Production and other ecosystem services from extensive grassland-based systems in Europe: policy options and technical innovations

Abstract

Extensive systems Extensive agricultural systems are usually presented as a type of agriculture that uses low quantity of inputs per surface unit (land), like fertilizers, feeds, seeds, pesticides, irrigation water and energy. They are frequently associated with low investments (capital) in machinery and/or buildings per surface unit and low land prices. They can also be characterized by labour-extensive systems. European extensive grassland-based systems are mainly located at high latitudes (Scandinavia) and high altitudes (mountain areas), in Mediterranean dry rangelands, in the lowlands of the Eastern part of the Union (recent accession countries), as well as in hills and uplands of the British Isles. Grasslands and rangelands covered 56 million ha (33% AA) in the EU-27 in 2005. This area included about 17.5 million ha of rangelands, in mountain and Mediterranean areas mainly (EUROSTAT, 2008). Extensive grasslands and rangelands cover thus more than 30% of the total grassland and rangeland area in Europe. Forage yields and animal productions per ha are significantly lower in these areas compared with intensive lowland grasslands. For instance an extensive range can produce about 5-6 times less DM/ha than fertilised grasslands. Production costs per kg of product are often significantly higher in extensive systems. Farmers must manage larger areas in these systems for a total income that is regularly lower compared wit smaller intensive farms.