The environmental impact of agricultural policies
The Environment Directorate-General will soon call for tenders for the development and testing of computer-based models to assess the impact of agricultural policies on the environment. In particular, these should focus on water and air issues. The study should: - develop a conceptual framework for analysing the relationship between agriculture and the environment; - develop a computer-based model or models that can be used for the ex-ante and the ex-post assessment and quantification of the impact of changes in agricultural polices on the environment; - develop a database and collect the relevant information to ensure the model(s) developed is (or are) built, tested, calibrated and validated; - develop a user-friendly interface and adequate facilities for displaying the model(s') output; - use the model(s) to compare selected agricultural market and policy scenarios and quantify their impact on the environment.