Ecologic Institute

The debates on the benefits and threats of genetically modified crops are highly controversial and often misleading due to insufficient information and varying interpretations of existing data. In addition, it has not clearly been shown whether farmers benefit economically over time from growing genetically modified crops in relation to growing conventional crops. The project aims at analysing the direct monetary and income effects for farmers growing genetically modified crops, as well as the decisive factors behind them.   Read more ...

The Water Framework Directive (WFD) (2000/60/EC) has introduced a legal framework for sustainable management of water resources across Europe. According to this directive, Member States (MS) had to prepare drafts of the river basin management plans (RBMPs) and respective programmes of measures (PoMs) by the end of 2009. Successful implementation of the WFD strongly depends on agricultural land use; therefore, this report summarised the results of an in-depth assessment of how the draft plans and programmes address agricultural pressures on EU water resources. Read more ...

This project analyses the positions and relative influence of the main German shareholders on the GAP reform which became visible through responses to the Health Check agreement on the Common Agricultural Policy and the upcoming Mid-Term Budget Review. Furthermore, the project also explores the main issues and directions of the CAP debate in Germany and the likely overall German position towards the future CAP reform in Brussels. Read more ...

On 5-12 July 2009, the second transatlantic Farmer-to-Farmer exchange brought together farmers, foresters, journalists and policy-makers from the United States and Germany to discuss the role of agriculture in future climate policies. On their trip through Ohio and Pennsylvania and ending in Washington DC, the group of 30 participants visited several farms applying climate friendly agricultural practices, as well as biofuel and algae processing facilities. One topic of major concerns was possible ways to off-set GHG emissions by industry through mitigation activities in agriculture. Moreover, participants intensively exchanged knowledge and experiences in different bioenergy applications. Read more ...

The project compiles available scientific information on the likely impact of bioenergy production on water quality and water resources. The results of this project were presented in a background paper entiteled "WFD and Bioenergy production at the EU Level - A review of the possible impact of biomass production from agriculture on water" for the European conference "Water Framework Directive and Agriculture" in Paris, 21-22 September 2007. Read more ...

The European Environment Agency (EEA) provides decision-makers with information needed to make sound and effective decisions in the policy making process with the aim to protect the environment and support sustainable development. Within a framework contract, Ecologic supports the EEA in this task by undertaking an agri-environmental analysis relating to agri-environment indicators, farm management, bio-energy production, the spatial distribution of CAP subsidies and dissemination of EEA results. Read more ...

In 2006, the European Community adopted a new regulation dealing with the geographical indications and designations of origin for agricultural products and foodstuffs. Ecologic, along with ADAS and London Economics, carried out an evaluation of the scheme focusing on the development and effectiveness of Protected Designations of Origin (PDO) and Protected Geographical Indications (PGI) systems. Read more ...

AGRINERGY (EU Bioenergy Policies and their effects on rural areas and agriculture policies) is a Specific Support Action (SSA) within the Sixth EU Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development (FP6). Read more ...

Climate change is one of the main concerns of our modern civilisation. Agriculture is commonly estimated to be responsible for 9% of total greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions. The research project PICCMAT aimed to identify farming practices that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and to suggest policy instruments to support the necessary changes in land management to stakeholders and policy makers. Read more ...

The implementation of the Water Framework Directive (WFD) poses enormous challenges to the Member States as well as to the European Commission. As part of a pan-European consortium, Ecologic supports the European Commission in the implementation of the Directive. The main objective is to provide independent, impartial and punctual advice on scientific, socio-economic and technical issues related to the WFD. Read more ...

Under its mandate for 2005-06, the Strategic Steering Group (SSG) on WFD and Agriculture has initiated numerous activities including five issues reports and two important conferences hosted under the UK and Austrian presidency, respectively. Due to the huge amount of information and debates produced by these activities, a synthesis of the SSG activities during the duration of this mandate was identified to be necessary. The European Commission, DG Environment commissioned Ecologic to prepare this synthesis document. Read more ...

One of the key elements of the latest 2003 reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is compulsory compliance with environmental, food safety, animal welfare, and animal and plant health standards. Additionally it is required that farmers maintain their farmland in good agricultural and environmental condition as a condition for receiving direct payments. The project will focus on the investigation of the value-added resulting from introducing cross-compliance as a tool to improve compliance with existing standards; and the investigation of the cost implications and competition effects of compliance to EU standards on the world market. Read more ...

On behalf of the German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation and the German Federal Ministry of Environment, Nature Protection and Nuclear Safety an international Workshop entitled "EU: CAP and Enlargement - An Opportunity for Environment and Nature?" was carried out by Ecologic on February 19-21, 2003 in Potsdam, Germany. The primary goal of the conference was to analyse and discuss the complex interactions between EU enlargement, the Common Agricultural Policy and the related impacts on nature and environment within different scenarios. Read more ...