Optimising profitability of crop production through Ecological Focus Areas

How can EFAs, more specifically landscape features and buffer strips and their management, contribute to the profitability of crop production?

The final report of this Focus Group has been published.

Get all the information at a glance in the EFA factsheet.

Tasks:

• Identify types of management of EFAs on arable land assessing the costs and benefits for the cropping system.
• Taking stock of best practices and research that result in EFAs management practices which enhance crop productivity and profitability through, for example, improved yields, pest and disease control, soil fertility, water retention, nutrients cycling, pollination… .
• Characterize the success and fail factors for the implementation of these identified practices/methods by farmers and land owners to enhance crop production profitability through EFAs management and summarise how to address these factors.
• Explore the role of innovation and knowledge transfer in supporting the enhancement of the productivity and profitability of the crop production through the establishment of EFAs.
• Propose directions for future research and setting-up of Operational Groups.

Results:

• Starting paper

• Final report

• Factsheet

Other information:

•  Agenda first meeting 10-11 December 2014 - Munich, Germany

Focus Group members: