Title: AN LP-MODEL TO ANALYSE ECONOMIC AND ECOLOGICAL SUSTAINABILITY IN DUTCH DAIRY FARMING
Author(s): van Calker, K.J. (1,2) + Berentsen, P.B.M. (2) + de Boer, I.J.M (3) + Giesen, G.W.J. (2) + Huirne, R.B.M. (2)
Organisation: 1-Research Institute for Animal Husbandry, Lelystad, 2-Farm Management Group, Wageningen University, 3-Animal Production Systems Group, Wageningen University,
Country: The Netherlands
Farm level modelling is a way to determine how farm management adjustments and environmental policy affect different
sustainability attributes. Attributes can be measured by means of an indicator. The objectives of this paper are to include
indicators for economic and ecological sustainability in a dairy farm LP (linear programming)-model and to use the model to
analyse experimental dairy farm “De Marke”.
Net farm income is included for measuring economic sustainability. Eutrophication potential, nitrate concentration in
groundwater, water use, acidification potential, global warming potential and ecotoxicity are included as ecological indicators.
Three optimisations are done with the adapted model: (1) basis situation without environmental legislation, (2) basis situation
with Dutch environmental legislation for 2004, and (3) situation with farm management adjustments applied at “De Marke”.
Results of the optimisations show that including environmental legislation leads to a lower net farm income and better
performance on all ecological indicators. The farm management measures applied at “De Marke” result in even better
performance on ecological sustainability. The model shows to be an effective tool to compare environmental impact of different
sets of adaptations in farm management and their financial consequences.
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