Agricultural Policies in OECD Countries

This annual publication provides the most comprehensive description and assessment of agricultural and related policy developments in OECD countries. It presents data on the level and composition of support and protection to agriculture, and evaluates the extent to which countries are reforming their agricultural policies. [Read more]

Effective Targeting of Agricultural Policies

Agricultural policies are dominated by broad measures such as market price support and general payments to all land, animals or farmers. As a result, it is often difficult to associate a particular policy with any specific objective. Recognising the challenge facing policy makers who wish to design more precisely targeted policies, this study defines the operational characteristics of targeted policies and illustrates best practice with concrete examples. The relationship between target variables and objectives is explored and practical ways to define targets or actions are also examined. [Read more]

The Common Agricultural Policy and Organic Farming

Examines what is going on in the organic sector, socially and politically. Debunking a number of apparently common-sense beliefs related to the organic industry, this book attempts to contribute to the development of more sustainable food systems by articulating what it takes to get people involved in organics at each stage of the food chain. [Read more]

Agricultural Policies in Non-OECD Countries

The agricultural sector and related support policies of many OECD trading partners are changing rapidly. This report monitors agricultural policy developments in Brazil, Bulgaria, China, India, Romania, Russia, South Africa and Ukraine following the same approach applied to OECD countries, providing a common benchmark for evaluating reforms and for facilitating international dialogue. A comprehensive statistical annex containing a wide range of contextual information for these countries is also included. This book includes StatLinks, URLs under tables and graphs linking to Excel spreadsheet files containing the underlying data. [Read more]

Agricultural Support, Farm Land Values and Sectoral Adjustment

Governments intervene in the agricultural sector through policies that both support and shape agricultural production. This leads to two important outcomes. First, agriculture specific programmes intended to increase the welfare of farmers can become capitalised into asset values. Second, many policies, in particular regulatory ones, reduce asset mobility, resulting in reduced economic efficiency due a sub-optimal allocation of resources. This study focuses on the capitalisation of government support into land rents and prices. It assesses the consequences of inflated asset values, and suggests lessons for future policy making. [Read more]

Researching the Culture in Agri-Culture: Social Research for International Agricultural Development

This book analyzes the functions, content, methods, findings, and impacts of social and cultural research carried out by the worldwide network of 16 International Agricultural Research Centers of the CGIAR (Conservative Group on International Agricultural Research). Its two parts - ''insiders''. and ''outsiders'' - brings together the perspectives of over 50 eminent scholars and social researchers from 30 countries, working within the Centers or within outside academic and development institutions. The authors examine critically the priorities, strengths, and weaknesses of research on the. socio-structural, behavioral, cultural and institutional variables of developing agriculture, forestry, livestock, and fisheries. The studies focus on farmers' values, needs and knowledge, their patterns of social organization, issues of food security, natural resource management and poverty. reduction. Alternative methods of multidisciplinary research, reuniting biological, natural, economic and ... [Read more]

Agricultural Policies in OECD Countries

Support to farmers in OECD countries accounted for 29% of farm receipts in 2005. The current level of support is the same as almost a decade ago and varies widely across countries. Today, although governments are gradually moving away from providing support through the most production and trade distorting measures, these measures remain dominant. Greater efforts are needed to better target policies towards clearly defined income and environmental objectives. This book is a unique source of up-to-date estimates of support to agriculture. It provides the most comprehensive description and evaluation of agricultural support developments in OECD member countries and a summary of agricultural policy developments in Brazil, China and South Africa. Agricultural Policies in OECD Countries: At a Glance is published every other year, alternating with Agricultural Policies in OECD Countries: Monitoring and Evaluation . [Read more]

Agriculture and the WTO: Towards a New Theory of International Agricultural Trade Regulation

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