Assessing farm sustainability with the IDEA method–from the concept of agriculture sustainability to case studies on farms
Abstract
Abstract The IDEA method (Indicateurs de Durabilité des Exploitations Agricoles or Farm Sustainability Indicators) is based on research work conducted since 1998 and is one way of giving practical expression to the concept of sustainable farms. Based on 41 sustainability indicators covering the three dimensions of sustainability, this method is designed as a self‐assessment tool not only for farmers but also for policy makers to support sustainable agriculture. The scientific approach is based on identifying three different scales of sustainability. The application of the IDEA method is illustrated using French case studies. Linking the IDEA method with the Farm Accounting Data Network is noted as an interesting possibility to assess the sustainability level of different farming systems. The conclusion is that there is not just one farm sustainability model, and therefore the indicators must be adapted to local farming before using the IDEA method. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.
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28 out of 41 IDEA indicators are shared with TAPE.
“28 out 41 IDEA indicators are shared with TAPE”
From Assessing Transitions to Sustainable Agricultural and Food Systems: A Tool for Agroecology Performance Evaluation (TAPE) (2020) · cites this paper as Zahm et al., 2008
IDEA is step-wise hierarchical.
“Step-wise hierarchical”
From Assessing Transitions to Sustainable Agricultural and Food Systems: A Tool for Agroecology Performance Evaluation (TAPE) (2020) · cites this paper as Zahm et al., 2008
IDEA has specific quantitative indicators.
“Specific quantitative indicators”
From Assessing Transitions to Sustainable Agricultural and Food Systems: A Tool for Agroecology Performance Evaluation (TAPE) (2020) · cites this paper as Zahm et al., 2008
IDEA can be used as a self-assessment tool.
“Can be used as self-assessment tool”
From Assessing Transitions to Sustainable Agricultural and Food Systems: A Tool for Agroecology Performance Evaluation (TAPE) (2020) · cites this paper as Zahm et al., 2008
Subsidies dependency is an important aspect of system's autonomy and economic independence.
“Subsidies dependency is an important aspect of system's autonomy and economic independence [35,40].”
From Integrated Sustainability Assessment of Divergent Mediterranean Farming Systems: Cyprus as a Case Study (2020) · cites this paper as [40]
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References 13 · Cited by 290
- Authors
- Zahm, F., Viaux, P., Vilain, L., Girardin, P., & Mouchet, C.
- Affiliations
- Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement (FR)
- Arvalis - Institut du Végétal (FR)
- Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle (FR)
- Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (FR)
- Corresponding author
- Zahm, Frédéric
- ORCID
- Zahm, Frédéric
- Venue
- Sustainable Development
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2008-07
- Volume
- 16
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 271-281
- ISSN
- 0968-0802 (ISSN-L)
- 1099-1719
- OpenAlex
- W2107906194
- Cited by
- 290
- References
- 13
- Citations by year
- 2026: 33 · 2025: 20 · 2024: 19 · 2023: 23 · 2022: 26 · 2021: 22 · 2020: 28 · 2019: 26 · 2018: 25 · 2017: 20 · 2016: 10 · 2015: 9 · 2014: 13 · 2013: 4 · 2012: 4
- FWCI
- 1.95
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Sustainable Development (publishedVersion)
- HAL (submittedVersion)
- RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Environmental Chemistry › Sustainable Agricultural Systems Analysis
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law › Sustainable Development and Environmental Policy
- Social Sciences › Safety Research › Agricultural economics and policies
- Keywords
- farm sustainability, IDEA method, sustainability indicators, sustainable agriculture, self-assessment tool, agricultural systems
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