Impacts of agricultural production decisions on the safe and just operating space: A systematic literature review

Abstract

Agricultural production decisions impact how agriculture navigates within the safe and just operating space (SJOS). The ability to model and assess these impacts is crucial for policy analysis. This study systematically explores the literature for links between agricultural production decisions and SJOS. As agricultural production decision categories, we examine on-farm technology usage, farm structural change, and field structural change. We identify the impact mechanisms of various aspects of these categories and discuss the scope of evidence available. Technology usage impacts the SJOS often through farmers’ choice of technology and its effect on yield. Farm structural change impacts the SJOS through economies of scale and scope, while field structural change impacts directly and through management efficiency. There is considerable knowledge of these relationships but also research gaps. The study provides fundamental insights for characterizing the decision properties of agricultural production and is useful for guiding policy modelling for improved SJOS outcomes.

Keywords
Safe operating space, Just operating space, Planetary boundaries, Technology usage, Farm structural change, Field structural change

Acknowledgements

European Union under the Horizon Europe programme - Food, Bioeconomy Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment, BrightSpace Grant Agreement No 101060075. Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) under Germany's Excellence Strategy—EXC 2070–390732324.

Cite this article

Damilola T Aladesuru, Lukas Cechura, Sebastian Neuenfeldt, Till Kuhn, Zuzana Smeets Kristkova, Zdeňka Žáková Kroupová, Tomas Ratinger, Alexander Gocht, Marc Müller, Hugo Storm, Impacts of agricultural production decisions on the safe and just operating space: A systematic literature review, Q Open, 2024;, qoae027, / Available online 18 October 2024 /  https://doi.org/10.1093/qopen/qoae027 

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Project information

BrightSpace Horizon Europe project Grant Agreement No. 101060075
https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101060075
CALL: Innovative governance, environmental observations and digital solutions in support of the Green Deal
WORK PROGRAMME Topic ID: HORIZON-CL6-2021-GOVERNANCE-01-12 EU agriculture within a safe and just operating space and planetary boundaries

BrightSpace Project coordination: Wageningen Economic Research, The Hague, NL
Contact: brightspace.wecr@wur.nl | Website: www.brightspace-project.eu

Project duration: 1 November 2022 – 31 October 2027

Funding acknowledgement

BrightSpace is funded by the European Union. Grant Agreement No. 101060075. Views and opinions expressed are those of the authors only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Commission. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.