Publication Details

Category Text Publication
Reference Category Journals
DOI 10.1080/15239080903033879
Title (Primary) Promoting multifunctionality of agriculture: an economic analysis of new approaches in Germany
Author Lehmann, P.; Schleyer, C.; Wätzold, F.; Wüstemann, H.
Source Titel Journal of Environmental Policy & Planning
Year 2009
Department OEKON
Volume 11
Issue 4
Page From 315
Page To 332
Language englisch
Keywords Multifunctionality; Germany; environmental benefits; cost-effectiveness; transaction costs; agri-environmental policy; impact mitigation principle; co-operative agreements
Abstract In the early and mid-1990s, a number of policies to support the multifunctionality of agriculture, e.g., agri-environmental schemes (AESs), started to be implemented in Europe. Based on experiences with their implementation, new approaches have since been developed to advance these policies, and other new opportunities have arisen to further strengthen the multifunctionality of agriculture. Here we present three innovative approaches for supporting agricultural multifunctionality in Germany: participatory and local approaches for developing AESs, voluntary co-operative agreements (CAs) between farmers and water suppliers, and the combination of the impact mitigation principle with environmentally friendly farming. We evaluate these new policies in terms of their ability to improve the cost-effective provision of environmental benefits. We do this by applying a framework that encompasses an analysis of the cost-effective allocation of resources for producing environmental benefits and of the implementation and decision-making costs. Our analysis suggests that for locally developed AESs and CAs, there is a trade-off between more cost-effective resource allocation and better monitoring, on the one hand, and higher decision-making costs, on the other. When combining the impact mitigation principle with farming, we expect to find savings in terms of production, decision-making and implementation costs.
Persistent UFZ Identifier https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=10242
Lehmann, P., Schleyer, C., Wätzold, F., Wüstemann, H. (2009):
Promoting multifunctionality of agriculture: an economic analysis of new approaches in Germany
J. Environ. Pol. Plan. 11 (4), 315 - 332 10.1080/15239080903033879