2004-2005: OECD research
fellowship: Comparing effect-based and means-based methods of
environmental impact assessment in agriculture
Dr Hayo van der Werf
(National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA) France) visited
AERU on a research fellowship funded by the OECD (Organisation for
Economic Co-operation and Development) for a period of 8 weeks in
summer 2004. He undertook a case study to explore the differences
between effect-based and means-based methods of environmental impact
assessment in agriculture.
Methods for the evaluation of
the environmental impacts of agriculture are important decision support
tools for guiding the evolution towards sustainable agricultural
systems. Such methods may be based either on farmer production
practices ("means-based") or on the effects these practices have on the
environment ("effect-based"). Previous research by Hayo and his
colleagues concluded that effect-based methods are preferable, as the
link with the environmental impact is direct and the choice of means is
left to the farmer. However, means-based methods cost less in data
collection, but do not allow a direct evaluation of impact.
The aim of the project was to
compare and contrast four different methods of evaluating the
environmental impact of three pig production systems: conventional
(CP), organic (OP) and Red Label (RL), the latter being a quality label
used in France where production practices are intermediate relative to
CP and OP. The evaluation methods used were: Life Cycle Assessment
(LCA), a comprehensive effect-based method; Environmental Management
for Agriculture (EMA), a comprehensive means-based method, developed by
AERU; FarmSmart, a basic method combining effect-based and means-based
indicators, developed by AERU; and Solagro Diagnosis (SD), a basic
means-based method developed in France (van der Werf and Petit, 2002).
Publications
- van der Werf, H.M.G.,
Tzilivakis, J., Lewis,
K.A. & Basset-Mens, C. (2007). Environmental impacts of farm
scenarios according to five assessment methods. Agriculture,
Ecosystems and Environment 118, 327-338.
Contact
Prof. Kathy Lewis
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