Grassland beyond conventional food markets - economic value of multifunctional grassland: An analytical framework as contribution from agricultural economics

摘要

Grassland covers around 25% of the world land surface. Primarily given by the grassland-related production of food for humans the economic importance of the grassland is obvious. A big share of milk and meat is grassland-based. From the nonmarket perspective, grassland represents a huge potential for environmental functions. Negative impacts on environment caused by agriculture have also to be mentioned. The environmental functions of grassland can be assessed and evaluated economically. There are different methods to quantify its economic importance. From the given facts there is a long way to an economically sounded policy framework. The policy design in European agriculture is moving from market related support to specific support of environmental and partially other functions of agriculture. The importance of the functions of agriculture perceived by society is reflected by the policy design. Like agriculture in general, grassland-based agriculture as well has to build its economic future ontothree pillars: onto the market for commodities, the market for environmentallinked products and services, the public support for non-marketable functions which a sustainable willingness to pay for exists.