Efficiency analysis for organic agricultural producers: the role of soil-improving inputs

J Environ Manage. 2007 Apr;83(1):25-33. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2006.01.001. Epub 2006 Apr 18.

Abstract

Greater emphasis is being placed on indicators of agri-environmental efficiency of organic production systems. Linking environmental measures with profitability measures based on net income is the only way to develop such indicators. A stochastic production frontier model that explicitly incorporates farm decisions about acquiring and managing organic soil-improving inputs is used to measure efficiency. The results confirm that on-farm self-sufficiency in soil-improving inputs is positively related to farm-level efficiency.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Agriculture / economics
  • Agriculture / methods*
  • Food, Organic / analysis*
  • Food, Organic / economics
  • Models, Biological
  • Models, Economic
  • Models, Theoretical*
  • Soil / analysis*
  • Stochastic Processes

Substances

  • Soil