducing environmental pressures are also outlined. Highlights: Economic and environmental dimensions of agricultural efficiency are investigated. FBS data can be used to help monitor the Sustainable Intensification of agriculture. DEA is used to identify specific areas for reduction of environmental pressures. Sustainable Intensification is achieved by experienced and educated farmers. Agri-environmental payments impact positively on Sustainable Intensification.