The problem

Agricultural policy is constantly evolving. In this sense, it can be considered as ‘work in progress’. The methods for encouraging, promoting, managing agriculture through policy measures and instruments are frequently adapted to meet current socio-economic needs, but there is rarely time to evaluate their effectiveness. An evaluation of evolving agri-policy and how effective central policies are in meeting public and private need is required.

Overview:

MapStArt convened a seminar to evaluate the effectiveness of agricultural policy. The seminar provided an opportunity for research academics and policy-makers to discuss:

• Policy-makers’ needs when evaluating the impact of agricultural policy
• Methods and models available for evaluating the effects of agricultural policy
• Methods and models available for assessing the efficiency and effectiveness of agricultural policy measures
• Methodologies for analysing the effect of agricultural policy measures on rural development, particularly whether policies are succeeding in moving agriculture and production in the intended direction

Contribution to policy development:

• The seminar informed policy-makers of the ‘state-of-the-art’ in policy assessment and evaluation.
• Results from the seminar will give policy-makers a greater appreciation of the effectiveness of policies of declared policy objectives.
• MapStArt will help refine the critical analysis of evolving policy before it is implemented.

Project deliverables

• Invitation to submit seminar papers – December 2004
• Pre-print of proceedings – March 2005
• Schedule of conference – June 2005
• Seminar proceedings – September 2005
• Seminar results and presentation – September 2005
• Project report – September 2005

Dissemination

• Project website – August 2004
• Papers prepared as contributions to MapStArt will be presented at a seminar within a conference of the European Association of Agricultural Economists (EAAE).
• Papers presented at the seminar will be subject to peer-review before publication as part of the collected proceedings and/or as individual contributions to international peer-review journals.

Technical information

Project acronym: MapStArt
Project’s official full title: Modelling Agricultural Policies: State of the Art and New Challenges
Research priority: 1.1. Modernisation and sustainability of agriculture and forestry, including their multifunctional role in order to ensure the sustainable development and promotion of rural areas
Specific webpage: Details not yet available
Proposal/contract no: 006492
Start date: 1 June 2004
Kick off meeting: June 2004
Completion date: 1 September 2005
European Commission scientific officer: Hans-Jorg Lutzeyer, Hans-Joerg.Lutzeyer@ec.europa.eu

Coordinator:
Filippo Arfini (filippo.arfini@unipr.it)
Name: Università degli Studi di Parma
Abbreviated name: UniPr
Address: Università degli Studi di Parma 
Unit of Agri-Food Economics
Department of Economic and Quantitative Studies
Via Kennedy, 8
I-43100 Parma
Country: Italy
Tel: + 39 0521 902 414
Fax: + 39 0521 902 498
Website: www.economia.unipr.it

Partners

Name: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
Abbreviated name: OECD
Country: International (France)

Name: University of Madrid
Abbreviated name: UM
Country: Spain

Name: European Commission Directorate General for Agiculture
Abbreviated name: DG-Agri
Country: Eruopean (Belgium)

Name: Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique
Abbreviated name: INRA
Country: France

Name: University of Wageningen
Abbreviated name: WU
Country: Netherlands

Name: Federal Agricultural Research
Abbreviated name: FAL
Country: Germany

Name: Iowa State University
Abbreviated name: ISU
Country: USA

Name: University of California
Abbreviated name: UCal
Country: USA