D6.1- COMMON INTEGRATED ENVIRONMENTAL-SOCIOECONOMIC FRAMEWORK AND RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

With the aim to build an integrated assessment framework, the deliverable defines approaches used to understand and facilitate farm and policy level decisions for soil management practices. The approaches are life cycle assessment, farm level economic analysis, analysis of behavioral intentions from social psychology, integrated farm level sustainability analysis and policy level economic analysis. To build a common integratedframework the theoretical basis and previous empirical applications of our various approaches are presented in a transparent manner based on literature reviews. This environmental-socio-economic framework will then serve to assess the cost and benefits of management practices to enhance soil biodiversity. The assessment links adapted and innovative management practices and related production costs and possibilities to obtain high quality products with higher economic added value by proper management of soil biodiversity. The assessment at societal level includes environmental and socio-economic evaluation of the management practices tested in experiments in WPs 3 and 5 regarding their potential in limiting the negative effects on soil organisms by reducing the use of inorganic fertilizers and pesticides, by contributing to soil biodiversity enhancements through the introduction of innovative cropping systems and management practices. Different data sources provide input for the assessment scheme. With the review of the different strands of socioeconomic literature this report lays the theoretical foundation for the research methodology and protocol for integrating the data sets. A common research methodology and protocol for integrating data sets and to build a coherent schedule of progress is needed.