From evaluating sustainability performance to supporting agricultural management.

Marijke Meul, Fleur Marchand, Steven Van Passel, Dirk Fremaut, Geert Haesaert

    Onderzoeksoutput: Hoofdstuk in Boek/Rapport/CongresprocedureC1: Artikels in proceedings van wetenschappelijke congressen, die niet inbegrepen zijn in A1, A2, A3 of P1peer review

    Uittreksel

    We performed an integrated evaluation of the sustainability performance of 10 intensive grazing and 10 zero-grazing specialised Flemish dairy farms, using a selection of sustainability indicators from MOTIFS (Monitoring Tool for Integrated Farm Sustainability). We put special effort in formulating useful management advice for farmers of both groups. Therefore, we used multiple regression to identify the most influential factors (independent variables) for each indicator value (dependent variable) and, through correlation analysis, related the selected factors to specific farm management indicators such as farm intensity or concentrate use; they were used to formulate general management advice. More detailed site- and case specific advice was delivered to the 20 participating farmers through an extended feedback report including a detailed representation of the MOTIFS results and comparison of the farm results to the means of the grazing and zero-grazing group. Afterwards, all farmers were invited to participate in a discussion group with the researchers, farm advisors and an invited expert. Through this approach, we addressed the suggestions made in previous validation studies of MOTIFS (i) to combine a detailed analysis of the sustainability indicator values with an intensive interaction between researchers and farm advisors and (ii) to support social learning among farmers through a discussion meeting with an invited expert. This allowed us to focus on the essential farm management aspects with the highest potential to increase farm sustainability and to provide a better translation of the indicator results into practical advice for farmers.
    Oorspronkelijke taalEngels
    TitelProceedings of the 10th IFSA symposium : Producing and reproducing farming systems. New modes of organization for sustainable food systems of tomorrow.
    Aantal pagina’s7
    Publicatiedatum2012
    PublicatiestatusGepubliceerd - 2012
    Evenement10th European IFSA Symposium. Producing and Reproducing Farming Systems (2012) - Aarhus, Denemarken
    Duur: 1-jul.-20124-jul.-2012
    http://ifsa2012.dk/

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