Indicators: Tools to Evaluate the Environmental Impacts of Farming Systems

ABSTRACT Real life is often too complex to be understood by means of simple measurements or simulations by models. The purpose of indicators is to simplify the system so as to make this reality accessible to the users, in the form of a diagnostic or decision aid tool. These indicators represent a compromise between the scientific knowledge of the moment, the need to be concise, simplicity of use, and the availability of data. A procedure for developing such indicators in 7 stages is proposed. These are always defined according to an objective. They are either measured, estimated, or calculated by aggregation of data. Their values are assessed relative to a reference. We proposed to evaluate their relevance by a “probability test.” The validation of indicators, i.e., the fact that they fulfil the objective for which they were intended, is done through a “usefulness test” by surveys of end-users. Their scientific value stems from the rigour of the procedure and the degree of consensus which is established a...

[1]  Alison J. Gilbert,et al.  Indicators of Sustainable Development , 1999 .

[2]  Albert Adriaanse,et al.  Environmental policy performance indicators : a study on the development of indicators for environmental policy in the Netherlands , 1993 .

[3]  J. R. Kiniry,et al.  CERES-Maize: a simulation model of maize growth and development , 1986 .

[4]  J. B. Opschoor,et al.  Towards environmental performance indicators based on the notion of environmental space , 1994 .

[5]  Onno Kuik,et al.  In search of indicators of sustainable development , 1991 .

[6]  Adrian McDonald,et al.  PICABUE: a methodological framework for the development of indicators of sustainable development , 1995 .

[7]  R. G. Gilbert,et al.  The Concept and Need for a Phosphorus Assessment Tool , 1993 .

[8]  J. Reus,et al.  An environmental yardstick for pesticides , 1993 .

[9]  J. Kovach,et al.  A Method to Measure the Environmental Impact of Pesticides , 1992 .

[10]  Frans Klijn,et al.  Towards Sustainability: Indicators of Environmental Quality , 1991 .

[11]  Paul R. Ehrlich,et al.  Population, plenty, and poverty , 1988 .

[12]  Patrick Vincourt,et al.  Relations génétiques entre caractéristiques de la phase juvénile et productivité chez le maïs ensilage I. - Vigueur au stade jeune et productivité , 1983 .

[13]  Carlo Giupponi,et al.  AGRO-ENVIRONMENTAL EVALUATION OF ALTERNATIVE FARM MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS FOLLOWING THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY REFORM OF AGRICULTURAL POLICY; Proceedings of the 4th Minnesota Padova Conference on Food, Agriculture, and the Environment, September 4-10, 1994, MN , 1995 .

[14]  L. J. Penrose,et al.  Rating index as a basis for decision making on pesticide use reduction and for accreditation of fruit produced under integrated pest management , 1994 .

[15]  Piet Rietveld,et al.  Monetary and non-monetary evaluation methods in sustainable development planning , 1994 .

[16]  J. Passioura.  Simulation Models: Science, Snake Oil, Education, or Engineering? , 1996 .

[17]  Tom Addiscott,et al.  Critical Evaluation of Models and Their Parameters , 1995 .

[18]  J. Monteith.  The quest for balance in crop modeling , 1996 .

[19]  B. English.  Ecological Economics: The Science and Management of Sustainability , 1991 .

[20]  T. Sinclair,et al.  Crop Modeling: From Infancy to Maturity , 1996 .

[21]  W. Ott.  Environmental indices: Theory and practice , 1978 .