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Assessing the Sustainability Performance of Organic Farms in Denmark

Author

Listed:
  • Evelien M. De Olde

    (Department of Engineering, Aarhus University, Inge Lehmanns Gade 10, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark
    Animal Production Systems Group, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 338, 6700 AH Wageningen, The Netherlands)

  • Frank W. Oudshoorn

    (Department of Engineering, Aarhus University, Inge Lehmanns Gade 10, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark
    SEGES, Agro Food Park 15, 8200 Aarhus N, Denmark)

  • Eddie A. M. Bokkers

    (Animal Production Systems Group, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 338, 6700 AH Wageningen, The Netherlands)

  • Anke Stubsgaard

    (SEGES, Agro Food Park 15, 8200 Aarhus N, Denmark)

  • Claus A. G. Sørensen

    (Department of Engineering, Aarhus University, Inge Lehmanns Gade 10, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark)

  • Imke J. M. De Boer

    (Animal Production Systems Group, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 338, 6700 AH Wageningen, The Netherlands)

Abstract

The growth of organic agriculture in Denmark raises the interest of both producers and consumers in the sustainability performance of organic production. The aim of this study was to examine the sustainability performance of farms in four agricultural sectors (vegetable, dairy, pig and poultry) using the sustainability assessment tool RISE 2.0. Thirty seven organic farms were assessed on 10 themes, including 51 subthemes. For one theme (water use) and 17 subthemes, a difference between sectors was found. Using the thresholds of RISE, the vegetable, dairy and pig sector performed positively for seven themes and the poultry sector for eight themes. The performance on the nutrient flows and energy and climate themes, however, was critical for all sectors. Moreover, the performance on the economic viability theme was critical for vegetable, dairy and pig farms. The development of a tool, including decisions, such as the selection of themes and indicators, reference values, weights and aggregation methods, influences the assessment results. This emphasizes the need for transparency and reflection on decisions made in sustainability assessment tools. The results of RISE present a starting point to discuss sustainability at the farm-level and contribute to an increase in awareness and learning about sustainability.

Suggested Citation

  • Evelien M. De Olde & Frank W. Oudshoorn & Eddie A. M. Bokkers & Anke Stubsgaard & Claus A. G. Sørensen & Imke J. M. De Boer, 2016. "Assessing the Sustainability Performance of Organic Farms in Denmark," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(9), pages 1-20, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:8:y:2016:i:9:p:957-:d:78576
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. de Olde, Evelien M. & Bokkers, Eddie A.M. & de Boer, Imke J.M., 2017. "The Choice of the Sustainability Assessment Tool Matters: Differences in Thematic Scope and Assessment Results," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 136(C), pages 77-85.
    2. Adam Kleofas Berbeć & Beata Feledyn-Szewczyk & Christian Thalmann & Rebekka Wyss & Jan Grenz & Jerzy Kopiński & Jarosław Stalenga & Paweł Radzikowski, 2018. "Assessing the Sustainability Performance of Organic and Low-Input Conventional Farms from Eastern Poland with the RISE Indicator System," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(6), pages 1-22, May.
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    6. Maria G. Lampridi & Claus G. Sørensen & Dionysis Bochtis, 2019. "Agricultural Sustainability: A Review of Concepts and Methods," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(18), pages 1-27, September.
    7. Alexander Zorn & Michele Esteves & Ivo Baur & Markus Lips, 2018. "Financial Ratios as Indicators of Economic Sustainability: A Quantitative Analysis for Swiss Dairy Farms," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(8), pages 1-20, August.
    8. Andreas Stylianou & Despina Sdrali & Constantinos D. Apostolopoulos, 2020. "Integrated Sustainability Assessment of Divergent Mediterranean Farming Systems: Cyprus as a Case Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(15), pages 1-24, July.
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