An Overview Of Our Solution
Biodiversity losses are one of the most critical global environmental threats. Organic agriculture has been proven to make a major contribution to biodiversity enhancement, and furthermore, optimization strategies are very effective. We developed a catalogue of more than 100 measures and an assessment tool for nature conservation achievements (NCA) based on a credit point system. It can be used as an additional qualification for the promotion of biodiversity on farm level - from field to fork. Farmers can individually select suitable measures and get a premium price for their products from the retailer EDEKA, while consumers don’t have to pay more. The new assessment tool and logo ‘Agriculture for Biodiversity’ provides a greater appreciation of NCA by both farmers and consumers and can encourage organic farming as the preferred agricultural system in the future.
Who is this solution impacting?
Community Type
Rural
Additional Information
- Population Impacted:
- Continent: Europe
General Information
Organization type
Nonprofit
Ecosystem (select all that apply)
Grasslands
Population impacted
About 1,000 – 2,000 people per year
Challenge
Size of agricultural area
40,000 ha
Production quantity
More than 60 farms, not to specify
People employed
More than 300 people
Solution
Describe your solution
To bridge the gap between limited government financial support and consumers’ interest, a new nature conservation module has been developed which connect nature conservation advisory services, implementation of measures and rewarding farmers by marketing organic-plus-biodiversity products. Based on the wish of organic farmers to evaluate and increase their nature conservation achievements on farm level and to use them for marketing purposes, the organic farmer association Biopark initiated the project ‘Agriculture for Biodiversity’ together with WWF Germany and the Ministry of Agriculture in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Germany in 2012. The goal is to increase biodiversity on farm level and achieve a value-added component for organic farms. Consumers receive more information about the positive effects on biodiversity by buying these products with an extra logo and via an associated website (www.landwirtschaft-artenvielfalt.de). Within the project, an assessment tool for nature conservation achievements has been developed based on credit points (Gottwald & Stein-Bachinger 2016). Famers can choose from a catalogue of more than 100 proven nature conservation measures for arable/grassland and landscape elements (Gottwald & Stein-Bachinger 2016). If farmers reach 120 credit points per 100 ha based on whole farm evaluation, they receive a nature conservation certificate and get a premium price for their products from the wholesaler.
Implementation
Describe your implementation
So far, 62 organic farmers in north-eastern Germany (40,000 ha) are involved, 50 received the nature conservation certificate already. In the first run of the pilot project, EDEKA guaranties the purchase of meat and potatoes for a premium price, while consumers don’t have to pay more in the supermarket. As farmers are free in choosing different combinations of nature conservation measures and get support from consultants, the acceptance to join the project is high. Since 2017, the adaption of the nature conservation module to organic farms and site conditions in southern Germany has been started with already 10 pilot farms.
To increase the effectiveness of special nature conservation modules, monitoring and evaluation programs as well as scientific investigations are carried out on more than 20 involved farms with regard to special species and measures (e.g. effects of unmown strips in grassland and legume-grass leys on farmland birds and butterflies, effects of harrowing in cereals and pulses on rare segetal flora). An important goal is: decreasing the costs for the farmers while increasing the effects for biodiversity by implementing small-scale nature conservation measures. One result concerning the effects of unmown strips on grassland for whinchat (Saxicola rubetra) is, that already small strips along fences and field edges during the breeding season will increase the breeding success as the birds prefer these sites for building their nests. At the same time, butterflies benefit from unmown strips. Further investigations address the amount of target plant species on arable land. The farmers will receive credit points for fields with high plant biodiversity and for viable populations of highly endangered species.
External connections
WWF as project coordinator promotes the cooperation between the farmers union Biopark and the wholesaler EDEKA for marketing purposes. Consumers can choose to promote biodiversity by buying the ‘Agriculture for Biodiversity’ products in the supermarket and get information about the individual nature conservation measures of the farms via tracking code. This leads to the homepage www.landwirtschaft-artenvielfalt.de where all farmers are presented. EDEKA informs the consumers via flyer, leaflets and on their own homepage. To qualify nature conservation advisors and controllers special materials (e.g. handbook) are developed within the project. The ideas and results are presented on local events, field trips with farmers and consumers as well as on national and international conferences. Some of the developed measures have been implemented into agro-environmental schemes (AES) in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania (MWP). Furthermore, MWP has integrated the advisory service as well as for nature conservation in a new AES which is accessible for all farmers. In Brandenburg, some measures have been implemented into the program nature conservation by contract. The need for advisors with profound knowledge call for new education sections at universities.
Results
What is the environmental or ecological challenge you are targeting with your solution?
The loss of biodiversity is one of the most critical global environmental threats. Nearly 50% of wild flora and fauna are endangered or extinct (BfN 2015). In Europe, one third of wild plants on arable land are on the red list and e.g. common birds like skylarks (Alauda arvensis) are declining rapidly. Intensive agriculture is considered to be one of the most detrimental factors. Several international meta-analyses showed that organic farms have higher biodiversity than conventional farms (e.g. Tuck et al. 2014, Rahmann 2011). Moreover, organic farms have a very high potential to further enhance biodiversity by integrating targeted nature conservation measures into the day-to-day farming practice (Gottwald & Stein-Bachinger 2016). But there are too little financial incentives and knowledge how to integrate targeted nature conservation measures into farming practice successfully and use the achievements for marketing purposes.
Describe the context in which you are operating
Although many organic farmers are willing to do more for nature conservation, there is an increasing economic pressure which results quite often in specialization and intensification or even reconversion to conventional farming. In most cases, the integration of nature conservation goals leads to more work and less yields or product quality (Stein-Bachinger et al. 2010). Hence trade-offs between nature conservation and farmers’ needs arise. The necessity of frequent harvesting, e.g. to produce high-quality forage, can turn these crops into ‘ecological traps’ where high bird densities are reached but successful reproduction is inhibited by routine farming operations. Furthermore, governments do not offer sufficient financial support for the proven beneficial environmental services for nature that organic farms offer, and consumers’ appreciation is nearly non-existent because of low or even no transparency and knowledge.
How did you impact natural resource use and greenhouse gas emissions?
The successful integration of effective nature conservation measures like unmown strips in grassland and legume-grass leys benefit farmland birds (increased breeding success) and insects (increased flowering aspects). These measures only affect small parts of the cultivated land for a few months. Buffer strips around water bodies provide a considerable expansion and improvement of the habitat for amphibians. Field margins and blossom strips benefit a whole range of wild animals. Extensive grassland management is beneficial for a species-rich grassland flora which supports e.g. insects. The evaluation of the arable land of 14 farms revealed that more than 80% of the area belongs to High Nature Value Farmland according to the German HNV-Indicator method (BfN 2016). The new assessment tool includes the whole farm as unit by allowing individual nature conservation achievements depending on each farm. A diverse landscape is attractive for humans who will enjoy the countryside.
Language(s)
German
Water
While organic farming is increasing if more consumers buy these products e.g. to support biodiversity a lot of other ecosystem services will be met simultaneously: less nutrient and no pesticides input into water bodies, which results in a better quality of lakes, seas and groundwater.
Food Security/Nutrition
n/a
Economic/Sustainable Development
By increasing sale of organic products, organic farming can expand in line with high transparency of nature conservation benefits and other ecosystem services.
Climate
n/a
Sustainability
The retailer EDEKA supports the development and implementation of the system and guarantees a premium prices for the involved farmers.
Return on investment
While the nature conservation module is introduced, farmers need advisory services which cost of about 500-1500 EUR per year. This amount can be reduced with growing know-how of the farmers.
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Replication and Scale
How could we successfully replicate this solution elsewhere?
The nature conservation module and the evaluation system have been developed for north-eastern Germany. During 2017, an adaption to southern Germany (Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg) will be realized. That includes the adaption of nature conservation measures as well as the evaluation with regard to the farming systems and site conditions. About 30-40.000 EUR will be necessary. Further expanding in Germany is possible, if cooperating retailers are found which insure a premium prize for the products and nature conservation advisors are available – at least in the first years. It has to be mentioned that some farmers are keen on getting better information about their nature conservation achievements. Their intrinsic motivation for enhancing biodiversity comes first.