Co-operative Approaches to Sustainable Agriculture [electronic resource] /
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
Organisation for Economic Co operation and DevelopmentContent Provider
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and DevelopmentContent Provider
Paris : OECD Publishing,
1998.
Across the OECD, farmers are voluntarily forming community-based associations to help achieve a more sustainable agriculture. What are the reasons behind this phenomenon? How can it be encouraged? To what extent can such group-based voluntary action substitute for, or complement, existing agri-environmental policy measures? In attempting to answer these questions the study looks at the recent development of landcare groups in Australia, Canada, the Netherlands and New Zealand. It also identifies the conditions under which such groups seem to work most effectively, and the types of issues for which they are best suited. The analysis of the different national experiences leads to a number of general observations and specific policy recommendations. In so doing, the study provides a new perspective on the role of voluntary, collective action in finding local solutions to local environmental issues.
 1. INTRODUCTION -- 2. VOLUNTARY GROUP ACTION IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST: ISSUES -- Voluntary, co-operative approaches: a public choice perspective  -- General strengths and weaknesses of using voluntary groups as agents of public policy -- Factors influencing the suitability of voluntary co-operative approaches to sustainable agriculture -- Framework for evaluation -- 3. AUSTRALIA -- Background  -- Genesis of the Landcare movement -- Examples of Landcare groups -- Government policy: The National Landcare Program (NLP) -- Funding  -- Links with other programmes -- Evaluations  -- 4. CANADA -- Background -- Genesis of Canada’s rural conservation clubs  -- Examples of farmer-led initiatives -- Evaluation -- 5. THE NETHERLANDS -- Background  -- Genesis of farmer-led environmental groups in The Netherlands -- Government policy in respect of the farmer’s environmental groups -- The eco-coops and their proposals  -- Evaluation -- 6. NEW ZEALAND  -- Background  -- Genesis of farmer groups working for sustainable land management in New Zealand  -- Examples of farmer-led initiatives -- Evaluations  -- Recent developments  -- 7. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS -- Characteristics of farm community groups  -- The role of government policy -- Overview and suggestions of relevance to policy makers  -- Annex: JOINT IMPLEMENTATION IN AGRICULTURE: NEW YORK’S WATERSHED AGRICULTURAL PROGRAMME -- Bibliography
Bibliographic Level Mode of Issuance: Monograph
Across the OECD, farmers are voluntarily forming community-based associations to help achieve a more sustainable agriculture. What are the reasons behind this phenomenon? How can it be encouraged? To what extent can such group-based voluntary action substitute for, or complement, existing agri-environmental policy measures? In attempting to answer these questions the study looks at the recent development of landcare groups in Australia, Canada, the Netherlands and New Zealand. It also identifies the conditions under which such groups seem to work most effectively, and the types of issues for which they are best suited. The analysis of the different national experiences leads to a number of general observations and specific policy recommendations. In so doing, the study provides a new perspective on the role of voluntary, collective action in finding local solutions to local environmental issues.
Environment
Agriculture and Food
Agriculture, Cooperative
Sustainable agriculture
Business & Economics
Agricultural Economics