Evaluation of techniques for measuring and assessing environmental impacts of agriculture List of submitted publications

Abstract This thesis describes a programme of research that has aimed to improve our capability to assess the environmental impacts of agriculture. The candidate has conducted the work described and contributions by co-authors are acknowledged but not discussed (see Appendix A for co-author statement). A number of different measurement and assessment techniques have been applied to a range of different agricultural situations. This included developing some of these techniques as part of this research. This has liberated a number of findings that could advance our knowledge and understanding of the environmental impacts of agriculture and help improve the tools we have to measure and assess them. A case study approach has been taken and includes: Use of indicators as simple tools for assessing whole farming systems at the national level and their development and application to the farm level. Development and application of modelling techniques to assess the activity of pesticide use, by comparing different crop protection regimes used in integrated farming and conventional systems. Development and application of energy accounting techniques to assess energy use and emissions of greenhouse gases from a range of activities in the production of sugar beet. Application of a combination of techniques, pesticide and nutrient modelling and energy and financial accounting, to assess the impacts of a specific crop (sugar beet). Development and application of a risk assessment framework for assessing potential risks to soil and it functions. Development and application of a strategic environmental assessment technique to assess the impacts of agricultural policy, particularly focusing on techniques assessing significance of impacts in terms of actual damage and techniques for handling uncertainty and confidence issues. The studies described in this thesis have all had their own individual objectives, but in combination they are starting to construct a wider more holistic picture of the environmental impact of agriculture. There are undoubtedly still fuzzy areas that are 4 not fully understood and in other places there are complete gaps in knowledge and understanding, such as impacts on biodiversity and human health. However, the picture we have now is certainly better than it was only 10 years ago and there is no reason why it shouldn't improve as our knowledge and understanding evolves and as our measurement and assessment tools improve. The work undertaken in this thesis has provided a step forward in this evolution and has presented some novel ideas that could have potential to be further developed in the future. A key issue will be to understand how we use the tools and techniques available to construct the same picture for different audiences, and avoid any conflicting images between policy and farm level. It will be important to be able to integrate tools and techniques to develop holistic perspectives and ensure that they draw upon the same data sources. This is entirely feasible with modern information technology