Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
systems. This is to a large part due that the model systems are based on
standard data for fi eld operations and that annual variation in rainfall is not
refl ected. This implies that any additional driving of tractors and machin-
ery, that may occur for various reasons in a real farming system are not
included. This may result in an underestimation of the actual resource con-
sumption, which real UK organic farms would have needed in the same
years under the same conditions.
1.7 CONCLUSIONS
The results of the emergy analysis showed that the case study is more
resource efficient than the modeled standard practices, and with the identi-
fied potential for further reducing the emergy use, the case-study farm can
become substantially better. This is especially true when also considering
emergy used to support labor and service. The results of the LCA for the
cultivation phase were less conclusive as the case had neither consistently
more nor consistently less environmental impacts compared to the model
systems. However, for the distribution phase, both the emergy assessment
and LCA evaluated the case to perform substantially better than model
systems. In addition, we have argued that the case may be in a better posi-
tion to cope with likely future scenario of reduced access to domestic and
imported fossil fuels and other non-renewable resources.
The real value of the case study is that it points out that there are alter-
native ways of organizing the production and distribution of organic veg-
etables, which are more resource effi cient and potentially more resilient.
The case-study shows that it is possible to effi ciently manage a highly di-
verse organic vegetable production system independently of external input
of nutrients through animal manure, whilst remaining economically com-
petitive. The success of the case system is to a large part due to manage-
ment based on a clear vision of bringing down external inputs. This vision
is generic but the specifi c practices of the case-study may not always be
the most appropriate for a farm to improve its resource effi ciency and re-
silience. For systems in other societal contexts, e.g., farms with livestock
and crop production or farms in remote locations, other strategies will be
needed.
