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A farming systems approach to linking agricultural policies with biodiversity and ecosystem services
Author(s) -
Santos José L,
Moreira Francisco,
Ribeiro Paulo F,
Canadas Maria J,
Novais Ana,
Lomba Angela
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
frontiers in ecology and the environment
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.918
H-Index - 164
eISSN - 1540-9309
pISSN - 1540-9295
DOI - 10.1002/fee.2292
Subject(s) - subsidy , agriculture , ecosystem services , common agricultural policy , direct payments , biodiversity , payment , business , environmental resource management , agricultural policy , payment for ecosystem services , ecosystem , natural resource economics , environmental planning , economics , ecology , geography , finance , market economy , biology
Many countries are reshaping their agricultural policies to better enhance biodiversity and ecosystem services (BES) in farmlands, but measuring the effectiveness of policy instruments in BES delivery is challenging. Using the European Agricultural Policy as an example, we propose the application of a farming systems (FS) approach as a cost‐effective tool for linking policy design and expected BES outcomes. On the basis of available data from subsidy payment agencies, such an approach can identify groups of farms that share similar management practices as well as the associations between FS and corresponding BES potential, and improve modeled outputs of farm management responses to policies and other drivers of change. We describe how this relatively unexplored source of information can help to support applied ecological research and relevant policy, and call for these data to be made available across Europe and elsewhere.