Agrarian Sustainability Research Articles

Research Progress on the Wear Resistance of Key Components in Agricultural Machinery.

Agricultural mechanization is crucial in enhancing production efficiency, alleviating labor demands, reducing costs, improving agricultural product quality, and promoting sustainable development. However, wear and tear are inevitable when using agricultural machinery. The failure of critical wear-resistant parts is responsible for over 50% of rural machinery breakdowns. For instance, a domestic combine harvester typically only operates trouble-free for 20 to 30 h, and the service life of a rotary plow knife is approximately 80 h. Investigating the wear performance of key farm machinery components reinforces machinery design and maintenance strategies, extends machinery lifespans, enhances agricultural production efficiency, and advances agrarian sustainability. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of the latest research on the wear resistance of crucial agricultural machinery components. It delves into the factors influencing the wear resistance of these components and explores current effective measures to address wear-related issues. Additionally, it also summarizes the challenges and opportunities in researching the wear performance of key components in agricultural machinery and future development directions.

Bibliometric Analysis of The Term “Marketing Sustainability”

This study presents a bibliometric analysis of the term "marketing sustainability" to explore the growing trends, key contributors, and thematic focus in the academic literature. Marketing sustainability represents the integration of sustainable practices and principles into marketing strategies and activities, highlighting the growing importance of environmental, social, and economic considerations in contemporary marketing practices. This research examined 985 articles with themes related to marketing management. In the context of this study, we concluded that marketing management articles are classified into six clusters. The trend of marketing management research is more on the marketing side. There are several topics that frequently appear in publications, such as the marketing perspective of one variable on another. Topics such as Agrarian Sustainability and Sustainability Reporting have also not been researched much.

IMPORTANCE OF BIO FERTILIZERS AS ALTERNATIVE SOIL FERTILITY AMENDMENTS

There is a current interest in agrarian sustainability with soil microorganisms instead of agro-chemicals. Key constraints in the use of bio fertilizers are; inadequate awareness about bio inoculants and lack of promotion network and publicity among the end users. This review discusses current technical information a way of creating awareness in order to promote the use of bio fertilizers. Publon, Google Scholar, Science Direct and Microsoft Academic data bases were used for the review 2021. Research and review articles published from 2019 onwards were considered as current information for the review. The findings of the review are that; both primary and secondary macronutrients can be provided by bio fertilizers. Potential microbes are; free-living nitrogen fixing bacteria and cyanobacteria, symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria and fungi such as mycorrhiza. Other important functions of bacteria are; conferring to plants the ability for salt tolerance, lignin degradation and remediation of heavy metals from the soil. Bio Compost, vermicompost and termite soil with their rich microorganism content can be used as bio fertilizers for soil nutrient increase. In order to reap maximum benefit from bio fertilizers there is need to formulate them in appropriate materials. Apart from addition of nutrients to the soil, bio fertilizers play an important role in plant health, conclusion. This paper has brought to the fore the need to improve rhizosphere management in a sustainable way particularly at this point in time when there are strong indications that it has deteriorated in the face of continued use of chemical fertilizers.

Understanding and Evaluating the 'Missing' Governance Pillar of Sustainability – The Case of Bulgarian Agriculture

The importance of “good governance” for achieving agrarian sustainability has been increasingly studied in the last two decades. What has been a recent development is the inclusion of governance into (agrarian) sustainability as a new “fourth” pillar. Still there is no consensus on: what is governance sustainability; how to measure governance sustainability; how to integrate governance into the overall sustainability; what are critical factors determining sustainability levels, etc. The goal of this article is to present a holistic framework for defining and assessing the governance sustainability in agriculture and assess the level of governance sustainability of Bulgarian agriculture at national, sub-sectoral, regional, ecosystem, and farming organization levels. The study has demonstrated that it is possible and important to assess the “missing” Governance Pillar of agrarian sustainability. Governance sustainability of Bulgarian agriculture is at a good but close to the inferior level. There is a considerable variation in the level of governance sustainability and application of the principles for good governance in different subsectors, agro-ecosystems, administrative regions, and types of farming organizations. At the current stage, most critical for improving the governance sustainability are progressive changes in: farmers' participation in decision-making, agrarian administration efficiency, administrative services digitalization, the possibility for lands extension, management board external control, level of informal system efficiency, subsidies in income, the extent of CAP implementation, acceptability of legal payments, and land concentration. Suggested and other similar frameworks have to be further discussed, tested, improved and adapted to the specific conditions of agricultural systems and the needs of decision-makers. Accuracy has to be improved through the inclusion of appropriate indicators, improvement of precision of the information, increasing representation of surveyed farms, and experimenting with diverse types of agro-systems.

Social networks influence farming practices and agrarian sustainability.

The social-ecological effects of agricultural intensification are complex. We explore farmers' perceptions about the impacts of their land management and the impact of social information flows on their management through a case study in a farming community in Navarra, Spain, that is undergoing agricultural intensification due to adoption of large scale irrigation. We found that modern technology adopters are aware that their management practices often have negative social-ecological implications; by contrast, more traditional farmers tend to recognize their positive impacts on non-material benefits such as those linked with traditions and traditional knowledge, and climate regulation. We found that farmers' awareness about nature contributions to people co-production and their land management decisions determine, in part, the structure of the social networks among the farming community. Since modern farmers are at the core of the social network, they are better able to control the information flow within the community. This has important implications, such as the fact that the traditional farmers, who are more aware of their impacts on the environment, rely on information controlled by more intensive modern farmers, potentially jeopardizing sustainable practices in this region. We suggest that this might be counteracted by helping traditional farmers obtain information tailored to their practices from outside the social network.

Agrarian sustainability in Bulgaria – evaluating economic, social and ecological pillars

Sustainable development has become a major topic not only for economic science but in economic policy development. There is substantial literature dedicated to analyzing the different aspects of sustainability - economic, social and/or ecological. Agriculture has been recognized as one of the economic fields that has a multidimensional impact not only on the incomes and well-being of the employed but also on the rural population as a whole and the environment. This article presents a holistic approach for assessing agrarian sustainability in Bulgaria based on its economic, social and ecological aspects on sectoral macro-level. It is based on official statistical and other information as well as on expert evaluation. Our study has found that Bulgarian agriculture on the macro-level has good sustainability. Some of the sustainability aspects have higher levels (e.g. the economic aspect) while others (social and environmental) are inferior. Study results could help in focusing the political efforts, so that agrarian sustainability, in its social and ecological aspect, could be increased. However, a further research is needed to evaluate the level of sustainability at the micro-level, so that the major issues and problem areas are addressed accordingly.

Каква е управленческата устойчивост на селското стопанство в България (What is Governance Sustainability of Bulgarian Agriculture)

Bulgarian Abstract: Необходимоста от включване на “четвърти” управленчески стълб в концепцията за разбиране и в системата за оценка на (съвкупната и) аграрната устойчивост нарастващо се обосновава в академичната литература и намира място в подходите на правителствени, международни, частни и др. организации. В България, подобно на много други страни, практически няма цялостни оценки на управленческата устойчивост на селското стопанство и на нейната значимост за цялостното аграрно развитие. Тази разработка прави опит за оценка на управленческата устойчивост на отраслово, подотраслово, екосистемно, регионално и стопанско ниво в България. Многопринципната, критериална и индикаторна оценка на управленческата устойчивост на българското селско стопанство установи, че цялостната устойчивост е на “добро”, но близко до “задоволителното” ниво. Освен това, съществува значителна диференциация на равнищата на интегрална управленческа устойчивост на основните подотрасли, агро-екосистеми, агро-райони, и типове ферверски организации. Нещо повече, индивидуалните показатели с най-високи и ниски стойности за устойчивост определят “критичните” фактори подсилващи и влошаващи частната и интегрална управленческа устойчивост на оценяваната агро-система. Последно, но не и най-малко важно, резултатите от оценката на интегралната устойчивост в тази разработка базирани на микро (стопански) и макро (статистически и др.) данни показват определено разминаване, което следва да се има пред вид при анализите и интерпретациите, като същевременно оценителните показатели, методи и данни продължават да се подобряват. Имайки пред вид значимостта на холистични оценки от този тип за подобряване на аграрната устойчивост като цяло, и на управленческата устойчивост на селското стопанство като частност, те следва да се разширяват и тяхната прецизност и представителност подобрява. Това изисква повишаване на прецизността чрез разширяване на анкетираните ферми и заинтересовани страни, и използване на по-“обективни” данни от проучвания, статистика, професионални експертизи в дадената област , и др. English Abstract: This study tries to assess the governance sustainability of Bulgarian agriculture at the national, sectoral, ecosystem, and farming levels. Multiple Principles, Criteria and Indicators assessment of the Governance sustainability of Bulgarian agriculture indicates that the Overall Governance Sustainability is at a “Good” but very close to the “Satisfactory” level. Besides, there is considerable differentiation in the level of Integral Governance sustainability of individual subsectors, agro-ecosystem, agro-region, and farming organizations. What is more, the individual indicators with the highest and lowest sustainability values determine the “critical” factors enhancing and deterring the particular and integral Governance sustainability of the evaluated agro-system. Last but not least important, results on the integral agrarian sustainability assessment based on micro (farm) and macro (statistical, etc.) data show some discrepancies which have to be taken into consideration in the analysis and interpretation, while assessment indicators, methods, and data sources further improved. Having in mind the importance of holistic assessments of this kind for improving the agrarian sustainability in general, and the Governance sustainability of agriculture in particular, they are to be expended and their precision and representation increased. The latter requires improvement of the precision through enlargement of surveyed farms and stakeholders and incorporating more “objective” data from surveys, statistics, the expertise of professionals in the area, etc.

Как да измерим управленческата устойчивост на българското селско стопанство (How to Measure the Governance Sustainability of Bulgarian Agriculture)

Bulgarian Abstract: Необходимостта от включване на “четвърти” управленчески стълб в концепцията за разбиране и в системата за оценка на (съвкупната и) аграрната устойчивост нарастващо се обосновава в академичната литература и намира място в подходите на правителствени, международни, частни и др. организации. Независимо то това обаче, все още няма общ консенсус по отношение на това: дали и как да се включи управлението като нов стълб на аграрната устойчивост; как да се дефинира управленческата устойчивост; каква е връзката между управленческата устойчивост на земеделските стопанства и тази на отрасъла като цяло; кои са критичните фактори на управленческата устойчивост; как да формулираме, селектираме, измерим и интегрираме различните показатели за устойчивост; и как правилно за оценим равнището на управленческа устойчивост, и т.н. В България, подобно на много други страни, практически няма цялостни оценки на управленческата устойчивост на селското стопанство и на нейната значимост за цялостното аграрно развитие. Тази разработка се опитва да запълни празнотата и предлага холистичен подход за разбиране и оценка на управленческата устойчивост на българското селско стопанство. Новият подход се експериментира за оценка на управленческата и интегрална устойчивост на българското селско стопанство на национално ниво посредством използване на агрегиране макро и анкетни микро данни. Изследване доказа, че е важно да се включи “липсващия” Управленчески стълб при оценката на интегралната устойчивост на селското стопанство и устойчивостта на аграрните системи от различен тип. Оценката на управленческата устойчивост на българското селско стопанство установи, че цялостната устойчивост е на “добро”, но близко до “задоволителното” ниво. Освен това, резултатите от оценката на интегралната устойчивост базирани на микро (стопански) и макро (статистически и др.) данни показват определено разминаване, което следва да се има пред вид при анализите и интерпретациите, като същевременно оценителните показатели, методи и данни продължават да се подобряват. Имайки пред вид значимостта на холистични оценки от този тип за подобряване на аграрната устойчивост като цяло, и на управленческата устойчивост на селското стопанство като частност, те следва да се разширяват и тяхната прецизност и представителност подобрява. Това изисква повишаване на прецизността чрез разширяване на анкетираните ферми и заинтересовани страни, и използване на по-“обективни” данни от проучвания, статистика, професионални експертизи в дадената област , и др. Тъй като разработването на ефективна система за оценка на управленческата устойчивост е далеч от приключване нашият и други възникващи подходи следва да бъдат подробно дискутирани, експериментирани, подобрени и адаптирани към специфичните условия на оценяваните селскостопански системи и потребностите на вземащите решения на различни нива на управление. English Abstract: In Bulgaria, like in many other countries, practically there are no comprehensive assessments of the governance sustainability of agriculture and its importance for the overall agrarian development. This study tries to fill the gap and suggests a holistic framework for understanding and assessing the governance sustainability of Bulgarian agriculture. The newly elaborated approach is “tested” in the assessment of the governance sustainability of the country’s agriculture. The study has proved that it is important to include the “missing” Governance Pillar in the assessment of the Integral sustainability of agriculture. Governance sustainability of Bulgarian agriculture indicates that the Overall Governance Sustainability is at a “Good” but very close to the “Satisfactory” level. Besides, results on the integral agrarian sustainability assessment based on micro (farm) and macro (statistical, etc.) data show some discrepancies which have to be taken into consideration in the analysis and interpretation, while assessment indicators, methods, and data sources further improved. Having in mind the importance of holistic assessments of this kind for improving the agrarian sustainability in general, and the Governance sustainability of agriculture in particular, they are to be expended and their precision and representation increased. The latter requires improvement of the precision through enlargement of surveyed farms and stakeholders and incorporating more “objective” data from surveys, statistics, expertise of professionals in the area, etc. Since the elaboration of an effective framework for Governance sustainability assessment is far from complete our and other emerging suggestions have to be further discussed, experimented with, improved, and adapted to the specific conditions of evaluating agricultural systems and the needs of decision-makers at different levels.

About the governance pillar of agrarian sustainability

Introduction. Most of suggested and practically used framework for assessing the agrarian sustainability include three pillars – economic, social, and environmental. In recent years a new “fourth” governance pillar of sustainability has been introduced in academic literature and appeared in official documents of governmental, international, professional and business organizations. Nevertheless, the elaboration of the approach for assessing the governance sustainability of agriculture still is at the beginning stage. This article suggests a holistic framework for assessing the new governance pillar of agrarian sustainability. Materials and methods. A framework of new evolving interdisciplinary methodologies of Sustainable Development and the New Institutional Economics has been incorporated and a holistic system comprising of well-defined principles, criteria, indicators and reference values used for assessing governance sustainability of Bulgarian agriculture at national and (sub)sectoral (industry) levels. Results. Multi-principle, multi-criteria and multi-indicators assessment indicates that the Overall Governance Sustainability of Bulgarian agriculture is at a “Good” but very close to the “Satisfactory” level. Besides, there is a considerable differentiation in the level of Integral Governance sustainability of different agro-industries in the country. What is more, the individual indicators with the highest and lowest sustainability values determine the “critical” factors enhancing and deterring the particular and integral Governance sustainability of evaluated agro-system. Conclusion. Holistic assessments of governance and overall sustainability are important for improving the management of agrarian sustainability in general, and the Governance sustainability of agriculture in particular. Therefore, they are to be expended and their precision and representation increased. The later requires improvement of the precision through enlargement of surveyed farms and stakeholders, and incorporating more “objective” data from surveys, statistics, expertise of professionals in the area, etc.

Territorial Dimensions of Governance Sustainability – The Case of Bulgarian Agriculture

This article suggests a holistic framework for assessing the “forth” governance pillar of agrarian sustainability in Bulgaria. The newly elaborated approach is “tested” in a large-scale study for assessing the governance sustainability at national, territorial and farms levels. Multiple Principles, multi-criteria and multi-indicators assessment indicates that the Overall Governance Sustainability of Bulgarian agriculture is at a “Good” but very close to the “Satisfactory” level. Besides, there is a considerable differentiation in the level of Integral Governance sustainability of different agro-regions and farming systems in the country. Furthermore, the individual indicators with the highest and lowest sustainability values determine the “critical” factors enhancing and deterring the particular and integral Governance sustainability of national, territorial and farming systems of Bulgarian agriculture.

ОЦІНКА УПРАВЛІНСЬКОЇ СТІЙКОСТІ БОЛГАРСЬКИХ СІЛЬСЬКИХ ГОСПОДАРСТВ

A need to include “the fourth” Governance pillar in the concept for understanding and the assessment system of (overall and) agrarian sustainability is increasingly justified in academic literature and finds place in the frameworks of government, international, private, etc. organizations. In Bulgaria, like in many other countries, practically there are no comprehensive assessments of the governance sustainability of agriculture and its importance for the overall agrarian development. This study tries to fill the gap and suggests a holistic framework for understanding and assessing the governance sustainability of Bulgarian agriculture. The newly elaborated approach is “tested” in a large-scale study for assessing the governance sustainability of country’s agriculture at national, sectoral, regional, eco-system and farm levels. The study has proved that it is important to include the “missing” Governance Pillar in the assessment of the Integral sustainability of agriculture and sustainability of agro-systems of various type. Multiple Principles, Criteria and Indicators assessment of the Governance sustainability of Bulgarian agriculture indicates that the Overall Governance Sustainability is at a “Good” but very close to the “Satisfactory” level. Besides, there is a considerable differentiation in the level of Integral Governance sustainability of different agro-systems in the country. What is more, the individual indicators with the highest and lowest sustainability values determine the “critical” factors enhancing and deterring the particular and integral Governance sustainability of evaluated agro-system. Last but not least important, results on the integral agrarian sustainability assessment based on micro (farm) and macro (statistical, etc.) data show some discrepancies which have to be taken into consideration in the analysis and interpretation, while assessment indicators, methods and data sources further improved. Having in mind the importance of holistic assessments of this kind for improving the agrarian sustainability in general, and the Governance sustainability of agriculture in particular, they are to be expended and their precision and representation increased.

Evaluation of Governance Sustainability of Bulgarian Agriculture

A need to include “the fourth” Governance pillar in the concept for understanding and the assessment system of (overall and) agrarian sustainability is increasingly justified in academic literature and finds a place in the frameworks of government, international, private, etc. organizations In Bulgaria, like in many other countries, practically there are no comprehensive assessments of the governance sustainability of agriculture and its importance for the overall agrarian development. This study tries to fill the gap and suggests a holistic framework for understanding and assessing the governance sustainability of Bulgarian agriculture. The newly elaborated approach is “tested” in a large-scale study for assessing the governance sustainability of the country’s agriculture at national, sectoral, regional, eco-system and farm levels. The study has proved that it is important to include the “missing” Governance Pillar in the assessment of the Integral sustainability of agriculture and sustainability of agro-systems of various types. Multiple Principles, Criteria and Indicators assessment of the Governance sustainability of Bulgarian agriculture indicates that the Overall Governance Sustainability is at a “Good” but very close to the “Satisfactory” level. Besides, there is considerable differentiation in the level of Integral Governance sustainability of different agro-systems in the country. What is more, the individual indicators with the highest and lowest sustainability values determine the “critical” factors enhancing and deterring the particular and integral Governance sustainability of evaluated agro-system. Last but not least important, results on the integral agrarian sustainability assessment based on micro (farm) and macro (statistical, etc.) data show some discrepancies which have to be taken into consideration in the analysis and interpretation, while assessment indicators, methods and data sources further improved. Having in mind the importance of holistic assessments of this kind for improving the agrarian sustainability in general, and the Governance sustainability of agriculture in particular, they are to be expended and their precision and representation increased.

Measuring the New Governance Pillar of Agrarian Sustainability at Farm, Sectoral and National Level in Bulgaria

In Bulgaria, like in many other countries, practically there are no comprehensive assessments of the governance sustainability of agriculture and its importance for the overall agrarian development. This study tries to fill the gap and suggests a holistic framework for understanding and assessing the governance sustainability of Bulgarian agriculture. The newly elaborated approach is “tested” in a large-scale study for assessing the governance sustainability of country’s agriculture at national, sectoral, and farm levels. The study has proved that it is important to include the “missing” Governance Pillar in the assessment of the Integral sustainability of agriculture and sustainability of agro-systems of various types. Multiple Principles, Criteria and Indicators assessment of the Governance sustainability of Bulgarian agriculture indicates that the Overall Governance Sustainability is at a “Good” but very close to the “Satisfactory” level. Besides, there is a considerable differentiation in the level of Integral Governance sustainability of different agro-systems in the country. What is more, the individual indicators with the highest and lowest sustainability values determine the “critical” factors enhancing and deterring the particular and integral Governance sustainability of evaluated agro-system. Last but not least important, results on the integral agrarian sustainability assessment based on micro (farm) and macro (statistical, etc.) data show some discrepancies which have to be taken into consideration in the analysis and interpretation, while assessment indicators, methods and data sources further improved.

Framework for Assessing the Governance Pillar of Agrarian Sustainability

In many other countries, there are no comprehensive systems for assessment of the governance sustainability of agriculture and its importance for the overall agrarian development. This study tries to fill the gap and suggests a holistic framework for understanding and assessing governance sustainability. The newly elaborated approach is “tested” in a large-scale study for assessing the governance sustainability of Bulgarian agriculture. The study has proved that it is important to include the “missing” Governance Pillar in the assessment of the Integral sustainability of agriculture and sustainability of agro-systems of various types. Assessment of the Governance sustainability of Bulgarian agriculture indicates that the Overall Governance Sustainability is at a “Good” but close to the “Satisfactory” level. There is considerable differentiation in the level of Integral Governance sustainability of different agro-systems in the country. Results on the integral agrarian sustainability assessment based on micro (farm) and macro (statistical, etc.) data show some discrepancies which have to be taken into consideration, while assessment indicators, methods and data sources improved.

Оценка на социално-икономическата и екологична устойчивост на аграрните екосистеми в България

The ecosystem approach has been widely incorporated in the management and evaluation of agrarian sustainability. Despite enormous progress in this new evolving area, still there is no consensus on how to assess the sustainability of agro-ecosystems due to the diversity in understandings, approaches, methods, employed data, etc. In Bulgaria there are no comprehensive studies on the integral, socio-economic and ecological sustainability of the different types of agro-ecosystems. This paper makes a first attempt at assessing the sustainability of agro-ecosystems in Bulgaria. Initially, a holistic framework for assessing the integral, economic, social and ecological sustainability of agro-ecosystems, which includes 17 principles, 35 criteria, and 46 indicators and reference values, is suggested. After that, the integral and the multi-aspect sustainability of 7 generic and 10 specific agro-ecosystems in Bulgaria are assessed. The estimates are based on first-hand information collected by the managers of “typical” farms operating in different agro-ecosystems in 4 geographical regions of the country. The study has found out that there is a substantial variation in the level of integral and multi-aspect sustainability of the different types of agro-ecosystems, as well as in the level of contribution to the sustainability of various sub-sectors of agriculture and farms of different juridical type and size, where the individual indicators with the highest and lowest values show the (critical) factors which enhance or deter sustainability.

Sustainability of Agricultural Sub-sectors in Bulgaria

In Bulgaria, like in most countries, the comprehensive assessments on agrarian sustainability are mostly at sectoral or farm levels while there is practically no in-depth study on sustainability at sub-sector (industry) level. This paper tries to fill the gap and assess the sustainability of different sub-sectors in Bulgarian agriculture. First a holistic hierarchical framework for assessing integral, economic, social and ecological sustainability of Bulgarian agriculture is suggested including 17 principles, 35 criteria, and 46 indicators and reference values. After that, an assessment is made on the overall and aspects sustainability of major crop, livestock and mixed subsectors of Bulgarian agriculture. The assessment is based on first-hand information collected though in-depth interviews with the managers of “typical” farms in analysed industries. The study has found out that there is a considerable differentiation in the level of integral and aspects sustainability in individual sub-sectors in Bulgaria, with mixed livestock-breeding, mixed crop-growing, and perennial crops sub-sectors having the highest integral sustainability, while pigs, poultry and rabbits; vegetables, flowers and mushrooms, and mixed livestock-crops subsectors the lowest one. There are also substantial variations in the levels of economic, social and ecological sustainability of different agricultural sub-sectors and individual indicators with the highest and lowest values showing (critical) factors enhancing and deterring particular or overall sustainability of evaluated agro-industries. Results on the integral agrarian sustainability level of this study based on the micro sub-sector (farm) data are similar to the previous assessment based on the aggregate sectoral (statistical, etc.) data.

Multilevel Assessment of Agrarian Sustainability in Bulgaria

The goal of this study is to unpack sustainability in terms of understanding and evaluation using as a case Bulgarian agriculture. A hierarchical system for assessing agrarian sustainability in Bulgaria at national, regional, sub-sectoral, ecosystem and farm level is proposed. It includes 3 aspects(pillars), 17 principles, 35 criteria, and 46 indicators and reference values for evaluating sustainability as well as approach for their integration and interpretation. Assessment is made of agrarian sustainability in the country at various level using aggregate macro and farm level micro data. The assessment has found out that there is a considerable differentiation in the level of integral and aspects sustainability of different type of farms, ecosystems, subsectors and regions. Nevertheless, results on the integral agrarian sustainability based on macro aggregate and micro farm data are quite similar. The later indicates that both approaches are reliable and could be simultaneously used according to the level of analysis, needs of decision makers, and available data. Major factors encouraging improving economic sustainability are market demand and price; direct state subsidies; market competition; financial capability; participation in public support programs; possibility of benefitting immediately; possibility of benefitting in the near future; tax preferences; possibility of benefitting in the long term; and integration with buyers of farm products. Main factors encouraging the enhancement of social sustainability are personal convictions and satisfaction; social recognition of individual contribution; immediate benefits for other people and groups; regional community initiatives and pressure; access to advisory services; European Union policy; and existing regional problems and risks. Important factors encouraging environmental sustainability are problems and risks existing at the global scale; official regulations, standards, and norms; existing regional problems and risks; and European Union policies. Public policies and instruments that improve economic sustainability of Bulgarian agriculture include: direct area-based payments; national top-ups for products and livestock; modernization of agricultural holdings; green payments; support for semi-market farms. At the same time the impact of national and European policies on social and environmental sustainability is relatively weak. Having in mind the importance of holistic assessments of this kind for improving agrarian sustainability, farm management and agrarian policies, they are to be expended and their precision and representation increased. The latter requires a closer cooperation between and participation of all interested parties as well as improvement of the precision through enlargement of collected statistical data, number of surveyed farms, and incorporating more “objective” data from field tests and surveys, monitoring, expertise of professionals in the area, etc.

Beyond Chayanov: A sustainable agroecological farm reproductive analysis of peasant domestic units and rural communities (Sentmenat; Catalonia, 1860)

We present a Sustainable Agroecological Farm Reproduction Analysis that links two methodologies kept separated so far: Optimization Modelling, and Social Metabolism accounting of the biophysical turnover from a fund-flow approach. This socio-agro-ecological model combines two scales, at farm-gate and municipal levels, and formalizes all relevant flows interlinking three living funds that have to be reproduced over time: the domestic unit, livestock and soil fertility. From the requirements and capacities of each fund (constraints), we run the model under different scenarios (objective functions) to see the different configurations that the landscape structure and the flow patterns can take (variables), ensuring the reproducibility of funds. By changing the objectives we obtain an intensive optimum that minimizes the land required; an extensive optimum that minimizes labour; and a monetary optimum that maximizes a prevailing cash crop. The model is applied to a past advanced organic farming of a Catalan village c.1860 to generate a set of counterfactual scenarios that, confronted with historical data, help to reveal how institutional settings and landownership inequality played a role in maintaining the real socio-agro-ecological structure away from these optima, and the existing potential of possible eco-functional intensification practices aimed at reducing the land cost of agrarian sustainability.

Eco-System Approach for Assessing Agrarian Sustainability in Bulgaria

Ecosystem approach has been increasingly incorporated in the management and evaluation of sustainability levels in general and in agriculture in particular. Despite enormous progress in the theory and practice of this new area, still there is no consensus on how to assess the sustainability of agro-ecosystems due to diverse understandings, approaches, methods, employed data, etc. In Bulgaria there are practically no in-depth studies on sustainability level of diverse agro-eco-systems. This articles assesses the sustainability level of agro-ecosystems of different type in Bulgaria. A holistic hierarchical framework for assessing integral, economic, social and ecological sustainability of agro-ecosystems is suggested including 17 principles, 35 criteria, and 46 indicators and reference values. Assessment is made on overall and aspects sustainability of large (agro)ecosystems in four geographic regions and particular main and specific types of agro-ecosystems of the country. The assessment is based on first- hand information collected though in-depth interviews with the managers of “typical” farms in the respective ago-ecosystems. The study has found out that there is considerable differentiation in the level of integral sustainability in agricultural ecosystems of different types. There are also substantial variations in the levels of economic, social and ecological sustainability of agro- ecosystems of different type, and the critical indicators enhancing or deterring overall and particular sustainability of individual agro-ecosystems. Results of the integral agrarian sustainability level based on the micro agro-ecosystem (farm) data, are similar to the previous assessment based on the aggregate sectoral (statistical, etc.) data. Having in mind the importance of holistic assessments of this kind for improving agrarian sustainability, farm management and agrarian policies, they are to be expended and their precision and representation increased.

Sustainability of Agro-ecosystems in Bulgaria

Ecosystem approach has been increasingly incorporated in the management and evaluation of sustainability levels. Despite huge progress in the theory and practice of this new area, still there is no consensus on how to assess the sustainability of agro-ecosystems due to diverse understandings, approaches, methods, employed data, etc. In Bulgaria there are practically no deep studies on sustainability level of diverse agro-eco-systems. This paper tries to fill the blank and assesses the sustainability level of agro-ecosystems of different type in Bulgaria. First a holistic hierarchical framework for assessing integral, economic, social and ecological sustainability of agro-ecosystems in Bulgaria is suggested including 17 principles, 35 criteria, and 46 indicators and reference values. After that, an assessment is made on overall and aspects sustainability of large (agro)ecosystems in North-Central, South-Eastern, South-Central and South-Western geographic regions, and particular main and specific types of agro-ecosystems of the country - mountainous, plain-mountainous, plain, riparian (Struma, Maritza, Yantra), southern Black Sea, mountainous area with natural constraints, non-mountainous area with natural constraints, protected areas and reserves, Western Thracian Plain, Middle Danube Plain, Dupnitsa and Sandansko-Petrich Valley, Sredna Gora Mountains and Western Rila Mountains. The assessment is based on first-hand information collected though in-depth interviews with the managers of “typical” farms in the respective ago-ecosystems. The study has found out that there is a considerable differentiation in the level of integral sustainability in agricultural ecosystems of different types. Furthermore, there are substantial variations in the levels of economic, social and ecological sustainability of agro-ecosystems of different type, and the critical indicators enhancing or deterring overall and particular sustainability of individual agro-ecosystems. Results of the integral agrarian sustainability level of this study, based on the micro agro-ecosystem (farm) data, are similar to the previous assessment based on the aggregate sectoral (statistical, etc.) data. There are large differences in the impact of socio-economic, institutional, behavioral, international, natural, etc. factors and individual public policy instruments on the sustainability of farming enterprises of different types and agro-ecosystems. Having in mind the importance of holistic assessments of this kind for improving agrarian sustainability, farm management and agrarian policies, they are to be expended and their precision and representation increased.