Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
tory framework, the policies of organisations such as the World Trade Organisation
(WTO) and the World Bank.
Environmental Management and Methods for Analysis
Though limited, the totality of horticulture has an impact on the environment. To
control and reduce environmental impacts of a process, service or product, it is im-
portant to measure or predict its impact. There are various environmental manage-
ment tools and methodologies which quantify and control environmental impact.
Environmental Management Systems
Environmental Management Systems (EMS) are intended to control resource man-
agement by setting objectives, policy and targets. They have received a consider-
able amount of attention, between 2003 and 2007, when the Australian government
set up a fund of $AUD 8.5 m to encourage a voluntary form of farm-based EMS,
which yielded mixed results (Cary and Roberts
2011
). However, a more recent De-
partment of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) study in the UK found
that a third of small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) with certified EMS en-
joyed an average value of £ 4,875 per £ 1 m turnover in the year subsequent to ac-
creditation. This implies a payback period of 1 month against the costs of setting up
an EMS (Burr and Hillary
2011
).
The most popular standard that EMS is tested against is ISO 14001, with 270,000
certifications awarded worldwide. However Gunningham (
2007
) states that because
the standard is process based, it does not guarantee environmental performance out-
comes.
Environmental Impact Assessment
An Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is an influential and diverse tool. EIAs
are carried out to ascertain the impacts of a proposed process. Typically it is a leg-
islative requirement for projects of a certain size. There are certain properties of a
proposed development that would trigger an EIA Schedule 1 or 2 (Anon
2011a
).
The assessment enables developers and the local community to inspect the en-
vironmental impacts (or aspects) of a proposed development. A project's impact
on water, land, wildlife and emissions are quantified and scrutinised by qualified
environmental impact assessment practitioners. Other types of development that
have significant effects on the environment will have to carry out a study to decide
whether a full EIA is required. Any form of development has to show that it has
considered alternatives where there is a negative environmental effect.
