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Economic and ecological trade-offs of agricultural specialization at different spatial scales

Author

Listed:
  • Klasen, Stephan
  • Meyer, Katrin M.
  • Dislich, Claudia
  • Euler, Michael
  • Faust, Heiko
  • Gatto, Marcel
  • Hettig, Elisabeth
  • Melati, Dian N.
  • Jaya, I. Nengah Surati
  • Otten, Fenna
  • Pérez-Cruzado, César
  • Steinebach, Stefanie
  • Tarigan, Suria
  • Wiegand, Kerstin

Abstract

Specialization in agricultural systems can lead to trade-offs between economic gains and ecosystem functions. We suggest and explore a conceptual framework in which economic gains can be maximized when production activities are specialized at increasingly broader scales (from the household to the village, region or above), particularly when markets for outputs and inputs function well. Conversely, more specialization likely reduces biodiversity and significantly limits ecosystem functions. When agricultural specialization increases and moves to broader scales as a result of improved infrastructure and markets or other drivers, ecosystem functions can also be endangered at broader spatial scales. Policies to improve agricultural incomes may influence the level of specialization at different scales and thus affect the severity of the trade-offs. This paper takes Jambi province in Indonesia, a current hotspot of rubber and oil palm monoculture, as a case study to illustrate these issues. We empirically show that the level of specialization differs across scales with higher specialization at household and village levels and higher diversification towards the province level. We discuss ways to resolve trade-offs between economic gains and ecological costs, including landscape design, targeted policies, and adoption of long-term perspectives.

Suggested Citation

  • Klasen, Stephan & Meyer, Katrin M. & Dislich, Claudia & Euler, Michael & Faust, Heiko & Gatto, Marcel & Hettig, Elisabeth & Melati, Dian N. & Jaya, I. Nengah Surati & Otten, Fenna & Pérez-Cruzado, Cés, 2016. "Economic and ecological trade-offs of agricultural specialization at different spatial scales," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 122(C), pages 111-120.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecolec:v:122:y:2016:i:c:p:111-120
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolecon.2016.01.001
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Ecosystem Services; Economies of Scale; Indonesia; Monoculture; Oil Palm; Rubber;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • Q13 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Agriculture - - - Agricultural Markets and Marketing; Cooperatives; Agribusiness
    • Q57 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Ecological Economics

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