Grasslands and Herbivore Production in Europe and Effects of Common Policies.
- 1 online resource (374 pages)
- Synth�eses Ser. .
Intro -- Table des mati�eres -- Grasslands and herbivore production in Europe and effects of common policies -- Executive summary -- Introduction -- Definitions and data -- Definitions -- Data -- Chapter 1 - Importance of the grassland area and grassland-based systems in Europe and their spatial distribution -- Present acreage of grasslands and annual forage crops in Europe -- Spatial distribution -- Grasslands in organic farming -- Changes in grassland acreage in Europe -- Biomass productivity from permanent and temporary grasslands -- Chapter 2 - Importance and changes in grazing animal production operations in Europe and their spatial distribution -- Herbivore herds in Europe -- Animal production -- Changes in livestock populations -- Changes in animal production and animal performance -- Chapter 3 - Importance and changes in grassland-based systems -- Farm types -- Changes in the number of animal holdings -- Interviews with farmers and interactions between farmers and research -- Chapter 4 - Grasslands for alternative production -- Energy production -- Green biorefinery and biochemicals production -- Chapter 5 - Grasslands and ecosystem services -- Introduction -- Environmental issues related to grasslands -- Grassland-based biodiversity issues -- Landscape related issues -- National case studies -- Chapter 6 - Grasslands in the economic supply chain: related industries -- Forage seed industry -- Interview with Beat Boller, Chairman of Eucarpia and senior forage breeder at Agroscope, Switzerland -- Chapter 7 - Common Agricultural Policy: brief history, structure and influence on grasslands -- History -- The two pillars of the CAP -- Obligation of maintenance of the permanent grassland area -- Agri-environmental scheme -- Less Favoured Areas -- Consequences of the abolition of the milk quotas -- Other policies. CAP effect on grasslands and grassland farms -- CAP: the way forward -- Interview with Jean-Fran�cois Louineau, Director of Administrative Services, Regional Council, Poitou-Charentes, France -- Conclusions -- Changes in the structure of the grassland area and grassland-based systems -- Changes in production processes -- Changes in the structure of animal production -- Effect of scientific research, public and private farmer's advisory services -- Effect of professional teaching -- Sociological driving forces -- Economic driving forces -- Political driving forces -- References -- Annex 1.