Linkages between agricultural policies and environmental effects : using the OECD stylised agri-environmental policy impact model.

Format:

Book

Government document

Author/Creator:

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

Contributor:

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Agriculture and state--Environmental aspects.

Agriculture and state.

Agriculture--Environmental aspects--Government policy--Finland.

Agriculture.

Agriculture--Environmental aspects--Government policy--Japan.

Agriculture--Environmental aspects--Government policy--Switzerland.

Agriculture--Environmental aspects--Government policy--United States.

Agriculture--Environmental aspects--Government policy.

Agriculture--Environmental aspects--Finland.

Agriculture--Environmental aspects--Japan.

Agriculture--Environmental aspects--Switzerland.

Agriculture--Environmental aspects--United States.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (176 p. )

Place of Publication:

Paris : OECD, c2010.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

Improving the environmental performance of agriculture is a high priority for OECD countries. But measuring and evaluating the impact of agri-environmental policies on the environment can be challenging, as it requires linking economic and biophysical models in country-specific contexts. The OECD has developed the Stylised Agri-environmental Policy Impact Model (SAPIM), which can be adapted and applied by researchers and policy makers to better understand the impact of policies on the agri-environment conditions in their countries. This report applies the model to representative farms in Finland, Japan, Switzerland and the United States. These countries include a wide range of objectives, policy measures and agri-environmental conditions. The results highlight that when positive or negative environmental externalities are not taken into account by farmers then the production choices by farmers will reflect private costs and benefits. Policies can potentially raise social welfare by taking account of those externalities. This report notes that, overall, the diversity of conditions across sectors and countries makes it difficult to generalise the impact of agri-environmental policies beyond the situations that are modeled. Nevertheless, some wider policy messages emerge. Drawing on the four case studies examined, this report recommends that; polluting activites that are not regulated should be included in policy design; the existing overall policy environment needs to be taken into account in evaluating agri-environmental policies; and environmental co-benefits and trade-offs need to be recognised. Green growth policies can stimulate economic growth while preventing environmental degradation, biodiversity loss and unsustainable natural resource use. The results from this publication contribute to the Green Growth Strategy being developed by the OECD as a practical policy package for governments to harness the potential of greener growth.

Contents:

Switzerland: The environmental effects of dairy production

Japan: Optimal land-use allocation and nitrogen application

United States: The environmental effects of crop production and conservation auctions

Environmental effects of agricultural policies: Literature review

Bibliography

General description of the SAPIM framework

Finland: Crop production and entry/exit options with forestry

Executive Summary

Annex A. The Finnish case study

Foreword

Annex B. The Swiss case study: Background data

Annex C. The Japanese case study: Empirical specification

Introduction

Comparative analysis of results for all case studies

Conclusions

Sensitivity analysis.

Notes:

Bibliographic Level Mode of Issuance: Monograph

Includes bibliographical references.

ISBN:

92-64-09570-5

1-282-94492-4

9786612944925