This report constitutes a comprehensive compilation and synthesis of the principle issues and outcomes of the joint Institute for prospective Technological Studies / Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development workshop on "Sustainability and Production Costs in the Global Farming Sector: Comparative Analysis and Methodologies" held in Brussels between 21-22 June 2011.
Gathering a range of international experts and specialists in the field of production costs analysis and development, covering a range of strategic agricultural sectors of global importance, the workshop aimed to review methodologies and approaches to calculating production costs used in various sectors nationally and globally, with emphasis on exploring the applicability for effective international comparisons. A special attention was given to the methodologies and approaches for data collection and processing, factor market structure and policy inter-linkages, sectoral coverage, horizontal technical issues, and the implications for global agricultural markets. Based on the participant deliberations and discussions, a number of practically based policy recommendations towards achieving such comparisons were highlighted.
The production of this report, following completion of the workshop, has been the responsibility of the IPTS. This task has been facilitated through collaboration with four internationally recognised experts (Folkhard Isermeyer, von Thünen-Institute, Germany (Chapter 2), Dan L. Cunningham, University of Georgia, USA (Chapter 3), Jean-François Garnier, ARVALIS, France (Chapter 4), Ashok K. Mishra, Louisiana State University, USA (Chapter 5)) acting as rapporteurs for each of the workshop's four technical sessions, whose efforts in capturing the principle issues and outcomes of their respective session has been instrumental towards realisation of this report. Stephen Langrell, Pavel Ciaian and Sergio Gomez y Paloma acted as Editors and compiled Chapters 1 and 6.
This report constitutes a particular and comprehensive technical overview of the state of production costs calculations for the sectors under consideration at global level, and a consideration of the prospects for effective international comparison. It reviews methodologies applied for production costs calculation at national and global level followed by the discussion on methodologies used for animal and arable crop sectors. Finally, the report discusses horizontal issues related to production costs calculations. The report closes with policy-relevant conclusions as a basis for policy recommendations. It is envisaged that this report will provide a valuable source of technical and conceptual information for on-going policy considerations, both at EU and third country/international level.JRC.J.4-Agriculture and Life Sciences in the Econom
