Records |
Author |
Nevens, F.; Dessein, J.; Meul, M.; Rogge, E.; Verbruggen, I.; Mulier, A.; Van Passel, S.; Lepoutre, J.; Hongenaert, M. |
Title |
'On tomorrow's grounds' : Flemish agriculture in 2030: a case of participatory translation of sustainability principles into a vision for the future |
Type |
A1 Journal article |
Year |
2008 |
Publication |
Journal Of Cleaner Production |
Abbreviated Journal |
J Clean Prod |
Volume |
16 |
Issue |
10 |
Pages |
1062-1070 |
Keywords |
A1 Journal article; Economics |
Abstract |
In Flanders (Belgium) there is an obvious lack of clear long-term vision on sustainable development, for society as a whole as well as for the individual sectors of (economic) activity. In this paper we present the first results of a process of vision development for Flemish agriculture, called On tomorrow's grounds. The initiative, taken by Stedula (the Flemish Policy Research Centre for Sustainable Agriculture), shows that discovering core values, stating a concise mission, establishing guiding core principles and working with vivid descriptions of envisaged future systems seem indispensable elements to develop a vision that inspires and mobilizes people and that, eventually, stands a chance of being anchored in the sector's or organisation's culture. The principal method of working of the project was a multi-stakeholder process (MSP) focussed on dialogue. During five extensive stakeholder meetings, representatives of farmers, service industries, food distribution, education, government, research, consumers and NGO's participated in a constructive dialogue on values and mission, principles and two vivid descriptions of envisioned future farms. The concept of the project was welcomed and supported by the Flemish Minister-President and by the Belgian federal state secretary for sustainable development. |
Address |
|
Corporate Author |
|
Thesis |
|
Publisher ![sorted by Publisher field, ascending order (up)](img/sort_asc.gif) |
|
Place of Publication |
|
Editor |
|
Language |
|
Wos |
000256245800004 |
Publication Date |
2007-08-08 |
Series Editor |
|
Series Title |
|
Abbreviated Series Title |
|
Series Volume |
|
Series Issue |
|
Edition |
|
ISSN |
0959-6526 |
ISBN |
|
Additional Links |
UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles |
Impact Factor |
5.715 |
Times cited |
13 |
Open Access |
|
Notes |
|
Approved |
Most recent IF: 5.715; 2008 IF: 1.362 |
Call Number |
UA @ admin @ c:irua:136765 |
Serial |
6232 |
Permanent link to this record |
|
|
|
Author |
Meul, M.; Van Passel, S.; Nevens, F.; Dessein, J.; Rogge, E.; Mulier, A.; Van Hauwermeiren, A. |
Title |
MOTIFS : a monitoring tool for integrated farm sustainability |
Type |
A1 Journal article |
Year |
2008 |
Publication |
Agronomy For Sustainable Development |
Abbreviated Journal |
Agron Sustain Dev |
Volume |
28 |
Issue |
2 |
Pages |
321-332 |
Keywords |
A1 Journal article; Economics |
Abstract |
Indicator-based monitoring tools are frequently applied for sustainability assessments, also in agriculture. However, many indicators focus on a rather restricted number of sustainability aspects such as economy or ecology. Moreover the choice of the indicator is rarely explained. The aim of our study was to develop an indicator-based monitoring tool for integrated farm sustainability – i.e. taking into account economic and ecological and social aspects – based on a supported vision of sustainable agriculture and using a set of relevant indicators. Hereby, specific attention was paid to aspects of communication and user-friendliness. Four methodological steps were considered: (i) translating the major principles of a supported vision of sustainable Flemish agriculture into concrete and relevant themes; (ii) designing indicators to monitor progress towards sustainability for each of those themes; (iii) aggregating the indicators into an integrated farm sustainability monitoring tool and (iv) applying the monitoring tool on a practical farm, as a first attempt at end-use validation. Stakeholder participation and expert consulting played an important part in each of these methodological steps. As a case study, the methodology was applied to Flemish dairy farms. As a result, we developed MOTIFS, a user-friendly and strongly communicative indicator-based monitoring tool that allows the measurement of progress towards integrated sustainable dairy farming systems and fits within a well-founded methodological framework. MOTIFS is based on the equality of the economic, ecological and social sustainability dimensions, and this equality is inherently built into the system. Through the applied methodology, we founded the selected themes and indicators and we avoided using indicators that are not relevant to the problem at hand. |
Address |
|
Corporate Author |
|
Thesis |
|
Publisher ![sorted by Publisher field, ascending order (up)](img/sort_asc.gif) |
|
Place of Publication |
|
Editor |
|
Language |
|
Wos |
000256235500018 |
Publication Date |
2008-03-21 |
Series Editor |
|
Series Title |
|
Abbreviated Series Title |
|
Series Volume |
|
Series Issue |
|
Edition |
|
ISSN |
1774-0746 |
ISBN |
|
Additional Links |
UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles |
Impact Factor |
4.101 |
Times cited |
97 |
Open Access |
|
Notes |
|
Approved |
Most recent IF: 4.101; 2008 IF: 1.649 |
Call Number |
UA @ admin @ c:irua:136763 |
Serial |
6229 |
Permanent link to this record |
|
|
|
Author |
Van Passel, S.; Nevens, F.; Mathijs, E.; Van Huylenbroeck, G. |
Title |
Measuring farm sustainability and explaining differences in sustainable efficiency |
Type |
A1 Journal article |
Year |
2007 |
Publication |
Ecological Economics |
Abbreviated Journal |
Ecol Econ |
Volume |
62 |
Issue |
1 |
Pages |
149-161 |
Keywords |
A1 Journal article; Economics |
Abstract |
A major objective of European agricultural policy is to have a sustainable and efficient farming sector that is applying environmentally-friendly production methods. Policy makers aim to combine a strong economic performance and a sustainable use of natural resources. Therefore, it is important to measure and to assess farm sustainability. For a large dataset of Flemish dairy farms, a valuation method that is based on the concept of opportunity costs is used to calculate and analyze differences among the sample farms with respect to the creation of sustainable value. But more important than measuring the creation of sustainable value is to analyze differences in sustainable efficiency. Therefore, sustainable efficiency measures are calculated and differences in sustainable efficiency are explained. Using panel data, an effect model captures the determinants of sustainable efficiency of the studied farms. The empirical model shows that, in general, larger farms have a higher sustainable efficiency. Also farmer's age and dependency on support payments proved to be determining characteristics for observed differences in sustainable efficiency. |
Address |
|
Corporate Author |
|
Thesis |
|
Publisher ![sorted by Publisher field, ascending order (up)](img/sort_asc.gif) |
|
Place of Publication |
|
Editor |
|
Language |
|
Wos |
000246021800015 |
Publication Date |
2006-07-22 |
Series Editor |
|
Series Title |
|
Abbreviated Series Title |
|
Series Volume |
|
Series Issue |
|
Edition |
|
ISSN |
0921-8009; 1873-6106 |
ISBN |
|
Additional Links |
UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles |
Impact Factor |
2.965 |
Times cited |
101 |
Open Access |
|
Notes |
|
Approved |
Most recent IF: 2.965; 2007 IF: 1.549 |
Call Number |
UA @ admin @ c:irua:136767 |
Serial |
6226 |
Permanent link to this record |