Uptake of Ecological Farming Practices by <scp>EU</scp> Farms: A <scp>Pan‐European</scp> Typology

Understanding and measuring the sustainability of farms is key to evaluating progress towards policy goals for a more sustainable agriculture. In LIFT project, farm typology was developed classify according their ecological performance, based on farm-level variables from Farm Accountancy Data Network (FADN). Selected are used assess three dimensions farming: total input intensity; degree circularity (reliance own-produced versus external inputs); avoidance use specific inputs concern environment consumers. The combination these aspects considered as measure proximity full agroecological approach. allows comparison across types, countries years. We briefly present method discuss two aspects: 1) how proposed can inform policymaking in context new EU framework; 2) it foreseen transformation FADN into Sustainability (FSDN). suggest that approach under FSDN provides useful information impacts implementation practices with an acceptable additional effort terms data collection. Pour évaluer les progrès vers objectifs de politique d’une agriculture plus durable, il est essentiel comprendre et mesurer la durabilité des exploitations agricoles. Dans le projet LIFT, une typologie été développée pour classer en fonction leur performance écologique, sur base disponibles au niveau individuel dans Réseau d'information comptable agricole (RICA). Des choisies sont utilisées trois écologiques clés l'agriculture : l'intensité totale intrants ; degré circularité (dépendance vis-à-vis produits ferme par rapport aux externes) éviter l'utilisation d'intrants spécifiques préoccupants l'environnement consommateurs. La combinaison ces considérée comme mesure proximité l'exploitation avec approche agroécologique complète. permet comparer selon type, pays années. Nous présentons brièvement méthode examinons deux comment proposée peut éclairer l'élaboration politiques contexte d'un nouveau cadre l'Union européenne elle prévue du RICA un réseau données suggérons que d'une typologique fournit informations utiles mise œuvre pratiques agroécologiques demandant supplémentaire termes collecte données. Das Verständnis und die Erfassung der Nachhaltigkeit von landwirtschaftlichen Betrieben ist Schlüssel zur Bewertung Fortschritten bei Verwirklichung politischen Ziele für eine nachhaltigere Landwirtschaft. Im Rahmen LIFT-Projekts wurde Betriebstypologie entwickelt, um Betriebe nach ihrer ökologischen Leistung zu klassifizieren, basierend auf Variablen Betriebsebene aus dem Informationsnetz landwirtschaftlicher Buchführungen (INLB). Anhand ausgewählter werden drei wichtige ökologische Dimensionen Landwirtschaft bewertet: Gesamtintensität Inputs, Grad Kreislaufwirtschaft (Abhängigkeit selbst erzeugten gegenüber externen Inputs) Vermeidung Einsatzes bestimmter Umwelt Verbraucher Bedeutung sind. Die Kombination dieser wird als Maß Nähe Betriebs einem vollständig agrarökologischen Ansatz betrachtet. Typologie ermöglicht den Vergleich zwischen verschiedenen Betriebstypen, Ländern Jahren. Wir stellen Methode kurz vor erörtern zwei Aspekte: wie vorgeschlagene politische Entscheidungsfindung im Kontext eines neuen Rahmens unterstützen kann; sie geplante Umwandlung INLB ein Nachhaltigkeitsdaten (INNLB) kann. weisen darauf hin, dass Anwendung Typologieansatzes INNLB nützliche Informationen über Auswirkungen Umsetzung agrarökologischer Praktiken mit vertretbaren Mehraufwand Datenerhebung liefert. Food systems one main drivers environmental degradation, biodiversity loss climate change. Europe other industrialised countries, high yields food feed production have been accompanied by significant harm, such greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, farmland, air water quality through nitrates pesticide. agricultural sector responsible estimated 10.3 per cent GHG most which (70 cent) due livestock production. response this, European Commission launched, framework Green Deal, Biodiversity Strategy 2030 Farm-to-Fork (F2F). These include targets aiming reduce system environment, within fostering transition healthier, fairer systems. Targets reductions mineral fertilisers pesticides, well increased uptake environmentally farming management Though not legally binding, strategies will need be linked accommodated forthcoming Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) 2023–2027, manage budget 270 billion euros support farmers whilst pursuing ambitious objectives. this context, essential able variety levels: individual farms, groups territories. To end, Typology devised project tool categorise evaluate them perspective. article, we first describe typologies they policy. then adopted develop illustrate example application using EU-wide show results identify knowledge gaps provide suggestions FADN’s envisaged has multiple applications evaluation monitoring, better targeting measures or investigating trends cohorts over number Farms belonging same group relatively homogeneous respect characteristics, allow us summarise complexity approaches manageable units. centred criteria monitor policies, considering ambition (CAP), above-mentioned 2030. aim classifying covering entire spectrum management, least friendly. builds concept (Gliessmann, 2015), article archetypical description fully preserve natural resources long run. Building principles agroecology defined report High-Level Panel Experts Security Nutrition (HLPE, 2019), five were identified. four associated types named ‘farming approaches’: conservation agriculture, low-input farming, integrated/circular organic farming. A fifth archetype – perform regard all principles, detailed below.Farming contributing each principle identified during quantified basis variables, i.e. collected holdings cost purchased fertiliser proxy use. corresponding listed Table 1. It should noted categories mutually exclusive, explained below detail. scoring (Rega al., 2021), so receives score variable/indicator right-hand column Specifically, variable value converted 0 (not at criteria) 4 (maximum contribution criteria). Individual scores aggregated weighted average derive overall relative central Weights panel experts (including some authors) taking account importance specialisation (for instance, would receive highest weight specialist low crop farms). allocation setting thresholds scoring: if reaches certain threshold, ascribed do reach minimum threshold any grouped separate class Standard Farming. score-based similar available frameworks Tool Agroecology Performance Evaluation (TAPE) FAO (Mottet 2020). resulting made possible combinations sets shown Figure assigned achieves pre-determined principles. Graphical representation Source: Rega al. (2021). Here micro-data pan-European statistical survey conducted year sample around 80,000 farms. only uses harmonised bookkeeping EU. comparisons Member States, time (years). designed primarily accounting source, thus mainly refer economic structural like costs, output, assets subsidies. Accordingly, few offer direct identifying aspects, among stocking density whether certified organic. Our costs incurred purchase (fertilisers, plant protection products, seeds, irrigation, fuel, forage), maintenance (like machinery buildings) proxies intensity inputs. convert original values indicators, normalised ha utilised area standard unit livestock-related Subsequently, processed inflation price differences between States official Eurostat homogenise whole dataset 2021). For subset feed, electricity, energy share on-farm reported, integration/circularity dimension described above. variable, percentiles distribution set observations (individual years 2011 2015) calculated. Five quintiles determined variable. Then, farm, quintile obtain 4, second allocated 3 on. computed, pre-defined weights part typology. 2 illustration methodology Low-Input specialised cereals, oilseed protein crops Total fertilisation UAA SE295*/SE025 expenditure pest control products SE300*/SE025 IWATR_V*/SE025 fuels (IHFULS_V*+IFULS_V*)/SE025 seeds plantlets SE285*/SE025 electricity IELE_V*/SE025 Costs current upkeep equipment minor SE340*/SE025 Depreciation capital SE360*/SE025 Due limitations data, collect enough both soil presence seminatural habitats, could evaluated FADN. An exercise 2, showing classification surveyed 2015 different Distribution (whole sample, relation practices, Note: dotted line Conservation Agriculture indicates data. Numbers bold percentage apply guarantees its dependent ad-hoc collection efforts, but regularly carried out level, following standardised One potential identification spatial temporal This done, example, either looking categorised compared approaches, way examining evolve time. follows already development CAP indicator C.33 ‘Farming intensity’, indicators Monitoring (EC, type advance considers wider array relevant determining (e.g. energy, machinery), allowing countries. Reducing enhancing bio-based economy objectives Strategies reduction target 20 50 pesticides. also seek footprint directly amount needed presented here monitoring what extent being achieved. very flexible calculation levels (EU, national, biogeographic region, type). enables and/or years, suitable evaluation. points established As ambitions F2F strategy, namely achieved, increase captured Establishing protocol quantitatively assign highlighted gaps. future, partly filled adding questionnaire, deriving existing databases. addition, itself includes physical quantity nutrients fertilisers. certainly improvement expenditures eliminate inaccuracies when Missing mostly concerns adoption inputs, those health (no-tillage, reduced tillage, rotation, cover crops). circularity, own produced no manure available. Another gap lack vegetation Different actions put place fill gaps, building information. Many no-tillage, rotation) financed rural programmes continue Strategic Plans. Including build knowledge, though require process. true friendly intensity, biological techniques, decreased reliance green manuring rotation legumes alternative options. Again, harmonisation required maintain FSDN. However, advantage information, large extent, reporting obligations. Therefore, consider than compensated added bring further possibility filling linking FADN/FSDN Integrated Administration Control System (IACS) payments CAP. great majority relevance schemes CAP, recorded IACS. establishing link datasets cost-effective augmenting our Despite definitions technical specifications vegetation, obtained Land Parcel Identification (LPIS), geographic IACS (Czuc 2022). efforts homogenisation, option worth absence reliable sources. assessing less harmful courses action. Deal. multifaceted activity embedded complex socio-ecological systems, there straightforward metric encompasses pillars sustainability. aims strike balance take reducing policymakers. Other users farmers, advisory services actors agri-food chain, retailers NGOs. Importantly, focuses pillar social viability elsewhere trade-offs synergies pillars. Good requires robust base. Deal therefore collecting effectively goals. wealth still exist improve assessment Echoing previous research projects, Farm-Level Indicators New Topics (FLINT) (Latruffe 2016), improvements achieved limited effort, many cases exploiting efforts. authors thank contributions stakeholders case study level activities project. acknowledge partners CR MLP wish Ernesto Tabacco his fruitful discussions. Finally, grateful anonymous referees journal Editors comments suggestions. (‘Low-Input Farming Territories Integrating improving ecosystem farming’) received funding Union’s H2020 innovation programme grant agreement No 770747 (https://www.lift-h2020.eu/). Open Access provided Joint Research Centre (JRC) Commission. “The goals.” “Les environnementales PAC Pacte vert devraient s'accompagner similaire d'informations efficacement objectifs.” “Die umweltpolitischen Ambitionen GAP sollten ähnlichen Ehrgeiz Sammlung einhergehen, Fortschritte Erreichung effektiv bewerten können.” Crop residues left soil, Po Plain, Italy © Heterogeneous Mediterranean landscape, Tuscany, Maria Luisa Paracchini Manure spreading Baden-Württemberg, Germany CC BY-SA 3.0