Approaches to assess the environmental impact of organic farming with particular regard to Denmark

Hansen, Birgitte; Alrøe, Hugo Fjelsted; Kristensen, Erik

doi:10.1016/s0167-8809(00)00257-7

Cited by 225 publications

(137 citation statements)

References 33 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

109

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Concerning the environmental and economic sustainability, our results show that increasing the EA level allows the farms to have better environmental and economic results. From an environmental point of view, several studies have reported that farms using fewer concentrates and mineral fertilisers have lower nitrogen surplus and energy consumption (Hansen et al, 2001;Paccard et al, 2003;Meul et al, 2012). In our case study, this relationship was established whatever the unit in which the indicators were expressed: per hectare or per unit of product.…”

Section: Discussion and Perspectivesmentioning

confidence: 58%

“…As established in our study, input self-sufficiency in organic farms is achieved through the greater use of on-farm resources and the non use of mineral fertilisers and pesticides, thereby leading to a low environmental impact per hectare (Hansen et al, 2001;Paccard et al, 2003). Our brief comparison between organic and conventional Auto++ farms shows that organic farming provides economic benefits in a situation of milk price decrease.…”

Section: Discussion and Perspectivesmentioning

confidence: 60%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Role of input self-sufficiency in the economic and environmental sustainability of specialised dairy farms

Lebacq

Baret

Stilmant

2015

Animal

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Increasing input self-sufficiency is often viewed as a target to improve sustainability of dairy farms. However, few studies have specifically analysed input self-sufficiency, by including several technical inputs and without only focussing on animal feeding, in order to explore its impact on farm sustainability. To address this gap, our work has three objectives as follows: (1) identifying the structural characteristics required by specialised dairy farms located in the grassland area to be self-sufficient; (2) analysing the relationships between input self-sufficiency, environmental and economic sustainability; and (3) studying how the farms react to a decrease in milk price according to their self-sufficiency degree. Based on farm accounting databases, we categorised 335 Walloon specialised conventional dairy farms into four classes according to their level of input self-sufficiency. To this end, we used as proxy the indicator of economic autonomy -that is, the ratio between costs of inputs related to animal production, crop production and energy use and the total gross product. Classes were then compared using multiple comparison tests and canonical discriminant analysis. A total of 30 organic farms -among which 63% had a high level of economic autonomy -were considered separately and compared with the most autonomous class. We showed that a high degree of economic autonomy is associated, in conventional farms, with a high proportion of permanent grassland in the agricultural area. The most autonomous farms used less input -especially animal feeding -for a same output level, and therefore combined good environmental and economic performances. Our results also underlined that, in a situation of decrease in milk price, the least autonomous farms had more latitude to decrease their input-related costs without decreasing milk production. Their incomes per work unit were, therefore, less impacted by falling prices, but remained lower than those of more autonomous farms. In such a situation, organic farms kept stable incomes, because of a slighter decrease in organic milk price. Our results pave the way to study the role of increasing input self-sufficiency in the transition of dairy farming systems towards sustainability. Further research is required to study a wide range of systems and agro-ecological contexts, as well as to consider the evolution of farm sustainability in the long term.

show abstract

Section: Discussion and Perspectivesmentioning

confidence: 58%

Section: Discussion and Perspectivesmentioning

confidence: 60%

Role of input self-sufficiency in the economic and environmental sustainability of specialised dairy farms

Lebacq

Baret

Stilmant

2015

Animal

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…For example, nitrate leaching or runoff occurs whenever nitrate accumulation in soil coincides with a period of high rainfall or irrigation. Incorporating grass and legume cover crops, long fallow periods, mineral or organic N applications at the wrong time of the year, or small plant N demand (poor crop growth) can result in large nitrate leaching losses (40,41). Case studies have shown comparable or increased potential losses (42), or decreased potential losses (43,44) due to nitrate leaching and runoff from organic N sources as compared to fertilizer N. Many of these comparisons are flawed, however, because they compare different cropping systems, different amounts of applied N, and different yield levels.…”

Section: Inorganic Versus Organic Nitrogen Sourcesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Meeting Cereal Demand While Protecting Natural Resources and Improving Environmental Quality

Cassman

Dobermann

Walters

et al. 2003

Annu. Rev. Environ. Resour.

872

476

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Agriculture is a resource-intensive enterprise. The manner in which food production systems utilize resources has a large influence on environmental quality. To evaluate prospects for conserving natural resources while meeting increased demand for cereals, we interpret recent trends and future trajectories in crop yields, land and nitrogen fertilizer use, carbon sequestration, and greenhouse gas emissions to identify key issues and challenges. Based on this assessment, we conclude that avoiding expansion of cultivation into natural ecosystems, increased nitrogen use efficiency, and improved soil quality are pivotal components of a sustainable agriculture that meets human needs and protects natural resources. To achieve this outcome will depend on raising the yield potential and closing existing yield gaps of the major cereal crops to avoid yield stagnation in some of the world's most productive systems. Recent trends suggest, however, that increasing crop yield potential is a formidable scientific challenge that has proven to be an elusive goal.

show abstract

“…Studies comparing the productivity of organic practices to conventional agriculture provide an excellent example of the wide range of benefits that may result from a conversion to sustainable agricultural methods. Both organic and low-input systems increase the organic carbon content of the soil and the pools of stored nutrients, each of which are critical for long-term fertility maintenance [36]- [38].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Carotenoids and Phenols of Organically and Conventionally Cultivated Potato Varieties

Mūrniece¹,

Krūma²,

Skrabule³

et al. 2013

IJCEA

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract-Many of the compounds present in potato are important because of their beneficial effects on health, therefore, are highly desirable in the human diet. The orange and yellow colour of the tuber flesh is due to carotenoids. The aim of this research was to determine the content of total phenolic content and carotenoids in relationship with the colour of organically and conventionally cultivated potato varieties before and after period of storage. In the research 31 potato samples of 12 potato varieties were analyzed on total carotenoid, total phenolic content and colour. Obtained results show that there was significant influence on carotenoid content between different cultivation environments (p<0.05) and between varieties (p<0.05). Total phenolic content significantly varies both per variety (p<0.001) and storage conditions (p<0.001).

show abstract

Approaches to assess the environmental impact of organic farming with particular regard to Denmark

Cited by 225 publications

References 33 publications

Role of input self-sufficiency in the economic and environmental sustainability of specialised dairy farms

Role of input self-sufficiency in the economic and environmental sustainability of specialised dairy farms

Meeting Cereal Demand While Protecting Natural Resources and Improving Environmental Quality

Carotenoids and Phenols of Organically and Conventionally Cultivated Potato Varieties

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About