Abstract
Several methods for assessing the sustainability of agricultural systems
have been developed. These methods do not fully: (i) take into account the
multi-functionality of agriculture; (ii) include multidimensionality; (iii)
utilize and implement the assessment knowledge; and (iv) identify
conflicting goals and trade-offs. This paper reviews seven recently
developed multidisciplinary indicator-based assessment methods with respect
to their contribution to these shortcomings. All approaches include (1)
normative aspects such as goal setting, (2) systemic aspects such as a
specification of scale of analysis, (3) a reproducible structure of the
approach. The approaches can be categorized into three typologies. The topdown
farm assessments focus on field or farm assessment. They have a clear
procedure for measuring the indicators and assessing the sustainability of
the system, which allows for benchmarking across farms. The degree of
participation is low, potentially affecting the implementation of the
results negatively. The top-down regional assessment assesses the on-farm
and the regional effects. They include some participation to increase
acceptance of the results. However, they miss the analysis of potential
trade-offs. The bottom-up, integrated participatory or transdisciplinary
approaches focus on a regional scale. Stakeholders are included throughout
the whole process assuring the acceptance of the results and increasing the
probability of implementation of developed measures. As they include the
interaction between the indicators in their system representation, they
allow for performing a trade-off analysis. The bottom-up, integrated
participatory or transdisciplinary approaches seem to better overcome the
four shortcomings mentioned above.
Binder, C R