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3101: A systems approach for assessing sustainability in livestock farms

Kristensen, Erik Steen and Halberg, Niels (1997) A systems approach for assessing sustainability in livestock farms. Paper presented at Livestock Farming Systems. More than food production, Foulum, Denmark, 22-23 August 1996; Published in Sørensen, Jan Tind, Eds. Proceedings of the fourth international symposium of Livestock Farming systems, EAAP Sattelite Symposium., page pp. 16-29. EAAP Publication 89. Wageningen Pers.

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Summary

The paper discusses different definitions of agricultural sustainability and claims that one has to be cautios about the normative content of the definition of sustainability. Therefore different groups in society may have different perceptions of agricultural sustainability, which is why the paper explores a conceptual model of a farm in its surroundings from the perspective of discourse theory. The farm is understood as a human activity system that reflects on the different, conflicting perceptions of agricultural sustainability. The farmer tries to assess how the current management is performing in relation to strong discourses in society, which may impact on the farm. For this use the farmer needs indicators of among others resource use and environmental impact. Examples of such indicators used in a so-called Ethical Account" are given.

Document Language:English
Keywords:Agricultural sustainability, indicators, discourse theory, human activity system
Subject Areas:Knowledge management > Research methodology and philosophy > Specific methods > Indicators and other value-laden measures
Knowledge management > Research methodology and philosophy > Systems research and participatory research
Farming Systems
Research affiliation: Denmark > DARCOF I (1996-2001) > II.9 Farm management, the environment and wildlife
Denmark > DIAS - Danish Institute of Agricultural Sciences
Funding Part:75-100%
Orgprints ID Number:3101
Contact:Halberg, Senior Researcher, PhD Niels
Deposited On:17 August 2004
EPrint Type:Conference paper
Published?:Published
Peer Review Status:Peer-reviewed and accepted

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