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Standards on nitrate in the European Community : Processes of change in policy instruments and agriculture

Ziel

The identification of the policy instruments used to reduce nitrate levels in water according to EC requirements and the change in the agricultural sector in response to these policies.

The major determinants of mineral losses to the environment are identified, as well as the extent of the leaching potential from fertilizers and organic manure to the environment in the EC, both at farm and regional level. Focus of the study is on nitrogen, but balances for phoshor and potassium are also assessed. Mineral flows are assessed by mineral balances. Input in these balances are fertilizers and feed concentrates, the output includes the agricultural products produced and sold at markets. A model enables assessments of production and mineral balances at the regional level of the E.C.
Three major sources of information are used in the study. First, the Farm Structure Survey (FSS)of the E.C. the Regional Databank (REGIO) of the E.C. and the Farm Accountancy Data Network (FADN) of the E.C.
The project provides a thorough insight into the way in which the agricultural sector in the EC might respond to policies that either aim to reduce leaching of nitrate or to adjustment in market and price policies of the Common Agricultural Policy.

The project consists of three main parts :

i) an examination of the present situation in the EC, regarding mineral inputs to agriculture (nitrogen, phosphor and potassium) and the amount of mineral surpluses that result from the agricultural sector at regional and farm level. National policies to reduce damage to the environment caused by these mineral surpluses and the structural characteristics,management and input use of farms that are already close to meeting the standards of nitrate are also analysed;

ii) an examination of the effectiveness and efficiency of policy instruments. This part examines the extent to which efficiency and/or effectiveness of environmental policies might be improved by the use of economic instruments;

iii) an identification of the processes of change in the agricultural sector, not only in response to environmental policies but also to alterations in market and price policies. The consequences of different policy instruments wich affect farm income, factor intensity and production at farm and regional level are assessed.

The project has been selected for additional funding under the PECO Programme. The project includes partners from Bulgaria, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia.

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Dienst Landbouwkundig Onderzoek
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