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Organic and Low†Input Dairy Farming: Avenues to Enhance Sustainability and Competitiveness in the EU

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Listed:
  • Nigel Scollan
  • Susanne Padel
  • Niels Halberg
  • John Hermansen
  • Pip Nicholas
  • Marketta Rinne
  • Raffaele Zanoli
  • Werner Zollitsch
  • Ludwig Lauwers

Abstract

Whether farming strategies built on continuing input intensification or relying on integrated natural resource management are more sustainable and competitive is at the core of the agricultural development debate. The five†year (2011–16) Sustainable Organic and Low Input Dairying (SOLID) project, funded by the European Commission, involved 25 partners across 10 European countries and was designed to support innovation in European organic and low†input dairy farming. Results show that such systems are very diverse, and need tailor†made farm†specific strategies and related policy measures. This article shows that low†input dairying has country†specific farm characteristics, and is potentially competitive when compared to more intensive dairying systems. Certified organic dairy farms commonly receive a price premium. Such market differentiation to attract a premium is not currently an eligible strategy for low†input systems, but cost savings on input use are possible. Both low†input and organic dairy farming systems can adopt innovative farming strategies to improve competitiveness. SOLID adopted a participatory approach for research and dissemination, by undertaking innovative science to answer practical problems. In working with farmers and other stakeholders, methodologies were developed to identify opportunities and novel strategies to enhance profitability, such as changes in breeding and feeding strategies, and provide support systems for on†farm use.Au cœur du débat sur le développement agricole est la question de savoir quelles stratégies agricoles sont plus durables et compétitives, celles fondées sur la poursuite de l'intensification de l'utilisation d'intrants ou celles ayant recours à une gestion intégrée des ressources naturelles. Le projet quinquennal (2011†2016) sur l’élevage laitier durable, biologique et faible en intrants (SOLID), financé par la Commission européenne, a mobilisé 25 partenaires de 10 pays européens et a été conçu pour soutenir l'innovation dans l’élevage laitier européen biologique et faible en intrants. Les résultats montrent que ces systèmes d’élevage sont très divers et requièrent des stratégies et des mesures d'action publique adaptées. Cet article montre que les exploitations d’élevage laitier faible en intrants ont des caractéristiques différentes selon les pays et que ce système est potentiellement compétitif par rapport aux systèmes laitiers plus intensifs. Les exploitations laitières certifiées biologiques reçoivent généralement un supplément de prix (prime). Une telle différenciation permettant d'obtenir une prime sur les marchés n'est pas une stratégie accessible pour les systèmes faibles en intrants, mais des économies de coûts sur ces intrants sont possibles. Les systèmes d’élevage laitier biologiques et faibles en intrants peuvent tous deux adopter des stratégies innovantes pour améliorer leur compétitivité. SOLID a adopté une approche participative de recherche et de diffusion, en faisant appel à la science de manière innovante pour répondre à des problèmes pratiques. En travaillant avec les agriculteurs et d'autres parties prenantes, des méthodologies ont été élaborées pour identifier les opportunités et les nouvelles stratégies permettant d'améliorer la rentabilité, telles que les changements dans les stratégies d’élevage et d'alimentation, et fournir des systèmes de soutien sur la ferme.Die Frage, ob landwirtschaftliche Strategien, die auf kontinuierlicher Intensivierung des Inputs beruhen oder ob Strategien, die auf ein integriertes Management natürlicher Ressourcen setzen, nachhaltiger und wettbewerbsfähiger sind, steht im Zentrum der Debatte um die landwirtschaftliche Entwicklung. Das von der Europäischen Kommission finanzierte Fünf†Jahres Projekt (2011†2016) „Sustainable Organic and Low Input Dairying†(„Nachhaltige ökologische und Low†input Milchwirtschaft†) (SOLID) umfasste 25 Partner in 10 europäischen Ländern und wurde konzipiert, um Innovationen in der europäischen ökologischen und Low†Input Milchwirtschaft zu unterstützen. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass die Systeme sehr unterschiedlich sind und maßgeschneiderte betriebsspezifische Strategien und entsprechende politische Maßnahmen erfordern. Dieser Artikel zeigt auf, dass die Low†input Milchwirtschaft länderspezifische Betriebscharakteristika aufweist und dass sie im Vergleich zu intensiveren Milchwirtschaftssystemen potenziell wettbewerbsfähig ist. Zertifizierte Öko†Milchbetriebe erhalten generell eine Preisprämie. Solch eine Marktdifferenzierung, um an Prämien zu gelangen, ist derzeit keine geeignete Strategie für Low†input Systeme, aber Kostenersparnisse im Bereich der Betriebsmittel sind möglich. Sowohl Low†input als auch ökologische Milchwirtschaftssysteme können neue landwirtschaftliche Strategien einführen, um ihre Wettbewerbsfähigkeit zu verbessern. Neben innovativer Forschung für die Beantwortung von praktischen Fragen verwendete SOLID einen partizipativen Ansatz für die Forschung und Verbreitung der Ergebnisse. In Zusammenarbeit mit Landwirten und anderen Projektbeteiligten wurden Methoden zur Identifizierung von Möglichkeiten und neuartigen Strategien zur Verbesserung der Rentabilität erarbeitet, wie beispielsweise Änderungen im Bereich der Zucht†und Fütterungsstrategien sowie die Bereitstellung von Unterstützungssystemen für den Einsatz auf den Betrieben.

Suggested Citation

  • Nigel Scollan & Susanne Padel & Niels Halberg & John Hermansen & Pip Nicholas & Marketta Rinne & Raffaele Zanoli & Werner Zollitsch & Ludwig Lauwers, 2017. "Organic and Low†Input Dairy Farming: Avenues to Enhance Sustainability and Competitiveness in the EU," EuroChoices, The Agricultural Economics Society, vol. 16(3), pages 40-45, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:bla:eurcho:v:16:y:2017:i:3:p:40-45
    DOI: 10.1111/1746-692X.12162
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Csaba Jansik & Xavier Irz, 2015. "Competitiveness Makes a Difference in the European Dairy Sector," EuroChoices, The Agricultural Economics Society, vol. 14(3), pages 12-19, December.
    2. Bijttebier, J. & Hamerlinck, J. & Moakes, S. & Scollan, N. & Van Meensel, J. & Lauwers, L., 2017. "Low-input dairy farming in Europe: Exploring a context-specific notion," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 156(C), pages 43-51.
    3. Padel, Susanne & Vaarst, Mette & Zaralis, Konstantinos, 2015. "Supporting Innovation in Organic Agriculture: A European Perspective Using Experience from the SOLID Project," Sustainable Agriculture Research, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 4(3 Special).
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    1. Elizabeth Ahikiriza & Jef Meensel & Xavier Gellynck & Ludwig Lauwers, 2021. "Heterogeneity in frontier analysis: does it matter for benchmarking farms?," Journal of Productivity Analysis, Springer, vol. 56(2), pages 69-84, December.
    2. Simona Naspetti & Serena Mandolesi & Jeroen Buysse & Terhi Latvala & Phillipa Nicholas & Susanne Padel & Ellen J. Loo & Raffaele Zanoli, 2021. "Consumer perception of sustainable practices in dairy production," Agricultural and Food Economics, Springer;Italian Society of Agricultural Economics (SIDEA), vol. 9(1), pages 1-26, December.

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