Benchmarking of Farm Productivity and Sustainability Performance

How can farmers and advisers use benchmarking data and process to improve productivity and sustainability performance?


The final report of this Focus Group has been published. Get all the information at a glance in the Benchmarking factsheet.


Tasks:

  • Make an inventory of existing farm assessment tools and benchmarking systems, including private ones and covering different types of farming, to describe and evaluate their characteristics and objectives and to map their use by farmers and others in different member states/organisations.
  • Review how farmers and businesses in the food value chain make use of benchmark indicators and assessment tools for decision making, for improving farm productivity and sustainability performance. In particular the usability and accessibility of individual data to the farmer and his advisers (for example on-line via computer or via smartphone). Looking into innovative ways that allow farmers to actually use relevant data for “day-to-day” management and more strategic decisions.
  • Analyse the use of farm performance benchmarking by advisory systems (including use of ICT, coaching, strategic management) and the evolving best practices in the use of farmers’ own data to improve the effectiveness of advisory services, for example:
    • Use in one-to-one consultations
    • Use in group meetings
    • Training and education
    • Use of branding and marketing
  • Identify the main problems and issues in farm benchmarking related to collection, processing, access and usability of data on the different levels (farm level, advisory and policy information support) and the operational solutions and innovative actions to tackle these issues, including how the different systems can be integrated with each other at higher levels.

Results:


Focus Group members:

Surname, first name

Profession

Country

Blatchford, Giles

Expert from agriculture organisation, industry or manufacturing

United Kingdom

Bodini, Antonella

Scientist

Italy

Connolly, Kevin

Expert from agriculture organisation, industry or manufacturing; other

Ireland

Dieulot, Romain

Expert from NGO

France

Ferenczi, Nicolas

Expert from agriculture organisation, industry or manufacturing

France

Garcia Manzanilla, Edgar

Scientist

Ireland

Giagnocavo, Cynthia

Scientist

Spain

Gomoliauskienė, Vaida

Farm adviser

Lithuania

Keszthelyi, Szilárd

Expert from agriculture organisation, industry or manufacturing

Hungary

Kožar, Maja

Other

Slovenia

Marchand, Fleur

Scientist

Belgium

McCabe, Lorcan

Farmer

Ireland

McKay, Bernard

Farmer

United Kingdom

Morrison, Steven

Scientist

United Kingdom

Olsen, Jakob Vesterlund

Other

Denmark

Pedroni, Paola

Farmer

Italy

Riikonen, Aila

Farmer

Finland

Schader, Christian
Scientist Swizerland
Van Passel, Steven

Scientist

Belgium

Weijer Ahlgren, Serina

Scientist

Sweden

Facilitation team
Poppe, Krijn
Coordinating expert Netherlands
Didicescu, Sergiu
Task manager Romania
Schreuder, Remco
Backup Netherlands

Access the collaborative area (only for members)


Resources from the Focus Group members:

FAO brochure: National e-agriculture strategy (2017)