Project
Remuneration for the environmental benefits of organic farming
Development of a concept for the coherent and differentiated remuneration of the environmental benefits of organic farming
Lower nitrogen burdens in water courses, reduced resource use, more biodiversity in farmed landscapes – organic farming delivers many benefits for society. But organic farms are not rewarded appropriately for their services. What needs to change?
Background and Objective
Organic farming stands for a holistic concept of land use, with the aim particularly to recognise and respect natural constraints. For the environmental benefits they deliver, organic farms currently receive a land area-based payment. The level of this environmental payment has so far been calculated on the basis of regional averages for increased costs and reduced output of organic farms compared with conventional farms.
This approach has two disadvantages. Firstly, the support payments bear no relationship to the value of the environmental benefits delivered. And secondly, the support payments to not provide any financial incentive to adopt farming practices that go beyond the minimum requirements of organic regulations. The Thünen Institut and partner organisations have therefore, in the context of a research project, set the goal of developing a differentiated and coherent approach to the remuneration of the environmental benefits of organic farming.
To make the subsequent implementation of the remuneration concept easier, the expectations and experiences of agricultural practitioners and policy administrators will be considered from the outset. In addition, the concept development will ensure that the remuneration approach could be applicable to all farmers at a later date.
Results
As part of this work the suitability of various indicator-based approaches for a differentiated remuneration of environmental services was assessed. A total of 556 agri-environmental indicators were considered for the protection of soil, water, climate/air and biodiversity. A detailed assessment was carried out for 17 individual indicators based on the criteria of relevance, legal defensibility/susceptibility to fraud, transaction costs, and communicability. The evaluation of the individual indicators in the context of this work shows that it remains a challenge to use practicable, results-oriented approaches across the board for remuneration. However, the results also indicate in which areas and under which conditions progress is conceivable in coming years (e.g. nutrient balances).
In addition to the question of whether action-orientated or result-orientated approaches are more suitable for a remuneration system, the possibility of graduating the level of support more strongly in future and thus enabling a differentiated assessment of performance should be examined for both options. In order to adequately reward organic farming in this context, it is particularly important to take appropriate account of the multi-annual management practices and the combination and synergy effects resulting from the system approach (e.g. through the creation of fallow land and the avoidance of chemical-synthetic pesticides).
The results of this and other studies show how public funds can be spent in a more targeted manner in future for the provision of politically desirable public goods. They therefore make an important contribution to the debate on the reorientation of agricultural policy after 2027.
See the cover report for the individual final reports of the project:
Sanders J, Lampkin N (2023) Honorierung von Umweltleistungen unter besonderer Berücksichtigung des ökologischen Landbaus: UGÖ-Schlussbericht Teil II. Braunschweig: Thünen-Institut für Betriebswirtschaft, IV, 16 p. https://literatur.thuenen.de/digbib_extern/dn067271.pdf
Involved Thünen-Partners
Involved external Thünen-Partners
-
Technische Universität München
(München, Freising-Weihenstephan, Deutschland) - Forschungsinstitut für biologischen Landbau (FiBL e.V.)
(Frankfurt, Deutschland) - (Bayerische) Landesanstalt für Landwirtschaft (LfL)
(Freising, Poing, Deutschland) -
Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen
(Gießen, Deutschland) - Leibniz-Zentrum für Agrarlandschaftsforschung (ZALF) e.V.
(Müncheberg, Deutschland) - Universität Kassel
(Kassel, Witzenhausen, Deutschland) -
Bioland Beratung GmbH
(Mainz, Deutschland) - Forschungsinstitut für biologischen Landbau (FiBL)
(Frick, Schweiz)
Funding Body
-
Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Regional Identity (BMLEH)
(national, öffentlich)
Duration
5.2020 - 5.2023
More Information
Project status:
finished
Publications to the project
- 0
Gava O, Vanni F, Schwarz G, Guisepelli E, Vincent A, Prazan J, Weisshaidinger R, Frick R, Hrabalová A, Carolus JF, Iragui Yoldi U, Pyysiäinen J, Smyrniotopoulou A, Vlahos G, Balazs K, Szilágyi AJ, Jegelevicius G, Miksyte E, Zilans A, Fratila M, et al (2025) Governance networks for agroecology transitions in rural Europe. J Rural Studies 114:103482, DOI:10.1016/j.jrurstud.2024.103482
- 1
Gutiérrez-Briceño I, Pérez-Ramírez I, Yacamán-Ochoa C, Lucantoni D, Vizuete B, Hevia V, González JA, Schwarz G, García-Llorente M (2025) Unravelling agroecological transitions : a multidimensional study of the horticultural sector in Madrid. Int J Agric Sustain 23(1):2551423, DOI:10.1080/14735903.2025.2551423
- 2
Zawalinska K, Smyrniotopoulou A, Balazs K, Böhm M, Chitea M, Florian V, Fratila M, Gradziuk P, Henderson S, Irvine K, Konstantidelli V, Krupin V, Latruffe L, Miksyte E, Miller D, Monteleone D, Polaschegg M, Schwarz G, Tzanopoulos J, Tzouramani I, et al (2022) Advancing the contributions of European stakeholders in farming systems to transitions to agroecology. EuroChoices 21(3):50-63, DOI:10.1111/1746-692X.12378
- 3
Röös E, Mayer A, Muller A, Kalt G, Ferguson S, Erb K-H, Hart R, Matej S, Kaufmann L, Pfeifer C, Frehner A, Smith P, Schwarz G (2022) Agroecological practices in combination with healthy diets can help meet EU food system policy targets. Sci Total Environ 847:157612, DOI:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.157612
- 4
Niedermayr A, Landert J, Albanito F, Carolus JF, Desjeux Y, Heinrichs J, Hrabalová A, Jeanneaux P, Kantelhardt J, Latruffe L, Sanders J, Schaller L, Schwarz G (2022) Assessing farming systems in transition to agroecology. EuroChoices 21(3):48-49, DOI:10.1111/1746-692X.12359
- 5
Linares Quero A, Iragui Yoldi U, Gava O, Schwarz G, Povellato A, Astrain C (2022) Assessment of the Common Agricultural Policy 2014-2020 in supporting agroecological transitions: A comparative study of 15 cases across Europe. Sustainability 14(15):9261, DOI:10.3390/su14159261
- 6
Miller D, Legras S, Barnes A, Cazacu M, Gava O, Helin J, Irvine K, Kantelhardt J, Landert J, Latruffe L, Mayer A, Niedermayr A, Povellato A, Schaller L, Schwarz G, Smith P, Vanni F, Vedrine L, Viaggi D, Vincent A, Vlahos G (2022) Creating conditions for harnessing the potential of transitions to agroecology in Europe and requirements for policy. EuroChoices 21(3):72-79, DOI:10.1111/1746-692X.12374
- 7
Schwarz G, Vanni F, Miller D, Helin J, Prazan J, Albanito F, Fratila M, Galioto F, Gava O, Irvine K, Landert J, Linares Quero A, Mayer A, Monteleone D, Muller A, Röös E, Smyrniotopoulou A, Vincent A, Vlahos G, Zilans A (2022) Exploring sustainability implications of transitions to agroecology: a transdisciplinary perspective. EuroChoices 21(3):37-47, DOI:10.1111/1746-692X.12377
- 8
Latruffe L, Schwarz G (2022) Insights on transitions to agroecological farming from across Europe. EuroChoices 21(3):3-4, DOI:10.1111/1746-692X.12375
- 9
Gava O, Povellato A, Galioto F, Prazan J, Schwarz G, Linares Quero A, Iragui Yoldi U, Astrain Massa C, Zilans A, Carolus JF (2022) Policy instruments to support agroecological transitions in Europe. EuroChoices 21(3):13-20, DOI:10.1111/1746-692X.12367
- 10
Carolus JF, Polaschegg M, Schwarz G (2021) Förderung von Wissensnetzwerken für eine nachhaltige Landwirtschaft in Niedersachsen. UNISECO project, 2 p, Policy Brief, DOI:10.5281/zenodo.4766246
- 11
Vanni F, Schwarz G, Miller D, Helin J, Prazan J (2021) Integrated Sustainability Assessment in a Transdisciplinary Perspective : Deliverable Report D6.2. UNISECO project, 28 p, DOI:10.5281/zenodo.5555090
- 12
Cazacu M, Balazs K, Schwarz G, Miller D (2021) Issue Briefs for Practitioners and Policy-Makers : Deliverable Report D6.5. UNISECO project, 11 p, DOI:10.5281/zenodo.5557052
- 13
Carolus JF, Polaschegg M, Schwarz G (2021) Marktimpulse für eine gesteigerte Wertschöpfung durch agrarökologische Praktiken im marktorientierten Ackerbau. UNISECO project, 2 p, Policy Brief, DOI:10.5281/zenodo.4803335
- 14
Schwarz G, Carolus JF, Irvine K, Miller D, Smyrniotopoulou A, Vlahos G, Povellato A, Vanni F, Prazan J, Fleury P, Guisepelli E, Vincent A, Landert J, Albanito F, Röös E, Cazacu M, Fratila M (2021) Methodological Briefs : Deliverable Report D6.4. UNISECO project, 56 p, DOI:10.5281/zenodo.5555079
- 15
Miller D, Smyrniotopoulou A, Irvine K, Vlahos G, Schwarz G, Budniok M-A (2021) Operation of a Multi-Actor Platform in a transdisciplinary project focused on agro-ecological transitions. UNISECO project, 2 p, Policy Brief, DOI:10.5281/zenodo.4980160
- 16
Schwarz G, Miller D, Smith P, Balazs K, Ruskute E (2021) Recommendations for future research needs and actions to enhance agro-ecological transitions. UNISECO project, 2 p, Policy Brief, DOI:10.5281/zenodo.4964098
- 17
Schwarz G, Prazan J, Landert J, Miller D, Vanni F, Carolus JF, Weisshaidinger R, Bartel-Kratochvil R, Mayer A, Frick R, Hrabalová A, Linares Quero A, Iragui U, Astrain Massa C, Helin J, Huismann D, Guisepelli E, Fleury P, Vincent A, Smyrniotopoulou A, et al (2021) Report on Key Barriers of Agro-ecological Farming Systems in Europe and Co-constructed Strategies : Deliverable Report D3.4. UNISECO project, 126 p, DOI:10.5281/zenodo.5549542
- 18
Schwarz G, Prazan J, Landert J, Miller D, Vanni F (2021) Supporting advice, education and lifelong learning to promote agroecological transitions. UNISECO project, 2 p, Policy Brief, DOI:10.5281/zenodo.5009012
- 19
Schwarz G, Vanni F, Miller D (2021) The role of transdisciplinary research in the transformation of food systems. Agric Food Econ 9:35, DOI:10.1186/s40100-021-00207-2
- 20
Landert J, Schwarz G, Cazacu M, Prazan J, Helin J, Weisshaidinger R, Bartel-Kratochvil R, Mayer A, Hrabalová A, Guisepelli E, Fleury P, Vincent A, Carolus JF, Smyrniotopoulou A, Vlahos G, Balazs K, Szilagyi A, Podmaniczky L, Gava O, Povellato A, et al (2021) Updated Story Maps on Lessons Learnt from each Case Study : Deliverable Report D3.6. UNISECO project, 15 p, DOI:10.5281/zenodo.5576192
- 21
Landert J, Pfeifer C, Carolus JF, Schwarz G, Albanito F, Muller A, Smith P, Sanders J, Schader C, Vanni F, Prazan J, Baumgart L, Blockeel J, Weisshaidinger R, Bartel-Kratochvil R, Hollaus A, Mayer A, Hrabalová A, Helin J, Aakkula J, et al (2020) Assessing agro-ecological practices using a combination of three sustainability assessment tools. Landbauforsch J Sustainable Organic Agric Syst 70(2):129-144, DOI:10.3220/LBF1612794225000
- 22
Albanito F, Landert J, Carolus JF, Smith P, Schwarz G, Pfeifer C, Müller A, Helin J, Huismann D, Guisepelli E, Fleury P, Vincent A, Smyrniotopoulou A, Vlahos G, Iordanidis Y, Szilagyi A, Podmaniczky L, Balazs K, Galioto F, Sanders J, et al (2020) Assessment of sustainability trade-offs and synergies among agro-ecological practices at farm level : Deliverable Report D3.5. UNISECO project, 108 p, DOI:10.5281/zenodo.5576122
- 23
Linares Quero A, Gava O, Povellato A, Schwarz G, Iragui Yoldi U, Astrain Massa C, Galioto F, Vanni F (2020) Deliverable Report 5.3 Participatory analysis of market and policy instruments for agro-ecological transition. UNISECO, 40 p, DOI:10.5281/zenodo.5578043
- 24
Lampkin N, Schwarz G, Bellon S (2020) Policies for agroecology in Europe, building on experiences in France, Germany and the United Kingdom. Landbauforsch J Sustainable Organic Agric Syst 70(2):103-112, DOI:10.3220/LBF1611684471000
- 25
Landert J, Pfeifer C, Carolus JF, Albanito F, Müller A, Baumgart L, Blockeel J, Schwarz G, Weisshaidinger R, Bartel-Kratochvil R, Hollaus A, Hrabalová A, Helin J, Aakkula J, Svels K, Guisepelli E, Fleury P, Vincent A, Smyrniotopoulou A, Sanders J, et al (2019) Database on the performance of current AEFS as an input to the modelling in WP4 [Datenpublikation] [online]. UNISECO, zu finden in <https://zenodo.org/record/3593989#> [zitiert am 06.01.2020], DOI:10.5281/zenodo.3593988
- 26
Landert J, Pfeifer C, Carolus JF, Albanito F, Müller A, Baumgart L, Blockeel J, Schwarz G, Weisshaidinger R, Bartel-Kratochvil R, Hollaus A, Hrabalová A, Helin J, Aakkula J, Svels K, Guisepelli E, Fleury P, Vincent A, Smyrniotopoulou A, Sanders J, et al (2019) Deliverable Report D3.1 Report on environmental, economic and social performance of current AEFS, and comparison to conventional baseline. UNISECO, 234 p
- 27
Vanni F, Gava O, Povellato A, Guisepelli E, Fleury P, Vincent A, Prazan J, Schwarz G, Bartel-Kratochvil R, Hollaus A, Weisshaidinger R, Frick R, Hrabalová A, Carolus JF, Iragui Yoldi U, Elía Hurtado S, Pyysiäinen J, Aakkula J, Helin J, Rikkonen P, et al (2019) Deliverable Report D5.2 Governance networks supporting agro-ecological farming systems. UNISECO, 65 p
- 28
Helin J, Schwarz G (2019) Deliverable Report D6.1 Report on the prototype of the spatially explicit interactive online tool and functions. UNISECO, 27 p
- 29
Irvine KN, Miller D, Schwarz G, Smyrniotopoulou A, Vlahos G (2019) Deliverable Report D7.2 A guide to transdisciplinarity for partners. UNISECO, 46 p
- 30
Budniok M-A, Howe M, Miles B, Vlahos G, Smyrniotopoulou A, Irvine KN, Miller D, Schwarz G (2018) Deliverable 7.1 Guidelines for the selection of Multi-Actor Platform (MAP) Members. UNISECO, 17 p
- 31
Schwarz G, George V (2018) Enhancing the understanding of barriers and drivers of agro-ecological farming systems in the EU: Exploring contributions of a socio-ecological systems perspective. In: AAG 2018 New Orleans: Annual meeting abstracts, 10. April - 14. April, 2018, New Orleans, USA, Association of American Geographers (AAG). pp 1201-1202
- 32
Schwarz G, Zilans A, Zabalza Armendariz S, Vlahos G, Vincent A, Veidemane K, Vanni F, Theurl M, Smyrniotopoulou A, Smith P, Schrader C, Sanders J, Samsonova P, Röös E, Rikkonen P, Puscas A, Prazan J, Povellato A, Podmaniczky L, Pechrova M, et al (2018) Understanding and improving the sustainability of agro-ecological farming systems in the EU - the UNISECO project. Verhandl Gesellsch Ökol 47/48: 39
