Context
Many farmers are currently struggling to maintain the economic viability of their farms, facing serious trade-offs between short-term profitability and sustainable production. To reduce trade-offs, improved contract-based approaches are urgently needed which provide tangible support to farmers through additional public and private incentives to produce a mix of private and public goods that better reflects society’s preferences.
The main objective of Contracts2.0 is to develop novel contract-based approaches to incentivise farmers for the increased provision of environmental public goods along with private goods.
Newly developed contract-based approaches should be environmentally more efficient, economically viable for farmers and support the longevity of contractual arrangements.
Contracts2.0 will investigate particularly the following four types of contract-based approaches (stand-alone or combined):
i) Result-based payment schemes
(ii) Cooperative implementations
(iii) Land tenure-based approaches
(iv) Value chain approaches.
Objectives
Contracts2.0 aims to develop innovative contract-based solutions, which increase the motivation for farmers and land managers to produce more environmental public goods and allow them to reconcile the profitability of their farms with sustainability objectives. To do so, 28 research and practice partners closely cooperate to co-design and evaluate the novel contracts. Lessons learned from successfully tested contracts will also provide support for policy makers on local, national and EU-Level.
Objectives
Contracts2.0 entwickelt innovative Vertragsmodelle, welche die Motivation der Landnutzer an der effizienten Bereitstellung von Umweltleistungen besser als bisher ansprechen. 28 Partnerorganisationen aus Praxis und Forschung entwickeln und evaluieren die neuartigen Vertragslösungen in enger Zusammenarbeit. Die Erkenntnisse aus den erfolgreich getesteten Verträgen werden darüber hinaus für die Erarbeitung von Empfehlungen für Entscheidungsträger (regional/national/EU) genutzt.
Activities
Contracts2.0 works with farmers and local stakeholders in 11 Contract Innovation Labs (CILs) in selected case study regions across Europe. CILs bring together practice and research partners to design and evaluate innovative contractual models using 4 approaches:
• Result-based payment schemes
• Cooperative implementations
• Land tenure-based approaches
• Value chain approaches
To complement the CILs at a more strategic level, Contracts2.0
establishes 9 Policy Innovation Labs (PILs), where policy stakeholders apply their knowledge and experience to provide a
wider perspective and contribute to the design of innovative
contracts and a conducive policy environment.
Activities
In 11 Contract Innovation Labs (CILs) kommen Akteure aus Praxis, Verwaltung und Wissenschaft zusammen, um innovative Vertragslösungen unter Berücksichtigung folgender vier Ansätze zu gestalten:
• Ergebnisbasierte Umweltzahlungen
• Kooperative Vertragsmodelle
• Pachtverträge mit Umweltvereinbarungen
• Kooperationen entlang der Wertschöpfungskette
Strategisch ergänzt werden die CILs durch die Einrichtung von
9 Policy Innovation Labs (PILs), welche das Wissen und die Erfahrung verschiedener Akteure bündeln, um die innovativen Verträge mit Blick auf deren politisch-regulative Umsetzung zu prüfen und Handlungsempfehlungen für die Politik zu erarbeiten.
Additional information
To mobilize the practitioners expertise, integrate research results into the social innovation process and translate the project results into the ongoing policy process Contracts2.0 establishes "Innovation Labs" in several case study countries. ‘Contract innovation labs’ (CILs) address stakeholders’ specific real-life needs, following the principles of‘living labs’: offering open and inclusive spaces, participation and cooperation, and reflective social learning through a collaborative multi-actor approach. CILs will be a space of dialogue and action which will stimulate social learning and creativity. CILs are interested in further development of contracts between private, public and civil society actors to support the provision of public environmental goods.
‘Policy innovation labs’ (PILs) run in parallel with the CILs during the whole project duration and bring together
policy makers, key stakeholders and experts to support the upscaling of the novel contractual solutions developed
in the CILs. The close collaboration between PILs and CILs creates an open dialogue between policy and practice,
which is enriched by scientific knowledge provided by the different Contracts2.0 work packages. This enables mutual learning and knowledge co-creation which will equally benefit policy, practice and science by: 1) enhancing learning capabilities for all sides, 2) using the best available knowledge and sound scientific evidence as baseline information for policy decisions, 3) providing policy support for novel contracts and their up-scaling, and 4)
increasing the relevance of scientific knowledge by real life testing and knowledge co-creation.
Project details
- Main funding source
- Horizon 2020 (EU Research and Innovation Programme)
- Horizon Project Type
- Multi-actor project
Location
- Main geographical location
- Märkisch-Oderland
EUR 4 998 188.00
Total budget
Total contributions including EU funding.
30 Practice Abstracts
A study assessed the effects of Dutch AEMs on seven cropland bird species as well as total bird abundance and species richness of the 16 species targeted by the national policy (Fig. 1).Field margins are successful in providing good breeding season habitat to four of seven species, as well as total bird abundance and species richness. Bird plots benefits are limited to one of seven species and total bird abundance.Three of seven species do not benefit from the AEMs. It is likely that the vegetation of these AEMs develops too fast early in the season for these species, which have a preference for breeding on bare ground. Spatially clustered agri-environmental field margins and bird plots do not have a higher bird abundance that spatially isolated ones. To assess the effects of AEMs, we carried out a statistical analysis with bird monitoring data collected by four farmers collectives in the provinces of Groningen, Drenthe and Flevoland (Fig. 2). Bird abundance on agri-environmental field margins and bird plots was compared with bird abundance on control plots with conventional farming practices but otherwise similar characteristics. In order to correct for a potential selection bias (AEM plots could be established in preferential locations for target species compared to control plots), landscape factors known to potentially affect bird abundance were included in the statistical models. Including landscape factors also allowed to analyse how the target species respond to different landscape characteristics. Moreover, a separate statistical analysis was carried out on agri-environmental field margins and bird plots only, to assess if spatially clustered AEM plots had a higher bird abundance that spatially isolated ones. Detailed information is available in Grondard et al., 2023. Effects of Dutch agri-environ-mental field margins and bird plots on cropland birds. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment 349.
In einer Studie wurden die Auswirkungen der niederländischen AEM auf sieben Ackerlandvogelarten sowie die Gesamtvogelzahl und der Artenreichtum der 16 Arten, auf die die nationale Politik abzielt, unter-sucht (Abb. 1).Ackerrandstreifen bieten vier von sieben Arten in der Brutzeit einen guten Lebensraum, und auch die Gesamtvogelzahl und der Arten-reichtum werden verbessert. Die Vorteile von Vogelschutzgebieten be-schränken sich auf eine von sieben Arten und die Gesamtvogelzahl.Drei von sieben Arten profitieren nicht von den AEMs. Wahrscheinlich entwickelt sich die Vegetation dieser AEMs zu Beginn der Saison zu schnell für diese Arten, die bevorzugt auf kahlem Boden brüten. Räumlich gebündelte Agrarumwelt-Feldränder und Vogelparzellen weisen keine höhere Vogelabundanz auf als räumlich isolierte Parzellen. Um die Auswirkungen der AEM zu bewerten, führten wir eine statistische Analyse mit Vogelbeobachtungs-daten durch, die von vier Bauernverbänden in den Provinzen Groningen, Drenthe und Flevoland gesammelt wurden (Abb. 2). Die Häufigkeit von Vögeln auf Agrarumwelt-Feldrändern und Vogelparzellen wurde mit der Häufigkeit von Vögeln auf Kontrollparzellen mit konventionellen Anbaumethoden, aber ansonsten ähnlichen Merkmalen verglichen. Um eine mögliche Selektionsverzerrung zu korrigieren (AEM-Flächen könnten an be-vorzugten Standorten für Zielarten im Vergleich zu Kontrollflächen eingerichtet werden), wurden Land-schaftsfaktoren, von denen bekannt ist, dass sie die Bestandsdichte von Vögeln potenziell beeinflussen, in die statistischen Modelle einbezogen. Durch die Einbeziehung von Landschaftsfakto-ren konnte auch analysiert werden, wie die Zielarten auf unterschiedliche Landschafts-merkmale reagieren. Darüber hinaus wurde ei-ne separate statistische Analyse nur für die Agrarumweltflächen und die Vogelschutzfläch-en durchgeführt, um festzustellen, ob räumlich gebündelte AEM-Flächen eine höhere Vogel-dichte aufweisen als räumlich isolierte Flächen.Ausführliche Informationen sind in Grondard et al. 2023 zu finden: "Effects of Dutch agri-environmental field margins and bird plots on cropland birds. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment 349.
In contracts2.0, 28 project partners produced diverse scientific empirical results and gathered experiences and knowledge of stakeholders from practice, policy and science.The core of the project consisted of 13 Contract Innovation Labs and 9 Policy Innovation Labs in 9 European countries where existing agri-environmental contracts and co-design innovative contractual approaches were discussed with practitioners and policymakers respectively. The Innovation labs facilitated exchange and co-learning between multiple stakeholders, supported by the accompanying scientific research. The Contract Innovation Labs focused on what practitioners suggest for agri-environmental contracts while Policy Innovation Labs assessed how the practitioners’ suggestions can be integrated in current policies.Involving practitioners‘ knowledge in agri-environmental contract design, and adapting contracts to local needs, promises to increase their uptake and efficiency. Connecting to existing networks can be a gateway to finding relevant stakeholders. The greatest enabler on the way to implementation of novel approaches was the enthusiasm of local actors which provided the necessary push and motivation. Reciprocity and a relationship of trust between all parties, a clear, transparent communication throughout the process and creativity and flexibility in the use of methods are important building blocks for a successful participatory process. Contract and Policy Innovation Labs co-designed, and where possible tested, innovative contracts to stimulate biodiversity-friendly farming, aiming to improve the attractiveness and positive ecological impacts of agri-environmental-climate measures. New contracts were developed specifically for national, regional, or local contexts, either by building on existing contracts, or by designing novel solutions from scratch.The 10-part series Voices From the Field summarises the discussions and insights held in those Innovation Labs and presents them in concise Practice Briefs along with Videos of real Voices From the Field.More information: https://www.project-contracts20.eu/practice-policy-briefs/
Im Rahmen von contracts2.0 haben 28 Projektpartner verschiedene wissenschaftlich-empirische Ergebnisse erarbeitet und Erfahrungen und Wissen von Akteuren aus Praxis, Politik und Wissenschaft zusammengetragen.Den Kern des Projekts bildeten 13 Contract Innovation Labs und 9 Policy Innovation Labs in 9 europäischen Ländern, in denen bestehende Agrarumweltverträge und die Mitgestaltung innovativer Vertragsansätze mit Praktikern bzw. politischen Entscheidungsträgern diskutiert wurden. Die Innovationslabors erleichterten den Austausch und das gemeinsame Lernen zwischen verschiedenen Interessengruppen, unterstützt durch die begleitende wissenschaftliche Forschung. Die Contract Innovation Labs konzentrierten sich darauf, was Praktiker für Agrarumweltverträge vorschlagen, während die Policy Innovation Labs bewerteten, wie die Vorschläge der Praktiker in die aktuelle Politik integriert werden können.Die Einbeziehung des Wissens der Praktiker in die Gestaltung von Agrarumweltverträgen und die Anpassung der Verträge an die lokalen Bedürfnisse versprechen eine höhere Akzeptanz und Effizienz der Verträge. Die Anbindung an bestehende Netzwerke kann ein Tor sein, um relevante Akteure zu finden. Der größte Hebel auf dem Weg zur Umsetzung neuartiger Ansätze war der Enthusiasmus der lokalen Akteure, der den nötigen Anstoß und die Motivation lieferte. Gegenseitigkeit und ein Vertrauensverhältnis zwischen allen Beteiligten, eine klare, transparente Kommunikation während des gesamten Prozesses sowie Kreativität und Flexibilität bei der Anwendung von Methoden sind wichtige Bausteine für einen erfolgreichen partizipativen Prozess. Die Labors für Vertrags- und Politikinnovation haben innovative Verträge zur Förderung einer biodiversitätsfreundlichen Landwirtschaft mitgestaltet und nach Möglichkeit getestet, um die Attraktivität und die positiven ökologischen Auswirkungen von Agrarumwelt- und Klimamaßnahmen zu verbessern. Neue Verträge wurden speziell für nationale, regionale oder lokale Kontexte entwickelt, entweder aufbauend auf bestehenden Verträgen oder durch die Entwicklung neuer Lösungen von Grund auf.Die 10-teilige Serie Stimmen aus der Praxis fasst die Diskussionen und Erkenntnisse aus diesen Innovation Labs zusammen und präsentiert sie in kurzen Praxisberichten sowie Videos mit echten Stimmen aus der Praxis.Weitere Informationen: https://www.project-contracts20.eu/practice-policy-briefs/
Facilitators play a crucial role in the successful delivery of collective approaches: they are important intermediaries at multiple stages in collective contract development & delivery. In this practice abstract, we show where some countries have gaps in their use of facilitators, by outlining collective agreements on common land in England & France.Countryside Stewardship (CS) Higher Tier (HT) is the English AES which common land can be enrolled in. In developing CS HT contracts for commons, two sets of intermediaries play an important role: administrators & negotiators. Administrators can be private intermediaries such as land agents & solicitors who help in the development of a compulsory parallel ‘internal agreement’ between the commoners in the CS HT contract. The negotiators in CS HT agreements are Natural England (NE) advisors who prioritise the environmental goals for a common which farmers need to. Once the contract is in place, however, in CS HT there are no facilitatory intermediaries built into the common’s contract delivery, though there is the option of a modest supplementary payment to assist with administration. In England, facilitation can only be funded through a separate contract; CS Facilitation Fund.Common pastoral land managers (CPLM) are able to contract AECMs in France. In the mountain areas, the intermediaries are the pastoral extension services. These public-private agencies’ mandate is to provide general technical advice to CPLMs. Regarding AECMs, their role is to promote and facilitate the contacting of new AECMs, by supporting CPLM in developing their management plan, intermediating with farmers, shepherds and environmental actors (i.e. N2000 facilitator) and in administrative tasks. Intermediaries are funded by EARFD and the CPLM for administrative support. However, no funds are available in France to support facilitation in the monitoring and adaptation of contracts.
Facilitators play a crucial role in the successful delivery of collective approaches: they are important intermediaries at multiple stages in collective contract development & delivery. In this practice abstract, we show where some countries have gaps in their use of facilitators, by outlining collective agreements on common land in England & France.Countryside Stewardship (CS) Higher Tier (HT) is the English AES which common land can be enrolled in. In developing CS HT contracts for commons, two sets of intermediaries play an important role: administrators & negotiators. Administrators can be private intermediaries such as land agents & solicitors who help in the development of a compulsory parallel ‘internal agreement’ between the commoners in the CS HT contract. The negotiators in CS HT agreements are Natural England (NE) advisors who prioritise the environmental goals for a common which farmers need to. Once the contract is in place, however, in CS HT there are no facilitatory intermediaries built into the common’s contract delivery, though there is the option of a modest supplementary payment to assist with administration. In England, facilitation can only be funded through a separate contract; CS Facilitation Fund.Common pastoral land managers (CPLM) are able to contract AECMs in France. In the mountain areas, the intermediaries are the pastoral extension services. These public-private agencies’ mandate is to provide general technical advice to CPLMs. Regarding AECMs, their role is to promote and facilitate the contacting of new AECMs, by supporting CPLM in developing their management plan, intermediating with farmers, shepherds and environmental actors (i.e. N2000 facilitator) and in administrative tasks. Intermediaries are funded by EARFD and the CPLM for administrative support. However, no funds are available in France to support facilitation in the monitoring and adaptation of contracts.
Intermediaries act as links between others to try and enable an agreement. There are multiple intermediary roles in collective agri-environment contracts. Three important intermediary roles vital to the success of collective approaches are administrative, negotiatory and facilitatory functions.Administrative roles focus on conducting the necessary organisational and paperwork for the farmers’ collective agreement. For example, group secretaries or Land Agents might be employed as administrative intermediaries to create maps or develop the necessary paperwork for a collective agreement.Intermediaries can have negotiatory roles, working to enable cooperation between the farmer group and government (or other paying organisations) to ensure an agreement is reached. For example, some organisations might work as advisors to help collectives to identify their environmental objectives and act as a go-between to reach a compromise agreement between farmers, representatives and the government.Facilitatory roles are about enhancing the group’s ability to work together. Facilitators can play a key connecting role in bringing a group of farmers together or aiding the social cohesion of an existing group, helping them build a stronger social relationship and to identify their main environmental goals in working together. Once a contract and a goal have been established, collective contracts need facilitators to maintain or improve communication between the group members and enhance farmers' understanding of each party’s abilities, responsibilities and needs.
Intermediaries act as links between others to try and enable an agreement. There are multiple intermediary roles in collective agri-environment contracts. Three important intermediary roles vital to the success of collective approaches are administrative, negotiatory and facilitatory functions.Administrative roles focus on conducting the necessary organisational and paperwork for the farmers’ collective agreement. For example, group secretaries or Land Agents might be employed as administrative intermediaries to create maps or develop the necessary paperwork for a collective agreement.Intermediaries can have negotiatory roles, working to enable cooperation between the farmer group and government (or other paying organisations) to ensure an agreement is reached. For example, some organisations might work as advisors to help collectives to identify their environmental objectives and act as a go-between to reach a compromise agreement between farmers, representatives and the government.Facilitatory roles are about enhancing the group’s ability to work together. Facilitators can play a key connecting role in bringing a group of farmers together or aiding the social cohesion of an existing group, helping them build a stronger social relationship and to identify their main environmental goals in working together. Once a contract and a goal have been established, collective contracts need facilitators to maintain or improve communication between the group members and enhance farmers' understanding of each party’s abilities, responsibilities and needs.
We analyzed a sample of 19 innovative contracts for agri-environmental and climate schemes selected from six countries (Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, The Netherlands, and the United Kingdom) regarding involved actors and their roles in the governance of the contracts (cf. Sattler et al. 2023). The sample included five result-based, five collective, four land tenure, and five value chain contracts.Our results show that a multitude of heterogeneous actors are involved. We identified 179 actors in total. Besides farmers and other land managers these actors include public actors such as public national or federal ministries and their associated government agencies, cities and municipalities, along with private actors such as companies, banks, or other for-profit enterprises, and also civil society actors such as not-for-profit non-governmental nature protection organizations, different associations, or citizens and volunteers. Actors are involved across all governance levels from the local, regional, national or international level. By comparison, the number of actors is highest in the collective contracts, followed by land tenure, result-based, and value chain contracts. The involved actors perform 16 critical roles in the governance of the contracts (see Figure below). Farmers or other land managers, as the contracted actors, mainly involved in their role as ecosystem services (ES) sellers, also become engaged in new roles, such as contract design, self-monitoring, special targeting, and knowledge provision. Contracting actors, as the ES buyers, become more diverse: besides governmental actors, also many civil and private actors step into this role. Furthermore numerous third parties can be involved. Actors either perform one specific role in governance (‘’specialists), or several roles at once (‘multi-talents’). Oftentimes, also several actors share the responsibility for one role (‘sharers’). The figure below shows an example for a collective contract from the Netherlands.
Wir haben eine Stichprobe von 19 innovativen Verträgen für Agrarumwelt- und Klimaprogramme aus sechs Ländern (Belgien, Frankreich, Deutschland, Irland, Niederlande und Vereinigtes Königreich) im Hinblick auf die beteiligten Akteure und ihre Rolle bei der Steuerung der Verträge analysiert (vgl. Sattler et al. 2023). Die Stichprobe umfasste fünf ergebnisbasierte, fünf kollektive, vier Landbesitz- und fünf Wertschöpfungskettenverträge.Unsere Ergebnisse zeigen, dass eine Vielzahl von heterogenen Akteuren beteiligt ist. Wir haben insgesamt 179 Akteure identifiziert. Neben Landwirten und anderen Landbewirtschaftern handelt es sich dabei um öffentliche Akteure wie nationale oder föderale Ministerien und die mit ihnen verbundenen Regierungsbehörden, Städte und Gemeinden, aber auch um private Akteure wie Unternehmen, Banken oder andere gewinnorientierte Unternehmen sowie um zivilgesellschaftliche Akteure wie gemeinnützige Nichtregierungsorganisationen des Naturschutzes, verschiedene Verbände oder Bürger und Freiwillige. Die Akteure sind auf allen Verwaltungsebenen beteiligt, auf lokaler, regionaler, nationaler oder internationaler Ebene. Im Vergleich ist die Zahl der Akteure bei den Kollektivverträgen am höchsten, gefolgt von den Verträgen über Landbesitz, ergebnisorientierten Verträgen und Verträgen über die Wertschöpfungskette. Die beteiligten Akteure spielen 16 entscheidende Rollen bei der Verwaltung der Verträge (siehe Abbildung unten). Landwirte oder andere Landbewirtschafter als Vertragsakteure, die hauptsächlich in ihrer Rolle als Verkäufer von Ökosystemleistungen (ES) involviert sind, übernehmen auch neue Aufgaben, wie z. B. Vertragsgestaltung, Selbstüberwachung, spezielle Zielsetzung und Wissensvermittlung. Die vertragsschließenden Akteure als Käufer von Ökosystemleistungen werden vielfältiger: Neben staatlichen Akteuren treten auch viele zivile und private Akteure in diese Rolle ein. Darüber hinaus können zahlreiche dritte Parteien beteiligt sein. Die Akteure übernehmen entweder eine bestimmte Rolle in der Governance ("Spezialisten") oder mehrere Rollen gleichzeitig ("Multitalente"). Oftmals teilen sich auch mehrere Akteure die Verantwortung für eine Rolle ("Sharers"). Die folgende Abbildung zeigt ein Beispiel für einen kollektiven Vertrag aus den Niederlanden
Public goods games are often used in experimental economics to study cooperation. In these games, people are encouraged to work together, but they also have an incentive to act selfishly and take advantage of others. To better understand how farmers cooperate, we conducted public goods games with farmers in the Netherlands, Germany, Hungary, and Poland. The games were designed with input from local stakeholders which adds some realism to the study and allowed us to observe how farmers behave in different versions of the game. There are three main findings:- Farmers in the Netherlands, Hungary, Poland, and Germany showed high levels of cooperation in public goods games.- There were significant differences in cooperation levels between the four countries.- Experts were too pessimistic regarding the cooperation of German farmers. The figure displays the distribution of contributions in the game – a measure of cooperation – and overlaps them with expert prediction. A blogpost on the study in German can be found here. The associated scientific paper can be found here.
Public-Goods-Spiele werden in der experimentellen Wirtschaftswissen-schaft häufig zur Untersuchung der Zusammenarbeit eingesetzt. In diesen Spielen werden die Menschen zur Zusammenarbeit ermutigt, aber sie haben auch einen Anreiz, egoistisch zu handeln und andere auszunutzen. Um besser zu verstehen, wie Landwirte kooperieren, haben wir mit Landwirten in den Niederlanden, Deutschland, Ungarn und Polen Public-Goods-Spiele durchgeführt. Die Spiele wurden unter Mitwirkung lokaler Interessengruppen entwickelt, was der Studie einen gewissen Realismus verleiht und es uns ermöglichte, zu beobachten, wie sich die Landwirte in den verschiedenen Spielversionen verhalten. Es gibt drei Haupt-ergebnisse:- Landwirte in den Niederlanden, Ungarn, Polen und Deutschland zeigten ein hohes Maß an Kooperation bei Public-Goods-Spielen.- Zwischen den vier Ländern gab es erhebliche Unterschiede im Kooperationsniveau.- Die Experten waren zu pessimistisch bezüglich der Kooperation der deutschen Landwirte. Die Abbildung zeigt die Verteilung der Beiträge im Spiel - ein Maßstab für Kooperation - und überlagert sie mit den Vorhersagen der Experten. Ein Blogpost über die Studie auf Deutsch ist hier zu finden. Das zugehörige wissenschaftliche Papier ist hier zu finden.
We conducted 43 structured in-depth interviews with representatives from the European food industry in four member states (Germany, Poland, Spain and Sweden) combined with a Q-method approach (Zabala et al., 2018) to research their subjective viewpoints regarding the role of information about environmental goods provision in processors, retailers, and labelling organizations contributions to an integrative food labelling framework within the European Unions’ Farm to Fork Strategy. Participants had to rank statements regarding institutional design properties of a potential ecosystem services label on a grid as displayed in Figure 1. The results of the interviews served as a basis for the design of a Discrete Choice Experiment with consumers, on their preferences for labels of food products. Building on the findings of the Q-study, we conducted a Discrete Choice Experiment in six European countries to learn about consumer preferences for biodiversity-friendly milk and flour. Based on a sample of more than 12,000 respondents from Germany, Hungary, Netherlands, Poland, Spain and Sweden we modelled preferences and willingness to pay for biodiversity-friendly products (milk and flour). The choice tasks resembled real shopping situations. Examples of choice cards are presented below.Our findings suggest that consumers are willing to pay substantial premia for the new hypothetical biodiversity label, irrespective of whether a product is already labelled organic or not. This holds true across all involved countries, although specific willingness to pay measures varied and were thus country specific.
Wir führten 43 strukturierte Tiefeninterviews mit Vertretern der europä-ischen Lebensmittelindustrie in vier Mitgliedstaaten (Deutschland, Polen, Spanien und Schweden) in Kombination mit einem Q-Methoden-Ansatz (Zabala et al., 2018) durch, um ihre subjektiven Ansichten hinsichtlich der Rolle von Informationen über die Bereitstellung von Umweltgütern in Verarbeitern, Einzelhändlern und Kennzeichnungsorganisationen zu erforschen, die zu einem integrativen Rahmen für die Lebensmittelkenn-zeichnung im Rahmen der Farm-to-Fork-Strategie der Europäischen Union beitragen. Die Teilnehmer mussten die Aussagen zu den institutio-nellen Gestaltungsmerkmalen eines potenziellen Ökosystemleistungs-labels in ein Raster einordnen, wie in Abbildung 1 dargestellt. Die Ergeb-nisse der Interviews dienten als Grundlage für die Gestaltung eines Dis-crete-Choice-Experiments mit Verbrauchern zu deren Präferenzen für die Kennzeichnung von Lebensmittelprodukten. Aufbauend auf den Ergebnissen der Q-Studie haben wir in sechs europäischen Ländern ein Discrete-Choice-Experiment durchgeführt, um die Verbraucherpräferenzen für biodiversitätsfreundliche Milch und Mehl zu ermitteln. Auf der Grundlage einer Stichprobe von mehr als 12.000 Befragten aus Deutschland, Ungarn, den Niederlanden, Polen, Spanien und Schweden haben wir die Präferenzen und die Zahlungsbereitschaft für biodiversitätsfreundliche Produkte (Milch und Mehl) modelliert. Die Auswahlaufgaben ähnelten realen Einkaufssituationen. Beispiele für Wahlkarten sind unten aufgeführt.Unsere Ergebnisse deuten darauf hin, dass die Verbraucher bereit sind, erhebliche Prämien für das neue hypothetische Biodiversitätssiegel zu zahlen, unabhängig davon, ob ein Produkt bereits als ökologisch gekennzeichnet ist oder nicht. Dies gilt für alle beteiligten Länder, auch wenn die spezifische Zahlungsbereitschaft unterschiedlich ist und somit länderspezifisch ist.
We conducted a survey study, with a discrete choice experiment as one component, on a sample of farmers from Germany (421 respondents), the Netherlands (512), Poland (804), and Czechia (98). We revealed farmers’ preferences for new agri-environmental contracts aimed at biodiversity protection on arable (cultivated) land. The design of the experiment had particular focus on the distinction between results-based and practice-based contracts. We incorporated aspects related to collective implementation, and proposed an incentive in format of a collective-results-based bonus. The table below explains how we described the contracts to farmers. Practice-based – Remuneration for the implementation of specific practices for arable land enrolled in the contract. In this case, whether practices were implemented according to the contract requirements would be monitored. Results-based - Remuneration for the expert-measured biodiversity level of the arable land enrolled in the contract. The measurement will take into account various characteristics of your farm, such as soil life, flowering and native plants, and ecological corridors, and combine them to assign a single biodiversity index results for all the land enrolled in the contract. We conclude that the level of payment is the most important driver for enrolment into agri-environmental contracts. Farmers prefer any type of contract to no contract at all. Practice based contracts are preferred over results-based contracts, but the difference in preference is small. Farmers are unwilling to engage in purely results-based contracts, and respond more positively to hybrid contracts, with a collective-results-based bonus paid on top of fixed payments in the practice-based contract. The collective results-based bonus worked as an incentive, as farmers preferred contracts with higher bonus.We observed substantial preference heterogeneity, which we explained with “entrepreneurial identity”: farmers who manage larger farms, have more positive risk attitudes, while positive environmental attitudes, organic production, and younger farmers are more likely to enter results-based contracts.We also show that farmers tend to have positive attitudes towards results-based contracts. More than 50% of farmers claim that they would implement more practices aimed at protecting biodiversity and expect to receive higher payments under results-based contracts than under practice-based contracts.In the full text, we present examples of how a collective-results-based bonus can help protect biodiversity (especially migrating species).
Wir führten eine Befragung von Landwirten aus Deutschland (421 Teilnehmende), den Niederlanden (512), Polen (804) und Tschechien (98) mit einem diskreten Auswahlexperiment als Teilkomponente durch. Wir ermittelten die Präferenzen der Landwirte für neue Agrarumweltverträge, die auf den Schutz der biologischen Vielfalt auf Ackerland abzielen. Bei der Gestaltung des Experiments wurde besonders auf die Unterscheidung zwischen ergebnisorientierten und praxisorientierten Verträgen geachtet. Wir haben Aspekte der kollektiven Umsetzung einbezogen und einen Anreiz in Form eines kollektiven ergebnisbasierten Bonus vorgeschlagen. In der nachstehenden Tabelle wird erläutert, wie wir die Verträge den Landwirten beschrieben haben. Praxisbezogen - Vergütung für die Umsetzung bestimmter Praktiken für die im Vertrag eingetragenen Ackerflächen. In diesem Fall würde überwacht werden, ob die Praktiken entsprechend den vertraglichen Anforderungen umgesetzt wurden. Ergebnisabhängig - Vergütung für das von Experten gemessene Biodiversitätsniveau der in den Vertrag aufgenommenen Ackerflächen. Bei der Messung werden verschiedene Merkmale des Betriebs, wie Bodenleben, blühende und einheimische Pflanzen sowie ökologische Korridore, berücksichtigt und zu einem einzigen Biodiversitätsindex für die gesamte Vertragsfläche zusammengefasst. Wir kommen zu dem Schluss, dass die Höhe der Zahlungen der wichtigste Faktor für die Teilnahme an Agrarumweltverträgen ist. Die Landwirte bevorzugen jede Art von Vertrag gegenüber gar keinem Vertrag. Praxisbezogene Verträge werden gegenüber ergebnisbezogenen Verträgen bevorzugt, aber der Unterschied ist gering. Die Landwirte sind nicht bereit, sich auf rein ergebnisorientierte Verträge einzulassen und reagieren positiver auf hybride Verträge, bei denen ein kollektiver ergebnisorientierter Bonus zusätzlich zu den festen Zahlungen im praxisorientierten Vertrag gezahlt wird. Der kollektive ergebnisbezogene Bonus wirkte als Anr-eiz, da die Landwirte Verträge mit einem höheren Bonus bevorzugten.Wir beobachteten eine erhebliche Heterogenität der Präferenzen, die wir mit der "unternehmerischen Identität" erklärten: Landwirte, die größere Betriebe bewirtschaften, haben eine positivere Risikoeinstellung, während positive Umwelteinstellungen, ökologische Erzeugung und jüngere Landwirte eher ergebnisorientierte Verträ-ge abschließen. Wir zeigen auch, dass die Landwirte ergebnisorientierten Verträgen gegenüber eher positiv eingestellt sind. Mehr als 50 % der Landwirte geben an, dass sie mehr Maßnahmen zum Schutz der biologi-schen Vielfalt ergreifen würden und erwarten, dass sie bei ergebnisorientierten Verträgen höhere Zahlungen erhalten als bei praxisbezogenen Verträgen.Im Volltext stellen wir Beispiele dafür vor, wie ein auf kollektiven Ergebnissen basierender Bonus zum Schutz der biologischen Vielfalt (insbesondere wandernder Arten) beitragen kann.
Pastoralism in the Pyrenees is based on local standards of collective action. These standards are based on care for the herds and the environment, local customs, attachments to place and experiential knowledge. These standards are in tension with the managerial standards of AECM contracts, which are based on efficiency, 5-year planning and a commitment to results (accompanied by control through quantitative indicators taken out of context).The uncertainty and complexity of the mountain environment and the need for herd habituation make it difficult to commit to planned practices and anticipated results. Instead of planned action, the uncertainty that prevails in the mountains, accelerated in a context of climate change, makes "experimental action" and continuous dialogue more appropriate.On the local ground, in order to cope with the above-mentioned tensions, intermediary organisations, such as pastoral animators and other locally involved actors, have to make compromises between these different standards. For example, they can simplify management plans, carry out an ambitious part of the environmental action outside the contract itself (and thus not write it down on the management plan), to avoid a risk of non-compliance.Intermediary organisations play a crucial role in transforming templates from one standard to another. For example, pastoral areas divided into CAP-eligible 'polygons' are translated in terms of herd mobilities on pastoral 'districts'. The latter are linked to the uses and topographical limits of the mountain, whereas the former are based on CAP eligibility rates. These facilitators thus participate in the transformation of experiential and local practices into contractual standards, and vice versa, in complex mountain environments (ecological, multi-use, joint maintenance). Without these intermediaries, the MAEC contracts could not be deployed in most of the Hautes-Pyrénées mountain pastures, even though they are of definite interest in bringing together actors with diverse interests and knowledge. Recommendations:1. The contractual mechanism should be more open to a plurality of standards and finance experiments. This would give space to experiential knowledge and adaptation in an uncertain mountain environment.2. Recognise the crucial role of intermediary organisations in accommodating European standards, by allocating sufficient funds over the 5 years of the contract, and thus finance a continuous dialogue on the ground.
Le pastoralisme dans les Pyrénées s’appuie sur des normes locales d'action collective. Celles-ci reposent sur le soin vis-à-vis des troupeaux et de l'environnement, des usages locaux, des attachements au lieu et des connaissances expérientielles. Ces normes entrent en tension avec les normes managériales des contrats MAEC, basées sur l'efficacité, la planification à 5 ans et un engagement sur des résultats (accompagnés d'un contrôle par des indicateurs quantitatifs sortis de leur contexte). En effet, l’incertitude et la complexité du milieu en montagne et les besoins d'accoutumance des troupeaux rendent difficile de s'engager sur une planification des pratiques et sur des résultats anticipés. Au lieu d'une action planifiée, l'incertitude qui prévaut en montagne, accélérée dans un contexte de changements climatiques, rend « l'action expérimentale » et le dialogue continu plus adaptés. Sur le terrain local, pour faire face aux tensions évoquées, les animateurs pastoraux et les autres acteurs impliqués localement doivent faire des compromis entre ces différentes normes. Par exemple, ils peuvent simplifier les plans de gestion, réaliser une partie ambitieuse de l'action environnementale en dehors du contrat lui-même (et donc ne pas l'écrire sur le plan de gestion), pour éviter un risque de non-conformité. Les organisations intermédiaires telles que les animateurs pastoraux jouent également un rôle crucial dans la transformation des formats d’une norme à l’autre, par exemple de superficies découpées en « polygones » éligibles à la PAC à des mobilités de troupeaux sur des « quartiers ». Les seconds sont liés aux usages et aux limites topographiques de la montagne, alors que les premiers reposent sur des taux d’amissibilité de la PAC. Ces animateurs participent ainsi à la transformation de pratiques expérientielles et locales en normes contractuelles, et vis-versa, dans des milieux complexes en montagne (écologiques, multi-usages, entretien en commun). Sans ces intermédiaires, les contrats MAEC ne pourraient pas être déployés dans la plupart des estives des Hautes-Pyrénées, alors qu’ils ont un intérêt certain pour mettre en dialogue des acteurs aux intérêts et connaissances diverses. Recommandations :1. Que le mécanisme contractuel soit plus ouvert à une pluralité de normes et puisse financer des expérimentations. Cela permettrait de laisser place à la connaissance expérientielle et à l’adaptation, dans un milieu de montagne incertain.2. Reconnaître le rôle crucial des organisations intermédiaires dans l'accommodement des normes européennes, en allouant des fonds suffisants pendant les 5 ans du contrat, et ainsi financer les besoins d’un dialogue continu sur le terrain.
Once a set of result-based indicators have been selected, we need to know how to measure these indicators. Indicators are usually monitored through on-farm assessments, to determine each indicator’s quality and/or abundance. Score cards can be an effective tool to measure the indicators’ presence and quality in each habitat. Scorecards can vary from very specific assessment devices to more holistic tools. Here we compare two scorecards (A and B) for grassland habitats. Scorecard A is from the English results-based grassland pilot for spe-cies rich hay meadows, ran by Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority and Natural England. The scorecard is an example of a more specific scorecard: the scoring directly counts the individual occurrence of posi-tive and negative plant species at set points on a transect line. The scorecard then adds this score to an additional indicator for habitat quali-ty: the area of cover which is negatively impacted by ‘damaging activi-ties.’ The damaging activities are more loosely defined. Scorecard B is from Wild Atlantic Nature (WAN) in West Ireland for their results-based pilot programme to promote blanket bog conservation and restoration. This grassland scorecard is more holistic: it assesses more indicators, but it is slightly with less precise in counting the presence of indicator species. The card identifies present positive species, and the assessment score groups species variety for banded scores. The com-bined cover of species is also scored in bands.
Sobald eine Reihe von ergebnisbasierten Indikatoren ausgewählt wurde, müssen wir wissen, wie diese Indikatoren zu messen sind. Die Indikatoren werden in der Regel durch Bewertungen in den Betrieben überwacht, um die Qualität und/oder den Umfang der einzelnen Indikatoren zu bes-timmen. Scorecards können ein wirksames Instrument sein, um das Vorhandensein und die Qualität der Indikatoren in jedem Lebensraum zu messen. Scorecards können von sehr spezifischen Bewertungsinstrumen-ten bis hin zu eher ganzheitlichen Instrumenten reichen. Hier vergleichen wir zwei Scorecards (A und B) für Grünlandlebensräume. Scorecard A stammt aus dem englischen ergebnisorientierten Grünland-Pilotprojekt für artenreiche Heuwiesen, das von der Yorkshire Dales Na-tional Park Authority und Natural England durchgeführt wurde. Die Wer-tungsliste ist ein Beispiel für eine spezifischere Wertungsliste: Die Wer-tung zählt direkt das individuelle Vorkommen positiver und negativer Pflanzenarten an bestimmten Punkten einer Transektlinie. Diese Punktzahl wird dann zu einem zusätzlichen Indikator für die Lebensraumqualität ad-diert: die Fläche, die durch "schädliche Aktivitäten" beeinträchtigt wird. Die schädigenden Aktivitäten sind eher grob definiert.Scorecard B stammt von Wild Atlantic Nature (WAN) in Westirland für ihr ergebnisorientiertes Pilotprogramm zur Förderung der Erhaltung und Wiederherstellung von Flachmooren. Diese Grünland-Scorekarte ist gan-zheitlicher: Sie bewertet mehr Indikatoren, ist aber etwas ungenauer bei der Zählung der vorhandenen Indikatorarten. Auf der Karte werden die vorhandenen positiven Arten identifiziert, und der Bewertungswert grup-piert die Artenvielfalt für eine gebündelte Punktzahl. Die kombinierte Deckung der Arten wird ebenfalls gebündelt bewertet.
The Countryside Stewardship Facilitation Fund (CSFF) in England supports groups of farmers in working towards environmental objectives (as set out in England’s agri-environment scheme, the Countryside Stewardship schemes). The CSFF was launched in 2015, with the first groups set up in 2016 for a 5-year duration. Subsequent funding rounds offered 3-year contracts. CSFF funding pays for facilitators (individuals and organisations, contracted by the Rural Payments Agency) to bring farmers, foresters, and other land managers together to improve the local natural environment at a landscape scale. The facilitator is expected to have a group agreement in place setting out how the group will operate and deal with disagreements; however, no binding obligations arise for the farmers. Applications must cover at least 2,000 ha and four separate land holdings. At the end of 2022, 180 groups with 4,000 members of farmers and land managers had been set up. Evaluations show generally positive environmental results but there are challenges around data availability for baseline data and attributing cause-effect. There is a concern that very few groups continue to operate beyond the duration of the facilitator’s agreement, and that contract arrangements are insufficient to build social capital for farmer collective action for environmental goals (i.e. action going beyond their Countryside Stewardship agreements). For more information follow this link. The contractual arrangements and actors involved in the CSFF are described in more detail in a paper by Sattler et al. (Global Environmental Change) on the “Institutional analysis of actors involved in the governance of innovative contracts for agri-environment climate schemes”. The Facilitation Fund has cross-links to the concept of farmers clusters that have been promoted by the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust (farmerclusters.com). Some farmer clusters are privately funded, but the majority apply for CSFF funding.
The Countryside Stewardship Facilitation Fund (CSFF) in England supports groups of farmers in working towards environmental objectives (as set out in England’s agri-environment scheme, the Countryside Stewardship schemes). The CSFF was launched in 2015, with the first groups set up in 2016 for a 5-year duration. Subsequent funding rounds offered 3-year contracts. CSFF funding pays for facilitators (individuals and organisations, contracted by the Rural Payments Agency) to bring farmers, foresters, and other land managers together to improve the local natural environment at a landscape scale. The facilitator is expected to have a group agreement in place setting out how the group will operate and deal with disagreements; however, no binding obligations arise for the farmers. Applications must cover at least 2,000 ha and four separate land holdings. At the end of 2022, 180 groups with 4,000 members of farmers and land managers had been set up. Evaluations show generally positive environmental results but there are challenges around data availability for baseline data and attributing cause-effect. There is a concern that very few groups continue to operate beyond the duration of the facilitator’s agreement, and that contract arrangements are insufficient to build social capital for farmer collective action for environmental goals (i.e. action going beyond their Countryside Stewardship agreements). For more information follow this link. The contractual arrangements and actors involved in the CSFF are described in more detail in a paper by Sattler et al. (Global Environmental Change) on the “Institutional analysis of actors involved in the governance of innovative contracts for agri-environment climate schemes”. The Facilitation Fund has cross-links to the concept of farmers clusters that have been promoted by the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust (farmerclusters.com). Some farmer clusters are privately funded, but the majority apply for CSFF funding.
What types of contracts for integrating biodiversity and ecosystem ser-vices into agricultural management exist, which features are most wide-spread and what innovative combinations of features are promising? Our actor-based typology distinguishes Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES), land tenure contracts, and value chain contracts involving farmers, food processors, retailers, and consumers. Altogether, 62 contracts were analysed based on an extensive set of design and governance character-istics.Most innovative approaches are found in value chain contracts due to a stronger bottom-up approach, e.g. more tailor-made contracts between (single) producers and processors instead of the generally applicable public programs. However, the measures are mostly action-based. PES contracts funded with public money are innovative with respect to result-based payments rewarding the environmental performances of farmers and ranting them more flexibility and autonomy.In addition to the pure contract types, hybrids are frequent. They com-bine characteristics from across the pure contract types and show a bet-ter tailoring to context.Soft factors play an important role in contract implementation. A shared vision of all actors, mutual trust and acceptance as well as shared re-sponsibilities are found to be necessary conditions. The pro-active role of farmers and the joint design of measures, together with the funding body and/or their advisory agencies, is important. The involvement of actors at all levels of program and measure development might help to overcome the lacking acceptance of the current AECM programs. Value chain contracts are most innovative:• More tailor-made contracts• Stronger bottom-up approach. PES contracts funded with public money are innovative due to result-based payments. Hybrid contracts show promising combinations of characteristics and the importance of tailoring to context. The pro-active role of farmers and the joint design of measures is important for success. For a more detailed description of the study and the results please read our corresponding paper:Bredemeier et al. (2022): Insights into innovative contract design to improve the integration of biodiversity and ecosystem services in agricultural management. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoser.2022.101430
Welche Arten von Verträgen zur Einbindung von Biodiversität und Öko-systemleistungen in die landwirtschaftliche Bewirtschaftung gibt es, wel-che Merkmale sind am weitesten verbreitet und welche innovativen Kom-binationen von Merkmalen sind vielversprechend? Unsere akteursbasierte Klassifizierung unterscheidet zwischen Zahlungen für Ökosystemleistung-en (PES), Landnutzungsverträgen und Wertschöpfungskettenver-trägen, an denen Landwirte, Lebensmittelverarbeiter, Einzelhändler und Ver-braucher beteiligt sind. Insgesamt wurden 62 Verträge auf der Grund-lage einer umfassenden Reihe von Gestaltungs- und Verwaltungsmerk-malen..analysiert.Die meisten innovativen Ansätze finden sich in Verträgen für die Wert-schöpfungskette aufgrund eines stärkeren Bottom-up-Ansatzes, z. B. mehr maßgeschneiderte Verträge zwischen (einzelnen) Erzeugern und Verar-beitern anstelle der allgemein geltenden öffentlichen Programme. Die Maßnahmen sind jedoch meist handlungsorientiert. Mit öffentlichen Gel-dern finanzierte PES-Verträge sind innovativ in Bezug auf ergebniso-rientierte Zahlungen, die die Umweltleistungen der Landwirte belohnen und ihnen mehr Flexibilität und Autonomie einräumen. Neben den reinen Vertragstypen gibt es auch häufig Mischformen. Sie kombinieren Merk-male aus allen reinen Vertragsarten und sind besser auf den Kontext zuge-schnitten. Weiche Faktoren spielen bei der Vertragsumsetzung eine wich-tige Rolle. Eine gemeinsame Vision aller Akteure, gegenseitiges Vertrauen und Akzeptanz sowie gemeinsame Verantwortlichkeiten werden als notwendige Voraussetzungen angesehen. Die proaktive Rolle der Landwirte und die gemeinsame Ausarbeitung von Maßnahmen zusammen mit der Fördereinrichtung und/oder ihren Beratungsstellen sind wichtig. Die Einbe-ziehung von Akteuren auf allen Ebenen der Programm- und Maßnahmen-entwicklung könnte dazu beitragen, die mangelnde Akzeptanz der derzeitigen AECM-Programme zu überwinden. Wertschöpfungsketten sind am innovativsten mit:• Mehr maßgeschneiderten Verträgen• Stärkerem Bottom-Up Ansatz - Mit öffentlichen Geldern finanzierte PES-Verträge sind aufgrund der ergebnisorientierten Zahlungen innovativ - Hybride Verträge zeigen vielversprechende Kombinationen von Merkmalen und die Bedeutung der Anpassung an den jeweiligen Kontext. Die proaktive Rolle der Landwirte und die gemeinsame Gestaltung von Maßnahmen sind wichtig für den Erfolg. Eine ausführlichere Beschreibung der Studie und der Ergebnisse finden Sie in unserem entsprechenden Dokument: Bredemeier et al. (2022): Insights into innovative contract design to improve the integration of biodiversity and ecosystem services in agricultural management.
In the effort to mitigate climate change and to adapt to its effects (by better equipping soils against dry spells or erosion processes), incorpo-rating wood chips into soils shows potential. 10 T/ha of wood shreds allow roughly for 5.1 T/ha of sequestrated CO2 equivalents (per 5 years).There are many co-benefits to this treatment, especially when the wood-chips are locally sourced (trimmings from hedges/landscape elements or coppice of nearby parcels). The shredding and superficial incorporation (5 -10 cm) on-site is an efficient technique to deal with the remnants of the trimming while improving many important soil features at the same time. Some aspects must be considered when using wood chips for agricultural soils:- Usually, this treatment is applied in autumn soon after harvest (this way it prevents potential nitrate leaching during the winter, by binding the excess nitrogen).- The low C/N ratio in wood chips requires in the beginning addi-tional nitrogen for the process of bacterial decomposition which leads to a temporary immobilization of N (this could be eased by planting leguminous plants after the application).- After the decomposition has entered its stable phase (usually af-ter 1 year), “permanent humus” particles aid the nutrient storage and availability and benefit soil life.- Heavy (clay) or sandy soils benefit especially from this treat-ment, as the infiltration rate and water storage capacity are in-creased while the compaction risk is mitigated.- The woody plants, as the source of the shreds, incorporate nutri-ents from deeper soil layers (not reachable by shallow-rooted crops) into their biomass and through decomposition make them available to the food crops.- The treatment could be repeated every 5 years, depending on soil quality, crop rotation, availability of wood chips. Our partner Boerennatuur Vlaanderen trials the wood chips application treatment with farmers groups in Flan-ders with very encouraging results. As an effective way of closing regional/local production cycles while ma-terialize the above-mentioned benefits, this measure could be also of interest for policy makers to further climate change mitigation and adaption strategies.
In dem Bemühen, den Klimawandel einzudämmen und sich an seine Aus-wirkungen anzupassen (indem die Böden besser gegen Trockenheit oder Erosionsprozesse gewappnet werden), bietet die Einarbeitung von Holzhackschnitzeln in die Böden ein Potenzial. 10 T/ha Holzhackschnitzel ermöglichen etwa 5,1 T/ha an gebundenen CO2-Äquivalenten (in 5 Jah-ren). Diese Behandlung hat viele Vorteile, insbesondere wenn die Häcksel aus der Region stammen (Schnittgut von Hecken/Landschaftselementen oder Niederwald von nahe gelegenen Parzellen). Die Zerkleinerung und oberflächliche Einarbeitung (5-10 cm) an Ort und Stelle ist eine effiziente Technik zur Beseitigung der Schnittreste und verbessert gleichzeitig viele wichtige Bodenfunktionen. Bei der Verwendung von Hackschnitzeln für landwirtschaftliche Böden sind einige Aspekte zu beachten:- In der Regel wird diese Behandlung im Herbst kurz nach der Ernte durchgeführt (auf diese Weise wird eine mögliche Nitratauswaschung während des Winters verhindert, da der überschüssige Stickstoff ge-bunden wird).- Das niedrige C/N-Verhältnis in Holzhackschnitzeln erfordert anfangs zu-sätzlichen Stickstoff für den bakteriellen Zersetzungsprozess, der zu einer vorübergehenden Immobilisierung von Stickstoff führt (dies könnte durch den Anbau von Leguminosen nach der Ausbringung erleichtert werden).- Nachdem die Zersetzung in ihre stabile Phase eingetreten ist (in der Regel nach 1 Jahr), helfen "Dauerhumus"-Partikel bei der Speicherung und Verfügbarkeit von Nährstoffen und kommen dem Bodenleben zugu-te.- Schwere (lehmige) oder sandige Böden profitieren besonders von die-ser Behandlung, da die Infiltrationsrate und die Wasserspeicherkapazität erhöht und das Verdichtungsrisiko gemindert wird.- Die Gehölze, die das Häckselgut liefern, nehmen Nährstoffe aus tieferen Bodenschichten (die von flach wurzelnden Pflanzen nicht erreicht werden können) in ihre Biomasse auf und machen sie durch Zersetzung für die Nahrungspflanzen verfügbar.- Die Behandlung könnte alle 5 Jahre wiederholt werden, je nach Boden-qualität, Fruchtfolge und Verfügbarkeit von Hackschnitzeln. Unser Partner Boerennatuur Vlaanderen erprobt die Ausbringung von Hackschnitzeln mit Bauerngruppen in Flandern mit vielversprechenden Ergebnissen. Als wirksames Mittel zur Schließung regionaler/lokaler Produk-tionskreisläufe bei gleichzeitiger Erzielung der oben genannten Vorteile könnte diese Maßnahme auch für politische Entscheidungsträger von Interesse sein, um Strategien zur Eindämmung des Klimawandels und zur Anpassung an diesen zu fördern.
For the institutional analysis seven actors involved in the Burren Pro-gramme (BP) were interviewed using the Net-Map method for social net-work analysis. Based on the interview results, 14 key actors from all gov-ernance levels (local to international) with different professional back-ground in agriculture, nature conservation, and tourism were identified. These actors cooperate with one another through a dense network of formal (i.e. i.e. based on written contracts and formal agreements), and informal ties (e.g. based on exchange of information or resources).Involved actors name diverse motivations for their involvement, which include ecological and economic aspects, knowledge transfer, local con-nections/love for their region, social/networking, as well as obligation through assigned duties or mandates. Named challenges relate to the strict frame set by the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy, the Covid-19 pandemic, unsustainable tourism in the Burren region, missing marketing concepts for local produce in the region and issues related to the current design of the BP. Main success factors of the BP are the high level of trust and commitment of actors, local connectedness and love for their region as a powerful motivator to become involved, as well as the lay-ered payment design, the flexibility, the ambitious standards, and long-term duration of the BP. The acquired knowledge gained through the institutional analysis may be used to strengthen ties among actors (e.g. between agriculture and tourism), raise awareness of the importance of informal ties, and suggest ways to enhance organizational performance of the BP. For a more detailed description of the method and the results see the corresponding research note.
Für die institutionelle Analyse wurden sieben Akteure des Burren-Programms (BP) mit Hilfe der Net-Map-Methode zur Analyse sozialer Netz-werke befragt. Auf der Grundlage der Interviewergebnisse wurden 14 Hauptakteure aus allen Regierungsebenen (lokal bis international) mit unterschiedlichem beruflichen Hintergrund in den Bereichen Land-wirtschaft, Naturschutz und Tourismus identifiziert. Diese Akteure kooper-ieren mitein-ander über ein dichtes Netz formeller (d.h. auf der Grundlage schriftlicher Verträge und formeller Vereinbarungen) und informeller Verbindungen (z.B. auf der Grundlage des Austauschs von Informationen oder..Ressourcen).Die beteiligten Akteure nennen unterschiedliche Motivationen für ihr Enga-gement, darunter ökologische und ökonomische Aspekte, Wissenstrans-fer, lokale Verbundenheit/Liebe zu ihrer Region, soziale Vernetzung sowie Verpflichtung durch übertragene Aufgaben oder Mandate. Als Herausfor-derungen werden der strenge Rahmen der Gemeinsamen Agrarpolitik der EU, die Covid-19-Pandemie, ein nicht nachhaltiger Tourismus in der Bur-ren-Region, fehlende Vermarktungskonzepte für lokale Produkte in der Region und Fragen im Zusammenhang mit dem derzeitigen Design des BP genannt. Die wichtigsten Erfolgsfaktoren des BP sind das hohe Maß an Vertrauen und Engagement der Akteure, die Verbundenheit der lokalen Bevölkerung und die Liebe zu ihrer Region als starker Motivator, sich zu engagieren, sowie das laienhafte Zahlungskonzept, die Flexibilität, die ehrgeizigen Standards und die langfristige Dauer des BP. Die durch die institutionelle Analyse gewonnenen Erkenntnisse können genutzt werden, um die Verbindungen zwischen den Akteuren (z. B. zwischen Landwirtschaft und Tourismus) zu stärken, das Bewusstsein für die Bedeutung informeller Verbindungen zu schärfen und Wege zur Verbesserung der organi-satorischen Leistung des BP vorzuschlagen. For a more detailed description of the method and the results see the corresponding research note.
Land stewardship is a strategy to involve landowners and land users (farmers, shepherds, fisherman, foresters etc.) in the conservation of natural, cultural and landscape values and resources. Land stewardship contracts are a type of a land tenure contract, while these are voluntary agreements between landowners and land users, with a land stewardship entity as an intermediary. These entities are public or private non-profit organizations with the goal of nature conservation and the promotion of sustainable practices, such as environmental NGOs, foundations, but also city councils or other types of public bodies. The goal of these agreements is achieving a sustainable management of the land by involv-ing the local actors, rather than absolute preservation of natural re-sources. In Spain, the use of this conservation tool has been spread over time throughout the country with the first examples of private reserves in the late seventies of the twentieth century. In 2003 the first land stewardship network was created in Catalonia (Xarxa de Custòdia del Territori). Since then, various networks have been created in the different autonomous communities. Nowadays there are more than 1800 land stewardship agreements established, involving more than 160 entities (with approxi-mately 650.000 ha under these agreements) all over Spain. These are bottom-up initiatives achieving the goal of landscape conservation with the participation of private actors, where the government is unable to reach. An example of a land steward-ship entity is Brinzal, which is a non-profit association dedicat-ed to the study and conserva-tion of nocturnal birds of prey. To do so, they have agree-ments with farmers to avoid agricultural practices that would negatively impact on these birds and in turn provide some beneficial elements. For more info regarding this case:https://brinzal.org/tienda/proyectos/un-mochuelo-en-cada-olivo/
La custodia del territorio es una estrategia para implicar a los propietarios y usuarios del territorio (agricultores, pastores, pescadores, silvicultores, etc.) en la conservación de valores y recursos naturales, culturales y paisajísticos. Los contratos de custodia del territorio son un tipo de contrato de tenencia de la tierra, siendo acuerdos voluntarios entre propietarios y usuarios de la tierra en los que una entidad de custodia del territorio es intermediaria. Estas entidades son organizaciones públicas o privadas sin ánimo de lucro cuyo objetivo es la conservación de la naturaleza y la promoción de prácticas sostenibles, pudiendo ser ONG medioambientales, fundaciones, pero también los ayuntamientos u otro tipo de organismos públicos. El objetivo de estos acuerdos es lograr una gestión sostenible del territorio mediante la participación de los actores locales, más que una conservación absoluta de los recursos naturales.En España, el uso de esta herramienta de conservación se ha ido extendiendo a lo largo del tiempo por todo el país, con los primeros ejemplos de reservas privadas a finales de los años setenta del siglo XX. En 2003 se creó la primera red de custodia del territorio en Cataluña (Xarxa de Custòdia del Territori). Desde entonces, se han creado diferentes redes en las distintas comunidades autónomas. Hoy en día hay más de 1800 acuerdos de custodia del territorio establecidos, que implican a más de 160 entidades (con aproximadamente 650.000 ha bajo estos acuerdos) en toda España. Se trata de iniciativas formadas de abajo a arriba con el objetivo de la conservación del paisaje a través de la participación de actores privados, allí donde la administración no puede llegar. Un ejemplo de entidad de custodia del territorio es Brinzal, una asociación sin ánimo de lucro dedicada al estudio y conservación de las aves rapaces nocturnas. Para ello, tienen acuerdos con los agricultores para que eviten las prácticas agrícolas que perjudican a estas aves. Ver más: https://brinzal.org/tienda/proyectos/un-mochuelo-en-cada-olivo/
An agrarian park is an innovative concept aiming to protect and to value productive agricultural land for food production purposes and for the cultural and recreational worth it provides for the residents of the region. The concept also aims to contribute to the reformulation (and re-evaluation) of agriculture in a peri-urban setting, where this activity offers many advantages (fresh products, green spaces, jobs etc.,) due to its proximity to urban centres. At the same time, this proximity to growing urban and industrial zones poses the threat that this traditional peri-urban agricultural areas are fragmented and pushed back with consequent loss of productivity and transformation of the landscape.
The Agrarian Park of Fuenlabrada is a prime example for putting this innovative concept to work. Fuenlabrada is located in the south of Madrid with approximately 800 ha of agricultural land. Its development responds to the interest of the local institutions to maintain and strengthen the local agricultural production, as well as recovering and conserving the existing peri-urban landscape around the city of Fuenlabrada. A participatory approach ensures that the needs and wants of the main actors – farmers as well as residents of the region – are taking into account. The agricultural park is enhancing the economic, environmental and socio-cultural potential of the territory and its actors from a multifunctional and agroecological point of view. The main problems in Fuenlabrada are related to the abandonment of farms due to retirement, lack of generational replacement and the threat of urban and industrial expansion.
For more information: https://parqueagrariofuenlabrada.es
Un parque agrario es un concepto innovador que pretende proteger y valorizar las tierras agrícolas productivas para la producción de alimentos y por el valor cultural y recreativo que proporciona a los residentes de la región. El concepto también pretende contribuir a la reformulación (y revalorización) de la agricultura en un entorno periurbano, donde esta actividad ofrece muchas ventajas (productos frescos, espacios verdes, puestos de trabajo, etc.) debido a su proximidad a los centros urbanos. Al mismo tiempo, esta proximidad a zonas urbanas e industriales en crecimiento supone la amenaza de que estas zonas agrícolas periurbanas tradicionales se fragmenten y retrocedan con la consiguiente pérdida de productividad y transformación del paisaje.
El Parque Agrario de Fuenlabrada es un buen ejemplo que pone en práctica esta figura. Está situado en el sur de Madrid y cuenta con 800 hectáreas de terreno agrícola. Su desarrollo responde al interés de las instituciones locales por mantener y potenciar la producción agrícola local, así como por recuperar y conservar el paisaje periurbano existente en torno a la ciudad de Fuenlabrada. Un enfoque participativo garantiza que se tengan en cuenta las necesidades de los principales actores, tanto los agricultores como los residentes de la región. El parque agrícola está mejorando el potencial económico, medioambiental y sociocultural del territorio y sus actores desde un punto de vista multifuncional y agroecológico. Los principales problemas de Fuenlabrada están relacionados con el abandono de las explotaciones por jubilación, la falta de relevo generacional y la amenaza de la expansión urbana e industrial. Para más información: https://parqueagrariofuenlabrada.es
To tackle the complex challenges of agriculture, nature and the environment more effectively, several studies advocate a shift from an individual farm approach towards a collective approach using a landscape scale as a reference. In this Practice Abstract we synthetise some recommendations for policy-makers on how to foster these collaborative initiatives, based on successful examples in Europe.
There are several examples in Europe of farmers working together on the delivery of public goods related to nature and environment. Many of them are local initiatives, rather limited in scope. In those regions where the number and extent of groups is higher (e.g. NL, UK, FR), the influence of an appropriate policymaking has been noticed. In general these groups consist of (i) local initiatives that have been (ii) stimulated and supported by policy, (iii) with the assistance of an intermediary partner (facilitator/coordinator/advisor).
A stimulating policy framework therefore focus on two aspects:
(i) fostering farmers' bottom-up interest in cooperation, by creating incentives for cooperation (via increased level of payments (e.g. group bonus), flexibility, access to funds and/or assistance, etc.) and removing administrative barriers (e.g. allowing groups of farmers to be beneficiaries of subsidies) and
(ii) providing (support for the) assistance for the groups of farmers: technical, organisational and/or administrative guidance for groups (both in formation and operation).
In results-based agri-environmental contracts, payment to the farmer is based on achieving specific environmental results, rather than paying for ‘prescribed’ management practices which aim to achieve those results, as in most existing action-based schemes. An appropriate set of indicators is needed to assess this achievement.
This practice abstract introduces and defines direct & proxy indicators, the two main categories which are used to distinguish types of indicator in results-based approaches. Both direct & proxy indicators have advantages and disadvantages which are important to consider when developing a scheme.
Direct indicators, as the name suggests, measure the quality or occurrence of the specific environmental feature which is being targeted by the agri-environment contract. For example, a direct indicator for a biodiversity scheme aiming to protect bird species would be assessed through the counting and examination, or ‘abundance’, of the target species.
Proxy indicators indirectly measure the targeted environmental objective, using measures that have a reliable underlying relationship to the targeted environmental feature. For example, a proxy indicator for a biodiversity scheme aiming to protect bird species might be assessed through the quality of the habitat provided which is suitable for the target species.
See Practice Abstract No.12 for more information about a method for selecting either direct or proxy indicators.
In results-based agri-environmental contracts, payment to the farmer is based on achieving specific environmental results. For fair payment, it is crucial that results are assessed using the most suitable indicators. Indicators can be composed of direct or proxy measures (see PA No.13 for the differences between these indicator types).
A possible method to select indicators is a Multi Criteria Analysis (MCA). In an MCA, different criteria are used to rank indicator sets. Criteria within an MCA have different dimensions: information on costs for monitoring, ecological representativeness, or social acceptance of indicators etc. can be used for the ranking. Criteria may differ in weight: costs may be considered less important than social acceptance, but these weights also differ among stakeholders: farmers may consider ecological representativeness less important than social acceptance, but non-governmental organizations may find the opposite.
A study in Münsterland, Germany, compared the direct indicator ‘abundance per species’ and the proxy indicator ‘habitat quality’ for four farm bird species. Literature shows that ‘habitat quality’ can be described by ‘vegetation height’, ‘vegetation coverage’, ‘wet features’, ‘management’ and ‘other features’. Fifteen environmental, social and economic criteria were selected to rank the direct and proxy indicator for each bird species with an MCA. Bird experts scored the direct and proxy indicator on the environmental and economic criteria and other stakeholders (e.g. farmers, NGOs, government agencies) scored the indicators on the social criteria. All stakeholders assigned weights to each criterion. The MCA showed that the direct indicator ranked highest for most bird species.
A selection of farmers participating in the UK’s Pilot Results-Based Scheme in Grassland Habitats were interviewed regarding their perceptions towards this innovative approach. Based on their responses, some key recommendations in scheme administration were identified for policymakers to consider.
Bureaucracy: Some of the most frequently mentioned issues with existing schemes relate to paperwork. The forms, rules and administration processes were considered far too complex. This acts as a significant barrier to scheme uptake. In contrast, the paperwork associated with their pilot results-based contract was much simpler to understand and manage. A results-based approach could reduce barriers which deter farmers fromjoining environmental schemes.
Advice: Consistent support and training from locally based officers was vital in farmer engagement with the results-based scheme and its success. National rollouts of similar schemes must strive to reach farmers through well-established networks and provide reliable support and training through approachable local officers.
Measuring success: Scheme policymakers should explore carefully the most effective and fair way to measure and reward good results. Assessment of habitat indicators should be flexible. It should consider issues outside of farmers’ control, such as extreme weather. Otherwise, the perceived vulnerability to such factors and associated risk may be a barrier to results-based scheme uptake. Scoring systems should also be flexible to accommodate proxy habitat features which provide similar benefits.
The incorporation of results-based approaches has much potential for future agri-environment schemes if thoughtfully and effectively executed in policy.
Creating and implementing agri-environmental-climate contracts is a challenging political process, shaped by several actors and diverse in-terests (e.g. different economical, ecological and social perspectives, small-scale and large-scale farmers, extensive and intensive produc-tion). Analyzing this process and its outcomes (i.e. policies, measures and contracts) helps to understand the current situation and design bet-ter contracts. However, it is equally important to engage policy makers and other stakeholders in a process of joint thinking, because such a collaboration can more effectively identify challenges of, and innovative solutions for agri-environmental and climate contracts and can also facil-itate their successful implementation at wider scales.
Several tools and techniques are available to initiate collaboration be-tween policy makers and other stakeholders. Selecting the most suitable tools depend on: a) which question we want to answer; b) how much time we have; c) how big the group is; d) how well participants know each other, and e) how strong our facilitation skills are.
Main question to answer--> Some suggested tools
-What are challenges, key intervention points? --> Intervention Logic, Five Whys, Evaluation Diagram
-How do contracts fit into the policy mix? --> Screening the policy mix, Co-creation workshop, etc.
-How can contracts be better implemented? --> Policy Canvas, Empathy Building, Rapid Prototyping
More background and practical factsheets of proposed tools are available in the Contracts2.0 Deliverable D4.1.
For evaluating the performance and effectiveness of the agrienvironmental objectives in the EU the Common Monitoring and
Evaluation Framework (CMEF) was established. The CMEF includes a list
of performance indicators (PI) and their hierarchical structure. Reviewing
the CME-framework and its underlying legal bases, we found inconsistent
translations of the types of PI categories and their relations from English
into Slovenian. The Slovene version document uses different terms for the
same PI category. This disrupts the hierarchical levels of the PI
categories, which creates ambiguity in the reporting obligations for
Slovenia and can cause problems when evaluating performance
indicators in practise. We therefore propose harmonizing the legal
translation of PI categories in the CMEF:
1. ‘output indicators’ translates into ‘kazalniki učinka’
2. ‘result indicators’ translates into ‘kazalniki rezultata’
3. ‘impact indicators’ translates into ‘kazalniki vpliva’
4. ‘context indicators’ translates into ‘kazalniki stanja’.
This harmonized translation of PI categories should also coherently be
applied in the Performance Monitoring and Evaluation Framework
(PMEF), the successor of the CMEF. Our analysis shows that the
inconsistency arose because the legal translators did not check for
semantic differences (regarding previous versions of the regulation) and
used wrong synonyms. These kinds of inaccuracies could be avoided by
establishing internal legal dictionaries and by better coordinating the legal
translation services, to make sure, that the translation of specific terms is
consistent throughout the related legal documents.
Za oceno uspešnosti in učinkovitosti kmetijsko-okoljskih ciljev v EU se je vzpostavil Skupni okvir za ocenjevanje in vrednotenje SKP (CMEF). CMEF vključuje seznam kazalnikov uspešnosti (KU) in njihove hierarhične strukture. Pregledovanje okvira CMEF in z njim povezane pravne podlage nam je razkril neskladne prevode vrst kategorij KU in njihovih odnosov iz angleščine v slovenščino. Uredbe v slovenskih različicah uporabljajo različne izraze za iste vrste kategorij KU. To zmoti hierarhične ravni kategorij KU, kar ustvarja dvoumnost v obveznostih poročanja za Slovenijo in lahko povzroča težave pri ocenjevanju uspešnosti SKP s KU v praksi.
Zato predlagamo uskladitev pravnega prevoda kategorij KU v:
1. izraz „output indicators“ se prevede v „kazalniki učinka“,
2. izraz „result indicators“ se prevede v „kazalniki rezultatov“,
3. izraz „impact indicators“ se prevede v „kazalniki vpliva“ in
4. izraz „context indicators“ se prevede v „kazalniki stanja“.
Ta usklajeni prevod kategorij KU bi moral biti skladno uporabljen v Okviru za spremljanje in ocenjevanje uspešnosti (PMEF), naslednikom CMEF. Naša analiza kaže, da se je pojavila nedoslednost pri prevajanju, ker pravni prevajalci niso preverili semantičnih razlik v prevodih kategorij KU med nanašajočimi se uredbami in so uporabili napačne pomenke. Tovrstnim netočnostim bi se lahko izognili z vzpostavitvijo notranjih pravnih slovarjev in z boljšim usklajevanjem pravnih prevajalskih storitev, ki bi se prepričale, da je prevod določenih izrazov skladen v vseh povezanih pravnih dokumentih.
The collective implementation of agri-environmental measures in the Netherlands shows many advantages for farmers, in particular improved ecological impacts and the support by the collectives. Farmers appreciate the facilitation of applications and administrative tasks as well as the opportunities for exchange with fellow farmers, which offer room for discussions, mutual learning, inspiration and the creation of networks. Another big advantage is the provision of knowledge and advice with a close contact between farmers and field workers, who speak the farmers’ language and know what’s going on in the region.
However, farmers still wish for more flexibility and a better integration of their knowledge and experiences into processes of scheme design and decision-making. Policy processes should be transparent and promises should be kept to avoid disappointments and mistrust. Consequences of joining the schemes should be communicated openly to prevent concerns of farmers about raising conservation standards and land possibly becoming protected and excluded from farming activities. For certain measures it might be worth evaluating the possibility to provide voluntary long-term contract options to allow for better planning. Also, the government should try to guarantee sufficient funding to enable all applying farmers to join the schemes.
Communication can still be improved to better show the farmers’ achievements. Also between the different collectives, communication could be enhanced to allow for an increased exchange, for example on how to approach the challenge of predation in meadow bird management, which in some collectives seems to be tackled much better than in others.
I costi di transazione (CT) possono essere definiti come i costi sostenuti per realizzare uno scambio, un contratto o una transazione economica in genere, ovvero derivanti dal loro trasferimento da un agente economico ad un altro. Nell’ambito di strumenti politici come le misure agroambientali-climatiche - MABC (pratiche agricole rispettose dell'ambiente e di misure di conservazione attuate nel paesaggio agricolo) i CT possono essere visti come un meccanismo contrattuale per la transazione di beni e servizi ambientali tra agenti economici rappresentati dagli agricoltori (che rappresentano i venditori) e le autorità pubbliche (che rappresentano gli acquirenti).
È importante che gli agenti economici identifichino quali sono i CT più importanti (es. Costi di ricerca, costi di negoziazione, costi di monitoraggio), chi li sostiene e come variano fra le diverse tipologie di misure.
Nel progetto Contracts 2.0 il ruolo dei CT nelle MABC sarà analizzato attraverso una metodologia qualitativa con interviste semi-strutturate con informatori chiave (key informants) e agricoltori appartenenti ai diversi Contracts Innovation Labs e Policy Innovation Labs coinvolti nel progetto.
Il risultato atteso di questa analisi è quello di individuare i CT più significativi percepiti dagli agenti economici, valutando le attività legate a ciascuna categoria di CT individuando al tempo stesso quali siano le più limitanti, dispendiose in termini di tempo e costo. Inoltre, l'analisi avrà anche lo scopo di scoprire le determinanti dei CT individuati.
L’analisi dei CT è essenziale per determinare se le MABC attuali sono efficienti/efficaci (dal punto di vista dei costi) in modo da incoraggiare gli agricoltori a parteciparvi.
Complementing the practice abstract on "Barriers to collective contracts in agri-environmental management", this practice abstract highlights some streategies to overcome such barriers and bottlenecks. Existing collective contracts have a diverse institutional set up, and their context and specific arrangements vary widely between countries and regions. Their success depends on a supportive policy context, available resources and continuously addressing institutional challenges. Many small steps will be required to change a top down institutional culture. Communication and coordination are key to lay the foundation and develop effective collective contracts. Building trust is crucial for collective contracts: amongst farmers, between farmers and nature associations, and with policy makers. Intermediaries can play a very important role in this, as shown in examples from Belgium, Netherlands and the UK in Contracts2.0 case studies. Contract governance has to be transparent, integrative and flexible. It is beneficial if contracts are guided by an agreed framework of priorities and target, such as a provincial Nature Conservation Plan (NL) or regional Area Plan (UK). Ideally, entrepreneurship of land managers and farmers should be strengthened. Payments from collective contracts need to go to the land manager, not the land owner. Government support can help overcome barriers to farmer cooperation, e.g. by compensating for organisational costs and facilitation, providing advisory services targeting collectives and training. Monetary incentives for farmers can be an initial motivation, but social capital is extended in the process of a collective working together. More information: katrin.prager@abdn.ac.uk
Based on two workshops with participants from more than 10 European countries, including practitioners and academics, barriers and bottlenecks for starting or expanding collective contracts for agri-environmental management were identified. Commonly cited barriers centre around issues with administration, policies and lack of trust. Existing policies and regulation are not set up to accommodate or encourage collective contracts. This is linked to rigid administrative structures and the perceived additional bureaucracy associated with collective contract. There is a lack of incentives for administrations to share power and control with other actors, coupled with a lack of trust and experience, and a top down mindset. Land tenure pattern may also create barriers, in particular where subsidies go to the owner and not the tenant. Barriers at the farmer level include not knowing the interests of neighbouring farmers, different opinions about the appropriate management, lack of trust between farmers, an unwillingness to give up control to the collective, and many farmers distrusting nature associations. Where farmers join only for financial motives, 'freeriders' may become a problem, eroding the reciprocal basis of collectives. The increasing use of farming contractors further inhibits collective approaches. Lack of experience, habits and inertia lead to path dependency. Additional social barriers emerge where generational conflicts or cultural differences exist, or where 'newcomers' to an area are not integrated. Organisational costs, higher costs for coordination and overheads, coupled with limited funding, are bottlenecks identified for expanding the work of collectives. More information: katrin.prager@abdn.ac.uk
The uncontrolled growth and the takeover by unwanted weedy plants in flower strips can be prevented by taking following measures:
Selecting the location: Flower strips should not be laid out in fields that are already pre-loaded with problem plants.
Selecting the seed: In principle, seed mixture and location should be matched well. Mixtures with many different species can cope better with different location- and weather conditions. Wherever possible, certified regional seed should be used.
Sowing: For perennial wild seed mixtures sowing in autumn is preferable to spring. The seedbed should be prepared in fine crumbs, comparable to sowing cereal. In case of reduced tillage without ploughs plant residues must be well incorporated in the soil. The seed should be well mixed and sown flat. The ground should be rolled after sowing to ensure contact between seeds and soil.
Early management: Some herbs develop only slowly and therefore are weak in competition. If undesired plants grow faster and threaten the development of the flower strip, a cut is recommended a few weeks after sowing. This can be repeated if necessary. The cutting height must be chosen carefully in order to cut off as much as possible of the undesired plants and not to harm the others.
Follow-up management: If undesired and problematic plants occur, they must be removed on time before flowering or developing seeds. If there are only a few plants, this should happen selectively. If possible, the cut off plant parts should be removed. If the flowering strip has to be laid out anew, this should be done in sections, in order to maintain a retreat area for wild animals.
Folgende Maßnahmen können eine Ausbreitung unerwünschter Kräutern minimieren.
Auswahl des Standortes: Blühstreifen nicht auf vorbelastenen Flächen anlegen.
Auswahl des Saatguts: Grundsätzlich sollte die Saatgutmischung an den jeweiligen Standort angepasst sein. Mischungen mit vielen verschiedenen Arten kommen am besten mit unterschiedlichen Standort- und Witterungsbedingungen zurecht. Wann immer möglich, sollte auf zertifiziertes Regio-Saatgut zurückgegriffen werden.
Aussaat: Bei mehrjährigem Wildpflanzensaatgut sollte die Aussaat bevorzugt im Herbst erfolgen. Das Saatbett sollte wie zur Getreideeinsaat feinkrümelig vorbereitet werden. Bei pfluglosen Verfahren müssen die Pflanzenreste gut in den Boden eingearbeitet werden. Das Saatgut sollte gut durchmischt und flach ausgesät werden. Ein anschließendes Anwalzen ist wichtig, um einen guten Bodenschluss zu erreichen.
Entwicklungspflege: Einige Kräuter entwickeln sich langsam und sind dadurch konkurrenzschwächer. Sollten unerwünschte Arten schneller auflaufen und die Entwicklung des Blühstreifens negativ beeinflussen, wird ein Schröpfschnitt einige Wochen nach der Aussaat empfohlen. Dieser sollte bei Bedarf wiederholt werden. Die Schnitthöhe sollte so gewählt werden, dass die Problempflanzen entfernt aber die eingesäten Jungpflanzen gleichzeitig nicht geschädigt werden.
Folgepflege: Wenn Problempflanzen auftreten, müssen diese rechtzeitig vor der Blüte bzw. Samenreife entfernt werden. Soweit möglich sollte dies selektiv erfolgen und das Mahdgut abgeräumt werden. Sofern eine Neuanlage des Blühstreifens notwendig ist, sollte dies abschnittsweise erfolgen, um einen Rückzugsraum für Wildtiere zu erhalten.
Collective approaches to agri-environmental management are increasingly important. They include both, the collective contracts and collaboration that occurs as part of designing, administering and managing different agri-environmental contracts. The Pyrenees in France and Northwest England share many characteristics, with land use dominated by pastoral/ grazing systems (sheep, cattle), low population density and high-value landscapes. Challenges include diverse grazing patterns, land abandonment vs overgrazing, generational changes, farming profitability and development pressures. Key to understanding the collective arrangements is the recognition of both formal contracting and informal traditional practices of collaboration. In both cases, the principle of (individual) agri-environmental contracts has been extended to cover areas of collectively managed land. The contracts available to collective managers through AES require substantial input: 1) from them to recruit participants/ farmers/ shepherds and coordinate new practices; 2) from facilitators to negotiate shared objectives between stakeholders. However, these transaction costs are poorly recognised and compensated under current contracting arrangements. The flexibility required in grazing management and existing informal arrangements is incompatible with rigid administrative requirements. Management rights are complicated by other layers of authority and ownership. These interrelated institutional, economic and socio-cultural factors will also play a role in the delivery of environmental public goods in other contexts; they need to be taken into account to achieve intended outcomes. More information: katrin.prager@abdn.ac.uk
In general terms transaction costs (TC) can be defined as the costs arising, not from the production of goods, but from their transfer from one agent to another. This way, policy tools such as the Agri-environment-climate Measures (AECM) imply the existence of TC because they can be seen as a contractual mechanism for the transaction of environmental goods and services between the farmer, as seller, and society, represented by the public authorities, as buyer. Both agents bear different TC; the costs borne by farmers are called private TC, and those borne by the government are called public TC. It is important for scheme proponents, designers and participants to identify which are likely to be the most important TC, who bears them, and how they vary among different types of schemes. In general terms the TC related to AECM can be divided into three main categories: Search costs (information), Negotiation costs (application) and Monitoring and enforcement costs (implementation). In Contracts 2.0 a qualitative-oriented methodology will be carried out to analyze the role of TC in AECM. It will rely on semi-structured interviews with key informants and farmers belonging to the different CILs and PILs involved in the project. The expected outcome of this analysis is to identify the most significant TC perceived by private and public agents, evaluating the activities linked to each TC category to uncover which are perceived as the most limiting, time consuming and expensive ones. Additionally, the analysis will also aim to uncover the determinants of these perceptions.
I costi di transazione (CT) possono essere definiti come i costi sostenuti per realizzare uno scambio, un contratto o una transazione economica in genere, ovvero derivanti dal loro trasferimento da un agente economico ad un altro. Nell’ambito di strumenti politici come le misure agroambientali-climatiche - MABC (pratiche agricole rispettose dell'ambiente e di misure di conservazione attuate nel paesaggio agricolo) i CT possono essere visti come un meccanismo contrattuale per la transazione di beni e servizi ambientali tra agenti economici rappresentati dagli agricoltori (che rappresentano i venditori) e le autorità pubbliche (che rappresentano gli acquirenti).
È importante che gli agenti economici identifichino quali sono i CT più importanti (es. Costi di ricerca, costi di negoziazione, costi di monitoraggio), chi li sostiene e come variano fra le diverse tipologie di misure.
Nel progetto Contracts 2.0 il ruolo dei CT nelle MABC sarà analizzato attraverso una metodologia qualitativa con interviste semi-strutturate con informatori chiave (key informants) e agricoltori appartenenti ai diversi Contracts Innovation Labs e Policy Innovation Labs coinvolti nel progetto.
Il risultato atteso di questa analisi è quello di individuare i CT più significativi percepiti dagli agenti economici, valutando le attività legate a ciascuna categoria di CT individuando al tempo stesso quali siano le più limitanti, dispendiose in termini di tempo e costo. Inoltre, l'analisi avrà anche lo scopo di scoprire le determinanti dei CT individuati.
L’analisi dei CT è essenziale per determinare se le MABC attuali sono efficienti/efficaci (dal punto di vista dei costi) in modo da incoraggiare gli agricoltori a parteciparvi.
Collaboration of farmers and other regional actors for nature conservation actions could improve ecological effects of measures. So far, there is little knowledge on farmers’ motivation in collaborative approaches, while for individual agri-environmental schemes, it is well known that farmers’ motivation influences their participation and is shaped by the combination of context specific, agronomic, cultural, social and psychological factors.
In Contracts2.0, we focus on factors that affect motivations in the context of collaborative agri-environmental schemes. The advance in knowledge on the reasons behind certain motivations and possible ways to influence them should help to develop strategies for collaborative initiatives to improve commitment of farmers.
Preliminary results from a literature review and own field data from a survey and a workshop with board members and staff of Dutch collaborative initiatives confirm that an interplay of diverse factors is at play and shapes motivations. Important factors include farmers’ environmental awareness and responsibility for landscape protection which play an equally relevant role as payment specifics. Social factors like cooperative traditions and peer pressure play an increasing role with experience and age of collaborative initiatives. Discussed strategies to foster motivation were increasing communication among farmers, adequate framing and trust building by the facilitators, and economic incentives like the bonus payment by a Dutch sales company that supports farmers who participate in the collaborative scheme.
Die Zusammenarbeit von Landwirten und anderen regionalen Akteuren bei der Umsetzung von Naturschutzmaßnahmen kann die ökologischen Auswirkungen der Maßnahmen verbessern. Bisher gibt es nur wenige Erkenntnisse über die Motivation der Landwirte bei kooperativen Ansätzen, während für eine individuelle Umsetzung bekannt ist, dass die Teilnahmebereitschaft an Umweltprogrammen durch eine Reihe von kontextspezifischen, agronomischen, kulturellen, sozialen und psychologischen Faktoren beeinflusst wird.
In Contracts2.0 konzentrieren wir uns auf die Faktoren, die die Motivation im Rahmen von kooperativen Agrarumweltprogrammen beeinflussen. Diese Erkenntnisse können dazu beitragen, Strategien für kooperative Initiativen zu entwickeln, um das Engagement der Landwirte zu verbessern.
Vorläufige Ergebnisse einer Literaturrecherche und eigene Felddaten aus einer Umfrage und einem Workshop mit Mitgleidern einer niederländischen Kollektive bestätigen, dass eine Kombination verschiedener Faktoren die Motivationen prägt. Zu den wichtigen Faktoren gehören das Umweltbewusstsein der Landwirte und ihre Verantwortung für den Landschaftsschutz, die eine ebenso wichtige Rolle spielen wie die Zahlungsmodalitäten. Soziale Faktoren wie genossenschaftliche Traditionen und Gruppendruck spielen mit zunehmender Erfahrung und Alter der Gemeinschaftsinitiativen eine immer größere Rolle. Zu den diskutierten Strategien zur Förderung der Motivation gehörten die Verbesserung der Kommunikation zwischen den Landwirten, ein angemessener Rahmen und die Vertrauensbildung durch die Moderatoren sowie wirtschaftliche Anreize wie die Bonuszahlung eines niederländischen Vertriebsunternehmens, das Landwirte unterstützt, die sich an dem Kooperationsprogramm beteiligen.
Product labels are used as a means to inform consumers about the various dimensions of food production, processing and distribution in order to allow them to make informed food choices in line with their values and preferences. So far, it has not been investigated how labels can be used to stimulate the provision of ecosystem services along the value chain by informing consumers about more environmentally beneficial agricultural production practices.
Q-methodology is a powerful interview-based approach combining quantitative and qualitative elements to reveal subjectivity in values and preferences. It is applied to elicit different stakeholders’ perceptions which can inform label design. In the Contracts2.0 project, Q-interviews will be conducted in Germany, Spain and Poland with food producers, retailers and organic food associations to gain their expert knowledge. The exploratory interviews will build the basis for a bigger and country-wide consumer survey to broadly assess consumer preferences for label design planned for.
Q-interviews are commonly conducted face-to-face and in person. However, due to COVID-19 related meeting restrictions, we had to switch to phone-interviews, sending out the necessary materials in advance to participants, which works rather well so far!
Produktkennzeichnungen werden verwendet, um die Verbraucher über die verschiedenen Aspekte der Lebensmittelproduktion, -verarbeitung und -verteilung zu informieren, damit sie eine bewusste Lebensmittelauswahl treffen können, die ihren Werten und Vorlieben entspricht. Bislang wurde noch nicht untersucht, wie Labels genutzt werden können, um die Bereitstellung von Ökosystemleistungen entlang der Wertschöpfungskette zu fördern, indem die Verbraucher über umweltfreundlichere landwirtschaftliche Produktionsverfahren informiert werden.
Die Q-Methodik ist ein leistungsfähiger interviewbasierter Ansatz, der quantitative und qualitative Elemente kombiniert, um die Subjektivität von Werten und Präferenzen aufzudecken. Sie wird angewandt, um die Wahrnehmungen der verschiedenen Interessengruppen zu ermitteln, die in die Gestaltung von Labels einfließen können. Im Rahmen des Projekts Contracts2.0 werden in Deutschland, Spanien und Polen Q-Interviews mit Lebensmittelherstellern, Einzelhändlern und Bio-Lebensmittelverbänden durchgeführt, um deren Expertenwissen zu gewinnen. Die Sondierungsgespräche bilden die Grundlage für eine größere und landesweite Verbraucherbefragung, mit der die Präferenzen der Verbraucher für die Gestaltung des Labels auf breiter Basis ermittelt werden sollen.
Q-Interviews werden üblicherweise von Angesicht zu Angesicht und persönlich durchgeführt. Aufgrund von COVID-19-bedingten Sitzungsbeschränkungen mussten wir jedoch zu Telefoninterviews übergehen und den Teilnehmern die erforderlichen Materialien im Voraus zusenden, was bisher recht gut funktioniert hat!
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ZALF
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INBO
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ESSRG
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CIRAD
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UNIPI
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UNIVERZA V LJUBLJANI
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WAGENINGEN UNIVERSITY
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UNIWERSYTET WARSZAWSKI
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DEUTSCHE UMWELTHILFE EV
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ORSEGI NEMZETI PARK IGAZGATOSAG
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BoerenNatuur
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GOTTFRIED WILHELM LEIBNIZ UNIVERSITAET HANNOVER
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Natural England
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SVERIGES LANTBRUKSUNIVERSITET
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COMUNIDAD DE MADRID
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Boerennatuur Vlaanderen
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DEUTSCHER BAUERNVERBAND E.V.
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UNIONE COMUNI GARFAGNANA
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STIFTUNG RHEINISCHE KULTURLANDSCHAFT
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BORNHOLMS REGIONSKOMMUNE
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BORNHOLMS LANDBRUG & FØDEVARER
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HELICONIA S. COOP. MAD.
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STIFTUNG WESTFÄLISCHE KULTURLANDSCHAFT
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UNIVERSIDAD AUTONOMA DE MADRID
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Innovatiesteunpunt
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