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There are numerous studies and publications about sustainable agriculture. Many papers argue that sustainable agriculture is necessary, and analyze how this goal could be achieved. At the same time, studies question the sustainability of agriculture. Several obstacles, including theoretical, methodological, personal, and practical issues, hinder or slow down implementation, resulting in the so-called implementation gap. This study addresses potential obstacles that limit the implementation of sustainable agriculture in practice. To overcome the obstacles and to improve implementation, different solutions and actions are required. This study aims to illustrate ways of minimizing or removing obstacles and how to overcome the implementation gap. Unfortunately, the diversity of obstacles and their complexity mean there are no quick and easy solutions. A broader approach that addresses different dimensions and stakeholders is required. Areas of action include institutionalization, assessment and system development, education and capacity building, and social and political support. To realize the suggestions and recommendations and to improve implementation, transdisciplinary work and cooperation between many actors are required.
Norman Siebrecht. Sustainable Agriculture and Its Implementation Gap—Overcoming Obstacles to Implementation. Sustainability 2020, 12, 3853 .
AMA StyleNorman Siebrecht. Sustainable Agriculture and Its Implementation Gap—Overcoming Obstacles to Implementation. Sustainability. 2020; 12 (9):3853.
Chicago/Turabian StyleNorman Siebrecht. 2020. "Sustainable Agriculture and Its Implementation Gap—Overcoming Obstacles to Implementation." Sustainability 12, no. 9: 3853.
‘Sustainable intensification’ (SI) in agriculture is the objective of several contributions. An important question concerns whether farms have already reached SI? To answer this question, an assessment approach is required. Unfortunately, there is no universally accepted approach available. This study presents an assessment approach that was adapted for the assessment of a real farm. The farm was analysed for over 17 years, and the development of the farm is presented and evaluated in terms of SI. Within this study, the adaption of the approach for the assessment is first described based on a defined procedure. Based on these results, whether the farm has reached SI is discussed. The most important results are that the farm has established a process of intensification. To assess the ‘environmental sustainability’ of this process, several subthemes and indicators are analysed. From 17 selected parameters, 7 declines, 6 improve and 4 remain almost constant. Whether the development can be called ‘sustainable intensification’ is discussed then. We finally draw attention to existing methodological deficits and limitations that will be included in later work or that could be considered in other assessment approaches.
Norman Siebrecht; Harald Schmid. Implementation of the concept of sustainable intensification to a real farm – Was its development over 17 years a sustainable intensification? International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability 2020, 18, 151 -171.
AMA StyleNorman Siebrecht, Harald Schmid. Implementation of the concept of sustainable intensification to a real farm – Was its development over 17 years a sustainable intensification? International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability. 2020; 18 (2):151-171.
Chicago/Turabian StyleNorman Siebrecht; Harald Schmid. 2020. "Implementation of the concept of sustainable intensification to a real farm – Was its development over 17 years a sustainable intensification?" International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability 18, no. 2: 151-171.