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An Actor-Oriented Multi-Criteria Assessment Framework to Support a Transition towards Sustainable Agricultural Systems Based on Crop Diversification

Author

Listed:
  • Ileana Iocola

    (CREA, Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment, via della Navicella 2-4, 00184 Rome, Italy)

  • Frederique Angevin

    (INRAE-Eco-Innov, F-78850 Thiverval, Grignon, France)

  • Christian Bockstaller

    (Université de Lorraine, INRAE, LAE, F-68000 Colmar, France)

  • Rui Catarino

    (Université de Lorraine, INRAE, LAE, F-68000 Colmar, France)

  • Michael Curran

    (Research Institute for Organic Agriculture (FiBL), Department of Socioeconomic Sciences, Ackerstrasse 113 CH-5070 Frick, Switzerland)

  • Antoine Messéan

    (INRAE-Eco-Innov, F-78850 Thiverval, Grignon, France)

  • Christian Schader

    (Research Institute for Organic Agriculture (FiBL), Department of Socioeconomic Sciences, Ackerstrasse 113 CH-5070 Frick, Switzerland)

  • Didier Stilmant

    (Centre wallon de Recherches agronomiques, CRA-W, 9 Rue de Liroux, 5030 Gembloux, Belgium)

  • Florence Van Stappen

    (Centre wallon de Recherches agronomiques, CRA-W, 9 Rue de Liroux, 5030 Gembloux, Belgium)

  • Paul Vanhove

    (Centre wallon de Recherches agronomiques, CRA-W, 9 Rue de Liroux, 5030 Gembloux, Belgium)

  • Hauke Ahnemann

    (Chamber of Agriculture Lower Saxony, Nienburg office, Vor dem Zoll 2, 31582 Nienburg, Germany)

  • Jérémy Berthomier

    (Chambre Régionale d’Agriculture des Pays de la Loire CRA-PDL 9, Rue André Brouard 49000 Angers, France)

  • Luca Colombo

    (Fondazione italiana per la ricerca in agricoltura biologica e biodinamica, FIRAB, Via Pio Molajoni 76, 00159 Rome, Italy)

  • Giovanni Dara Guccione

    (Fondazione italiana per la ricerca in agricoltura biologica e biodinamica, FIRAB, Via Pio Molajoni 76, 00159 Rome, Italy
    CREA Research Centre for Agricultural Policies and Bioeconomy, Via Libertà, 203 90143 Palermo, Italy)

  • Emmanuel Mérot

    (Chambre Régionale d’Agriculture des Pays de la Loire CRA-PDL 9, Rue André Brouard 49000 Angers, France)

  • Massimo Palumbo

    (CREA Research Centre for Cereal and Industrial Crops, Corso Savoia 190, 95024 Acireale, Italy)

  • Nino Virzì

    (CREA Research Centre for Cereal and Industrial Crops, Corso Savoia 190, 95024 Acireale, Italy)

  • Stefano Canali

    (CREA, Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment, via della Navicella 2-4, 00184 Rome, Italy)

Abstract

Crop diversification represents a key lever to support the development of sustainable agri-food systems. Knowledge on trade-offs and carry over effects from different crop diversification strategies is essential to inform agricultural stakeholders of potential costs and benefits. This knowledge is limited by existing data and performance measures predominantly focused on single crops, rather than complete rotations. Moreover, sustainability performance indicators are often used for assessment purposes, rather than supporting stakeholder learning and actions. A new set of 32 indicators was developed to address these needs, and used to evaluate the environmental, economic and social sustainability of the diversified agricultural systems highlighted in the case studies, which are often characterized by data availability constraints. This approach was tested in France, Germany and Italy to determine a critical ex-post diagnosis of the existing systems, and for the assessment of ex-ante innovative scenarios. The results will be used to support these case studies in the identification and design of more sustainable agricultural systems. Although the framework is based on feasible and proxy indicators, the assessment outcomes have allowed local actors to reflect on the effects generated by the implemented crop diversification strategies. Key issues include trade-offs occurring between optimizing economic and environmental performance.

Suggested Citation

  • Ileana Iocola & Frederique Angevin & Christian Bockstaller & Rui Catarino & Michael Curran & Antoine Messéan & Christian Schader & Didier Stilmant & Florence Van Stappen & Paul Vanhove & Hauke Ahneman, 2020. "An Actor-Oriented Multi-Criteria Assessment Framework to Support a Transition towards Sustainable Agricultural Systems Based on Crop Diversification," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(13), pages 1-29, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:13:p:5434-:d:380785
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Ahmad Bathaei & Dalia Štreimikienė, 2023. "A Systematic Review of Agricultural Sustainability Indicators," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-19, January.
    2. Némethová Jana & Vilinová Katarína & Rybanský Ľubomír, 2025. "Regional Differences in Crop Production at the Level of Slovakia’s Districts Between 2004 and 2022," Quaestiones Geographicae, Sciendo, vol. 44(2), pages 33-44.
    3. Gabriel Pardo & Miguel I. Gómez & Alicia Cirujeda & Yolanda Martínez, 2020. "Economic Costs of Sharing the Harvester in the Control of an Invasive Weed," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(21), pages 1-20, October.
    4. Juventia, Stella D. & Selin Norén, Isabella L.M. & van Apeldoorn, Dirk F. & Ditzler, Lenora & Rossing, Walter A.H., 2022. "Spatio-temporal design of strip cropping systems," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 201(C).

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