Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Drivers of agricultural sustainability in developing countries: a review

  • Review
  • Published:
Environment Systems and Decisions Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Agricultural development has been an effective instrument for poverty alleviation and economic development in developing countries over the latter half of the twentieth century, and over 80 % of rural people globally still depend on agriculture for their living. However, issues such as water availability, land degradation and an increasing dependence on chemical fertilisers and pesticides continue to be on-going threats to sustainable agricultural development. These threats are being driven by the pressing need to ensure food security in the face of rapidly growing and urbanising populations. Developing countries will therefore continue to need improved methods for planning sustainable agricultural development. This paper presents a review of agricultural sustainability assessment in developing countries. The review highlights some of the key weaknesses that persist in sustainability assessment and the need to consider not only indicators of sustainability but also the drivers that influence indicator behaviour. We argue that without a good understanding of the drivers of sustainability and their systemic relationships to indicators, sustainability assessments run the risk of focusing on symptoms without addressing underlying causes of adverse indicator trends. Drivers of agricultural sustainability in developing countries encompass a range of demographic, natural, socio-economic, political, institutional and management factors. Understanding these and their relationships to sustainability indicators is needed in order to develop agricultural development policy that supports sustainability. The paper presents a conceptual framework for guiding systemic agricultural sustainability assessment and agricultural development planning in developing countries that includes both sustainability indicators and drives, and considers the broad relationships between them.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aksoy MA, Beghin JC (2005) Global agricultural trade and developing countries. World Bank, Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  • Alston JM, Chan-Kang Connie, Marra MC, Pardey PG, Wyatt TJ (2000) A meta-analysis of rates of return to agricultural R&D: Ex Pede Herculem?. International Food Policy Research Institute, Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  • An S, Zheng F, Zhang F, Van Pelt S, Hamer U, Makeschin F (2008) Soil quality degradation processes along a deforestation chronosequence in the Ziwuling area, China. CATENA 75(3):248–256. doi:10.1016/j.catena.2008.07.003

    Google Scholar 

  • Arshad MA, Martin S (2002) Identifying critical limits for soil quality indicators in agro-ecosystems. Agric Ecosyst Environ 88(2):153–160. doi:10.1016/s0167-8809(01)00252-3

    Google Scholar 

  • Asadullah MN, Rahman S (2009) Farm productivity and efficiency in rural Bangladesh: the role of education revisited. Appl Econ 41(1):17–33. doi:10.1080/00036840601019125

    Google Scholar 

  • Babatunde RO, Qaim M (2010) Impact of off-farm income on food security and nutrition in Nigeria. Food Policy 35(4):303–311. doi:10.1016/j.foodpol.2010.01.006

    Google Scholar 

  • Barbier EB (2000) The economic linkages between rural poverty and land degradation: some evidence from Africa. Agric Ecosyst Environ 82(1–3):355–370. doi:10.1016/s0167-8809(00)00237-1

    Google Scholar 

  • Barney C (2006) Urbanization in developing countries: current trends, future projections, and key challenges for sustainability. Technol Soc 28(1–2):63–80. doi:10.1016/j.techsoc.2005.10.005

    Google Scholar 

  • Barrett CB, Lee DR, McPeak JG (2005) Institutional arrangements for rural poverty reduction and resource conservation. World Dev 33(2):193–197. doi:10.1016/j.worlddev.2004.07.008

    Google Scholar 

  • Barrow CJ (1991) Land degradation. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • Bell S, Morse S (2003) Measuring sustainability: learning from doing. Earthscan Publications Limited, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Bell S, Morse S (2008) Sustainability indicators: measuring the immeasurable?. Earthscan Publications Limited, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Binder CR, Wiek A (2007) The role of transdisciplinary processes in sustainability assessment of agricultural systems. In: Häni J, Pintér L, Herren HR (eds) From common principles to common practice. Proceedings and outputs of the first symposium of the international forum on assessing sustainability in agriculture (INFASA). International Institute of Sustainable Development and Swiss College of Agriculture, Bern, pp 33–48

    Google Scholar 

  • Binder CR, Feola G, Steinberger JK (2010) Considering the normative, systemic and procedural dimensions in indicator-based sustainability assessments in agriculture. Environ Impact Assess Rev 30(2):71–81. doi:10.1016/j.eiar.2009.06.002

    Google Scholar 

  • Black RE, Allen LH, Bhutta ZA, Caulfield LE, de Onis M, Ezzati M, Mathers C, Rivera J (2008) Maternal and child undernutrition: global and regional exposures and health consequences. Lancet 371(9608):243–260. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(07)61690-0

    Google Scholar 

  • Bond AJ, Morrison-Saunders A (2011) Re-evaluating sustainability assessment: aligning the vision and the practice. Environ Impact Assess Rev 31(1):1–7. doi:10.1016/j.eiar.2010.01.007

    Google Scholar 

  • Brar DS, Khush GS (2013) Biotechnological Approaches for Increasing Productivity and Sustainability of Rice Production. In: Bhullar GS, Bhullar NK (eds) Agricultural sustainability. Academic Press, San Diego, pp 151–175

    Google Scholar 

  • Braverman A, Guasch JL (1986) Rural credit markets and institutions in developing countries: lessons for policy analysis from practice and modern theory. World Dev 14(10–11):1253–1267. doi:10.1016/0305-750x(86)90104-x

    Google Scholar 

  • Brinkman HJ, Hendrix CS (2011) Food insecurity and violent conflict: causes, consequences, and addressing the challenges. World Food Programme, Rome

    Google Scholar 

  • Bugri JT (2008) The dynamics of tenure security, agricultural production and environmental degradation in Africa: evidence from stakeholders in north-east Ghana. Land Use Policy 25(2):271–285. doi:10.1016/j.landusepol.2007.08.002

    Google Scholar 

  • Burger J (2006) Bioindicators: a review of their use in the environmental literature 1970–2005. Environ Bioindic 1(2):136–144. doi:10.1080/15555270600701540

    Google Scholar 

  • Byiringiro F, Reardon T (1996) Farm productivity in Rwanda: effects of farm size, erosion, and soil conservation investments. Agric Econ 15(2):127–136. doi:10.1016/s0169-5150(96)01201-7

    Google Scholar 

  • Cassman KG, Dobermann A, Walters DT, Yang H (2003) Meeting cereal demand while protecting natural resources and improving environmental quality. Annu Rev Environ Resour 28(1):315–358. doi:10.1146/annurev.energy.28.040202.122858

    Google Scholar 

  • Christiaensen L, Demery L, Kuhl J (2011) The (evolving) role of agriculture in poverty reduction—an empirical perspective. J Dev Econ 96(2):239–254. doi:10.1016/j.jdeveco.2010.10.006

    Google Scholar 

  • Clemens G, Fiedler S, Cong ND, Van Dung N, Schuler U, Stahr K (2010) Soil fertility affected by land use history, relief position, and parent material under a tropical climate in NW-Vietnam. CATENA 81(2):87–96. doi:10.1016/j.catena.2010.01.006

    Google Scholar 

  • Comprehensive Assessment of Water Management in Agriculture (2007) Water for food, water for life: a comprehensive assessment of water management in agriculture. Earthscan and International Water Management Institute (IWMI), London and Colombo

    Google Scholar 

  • Crain CM, Kroeker K, Halpern BS (2008) Interactive and cumulative effects of multiple human stressors in marine systems. Ecol Lett 11(12):1304–1315. doi:10.1111/j.1461-0248.2008.01253.x

    Google Scholar 

  • Dantsis T, Douma C, Giourga C, Loumou A, Polychronaki EA (2010) A methodological approach to assess and compare the sustainability level of agricultural plant production systems. Ecol Ind 10(2):256–263. doi:10.1016/j.ecolind.2009.05.007

    Google Scholar 

  • Darling ES, Côté IM (2008) Quantifying the evidence for ecological synergies. Ecol Lett 11(12):1278–1286. doi:10.1111/j.1461-0248.2008.01243.x

    Google Scholar 

  • Dasgupta S, Deichmann U, Meisner C, Wheeler D (2005) Where is the poverty-environment nexus? Evidence from Cambodia, Lao PDR, and Vietnam. World Dev 33(4):617–638. doi:10.1016/j.worlddev.2004.10.003

    Google Scholar 

  • Dasgupta S, Laplante B, Meisner C, Wheeler D, Yan J (2009) The impact of sea level rise on developing countries: a comparative analysis. Clim Change 93(3–4):379–388. doi:10.1007/s10584-008-9499-5

    Google Scholar 

  • Ecobichon DJ (2001) Pesticide use in developing countries. Toxicology 160(1–3):27–33. doi:10.1016/s0300-483x(00)00452-2

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (2009) Sustainable agriculture and in Asia and the pacific. ESCAP, Bangkok

    Google Scholar 

  • Ehui SK, Hertel TW (1992) Testing the impact of deforestation on aggregate agricultural productivity. Agric Ecosyst Environ 38(3):205–218. doi:10.1016/0167-8809(92)90145-2

    Google Scholar 

  • Ewert F, van Ittersum MK, Bezlepkina I, Therond O, Andersen E, Belhouchette H, Bockstaller C, Brouwer F, Heckelei T, Janssen S, Knapen R, Kuiper M, Louhichi K, Olsson JA, Turpin N, Wery J, Wien JE, Wolf J (2009) A methodology for enhanced flexibility of integrated assessment in agriculture. Environ Sci Policy 12(5):546–561. doi:10.1016/j.envsci.2009.02.005

    Google Scholar 

  • Fan S, Chan-Kang C (2004) Returns to investment in less-favored areas in developing countries: a synthesis of evidence and implications for Africa. Food Policy 29(4):431–444. doi:10.1016/j.foodpol.2004.07.003

    Google Scholar 

  • Fan S, Jitsuchon S, Methakunnavut N (2004) The importance of public investment for reducing poverty in middle-income countries: the case in Thailand. International Food Policy Research Institute, Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  • FAO (1994) FESLM: an international framework for evaluating sustainable land management. FAO, Rome

    Google Scholar 

  • FAO (2009a) Food security and agricultural mitigation in developing countries: options for capturing synergies. Food and Agriculture Organization, Rome

    Google Scholar 

  • FAO (2009b) The state of food insecurity in the world economic crises—impacts and lessons learned. FAO, Rome

    Google Scholar 

  • FAO (2009c) Select indicators of food and agriculture development in Asia-Pacific region, 1998–2008. FAO, Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, Bangkok

    Google Scholar 

  • FAO (2009d) State of the world’s forests 2009. FAO, Rome

    Google Scholar 

  • FAO (2012) Economic growth is necessary but not sufficient to accelerate reduction of hunger and malnutrition. Food and Agriculture Organisation, Rome

    Google Scholar 

  • FAOSTAT (2010) FAO statistic databases, viewed August 2013. http://faostat.fao.org/site/339/default.aspx

  • Fearnside PM, Laurance WF (2004) Tropical deforestation and greenhouse-gas emissions. Ecol Appl 14(4):982–986. doi:10.1890/03-5225

    Google Scholar 

  • Fenske J (2011) Land tenure and investment incentives: evidence from West Africa. J Dev Econ 95(2):137–156. doi:10.1016/j.jdeveco.2010.05.001

    Google Scholar 

  • Fenton N, Neil M (2012) Risk assessment and decision analysis with bayesian networks. CRC Press, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Fernandes LAdO, Woodhouse PJ (2008) Family farm sustainability in southern Brazil: an application of agri-environmental indicators. Ecol Econ 66(2–3):243–257. doi:10.1016/j.ecolecon.2008.01.027

    Google Scholar 

  • Gafsi M, Legagneux B, Nguyen G, Robin P (2006) Towards sustainable farming systems: effectiveness and deficiency of the French procedure of sustainable agriculture. Agric Syst 90(1–3):226–242. doi:10.1016/j.agsy.2006.01.002

    Google Scholar 

  • Gao J, Liu Y (2010) Determination of land degradation causes in Tongyu County, Northeast China via land cover change detection. Int J Appl Earth Obs Geoinf 12(1):9–16. doi:10.1016/j.jag.2009.08.003

    Google Scholar 

  • Gasparatos A, El-Haram M, Horner M (2008) A critical review of reductionist approaches for assessing the progress towards sustainability. Environ Impact Assess Rev 28(4–5):286–311. doi:10.1016/j.eiar.2007.09.002

    Google Scholar 

  • Gedikoglu H, McCann L, Artz G (2011) Off-farm employment effects on adoption of nutrient management practices. Agric Resour Econ Rev 40(2):293–306

    Google Scholar 

  • Giovanni Andrea C (1985) Farm size, land yields and the agricultural production function: an analysis for fifteen developing countries. World Dev 13(4):513–534. doi:10.1016/0305-750x(85)90054-3

    Google Scholar 

  • Godfray HCJ, Beddington JR, Crute IR, Haddad L, Lawrence D, Muir JF, Pretty J, Robinson S, Thomas SM, Toulmin C (2010) Food security: the challenge of feeding 9 billion people. Science 327(5967):812–818. doi:10.1126/science.1185383

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gómez-Limón JA, Sanchez-Fernandez G (2010) Empirical evaluation of agricultural sustainability using composite indicators. Ecol Econ 69(5):1062–1075. doi:10.1016/j.ecolecon.2009.11.027

    Google Scholar 

  • Gomiero T, Pimentel D, Paoletti MG (2011) Is there a need for a more sustainable agriculture? Crit Rev Plant Sci 30(1–2):6–23. doi:10.1080/07352689.2011.553515

    Google Scholar 

  • Häni F (2007) Globla Agriculture in Need of Sustainability Assessment. In: Häni J, Pintér L, Herren HR (eds) From common principles to common practice, proceedings and outputs of the first symposium of the international forum on assessing sustainability in agriculture (INFASA). International Institute of Sustainable Development and Swiss College of Agriculture, Bern, pp 3–17

    Google Scholar 

  • Hansen JW (1996) Is agricultural sustainability a useful concept? Agric Syst 50(2):117–143. doi:10.1016/0308-521x(95)00011-s

    Google Scholar 

  • Havenevik JK, Rune S (1997) Land Tenure, State Peasant Relations and Productivity in Tanzanian Agriculture. In: Bhaduri A, Skarstein R (eds) Economic development and agricultural productivity. Edward Elgar, Cheltenham, pp 183–212

    Google Scholar 

  • Hazell P, Wood S (2008) Drivers of change in global agriculture. Philos Trans R Soc B Biol Sci 363(1491):495–515. doi:10.1098/rstb.2007.2166

    Google Scholar 

  • Heink U, Kowarik I (2010) What are indicators? On the definition of indicators in ecology and environmental planning. Ecol Ind 10(3):584–593. doi:10.1016/j.ecolind.2009.09.009

    Google Scholar 

  • Holden S (2001) A Century of Technological Change and Deforestation in the Miombo Woodlands of Northern Zambia. In: Angelsen A, Kaimowitz D (eds) Agricultural technologies and tropical deforestation. CABI Publishing, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • IAASTD (2008) Agriculture at a crossroads: global report/International Assessment of Agricultural Knowledge, Science and Technology for Development (IAASTD), Island Press. http://www.agassessment.org/reports/IAASTD/EN/Agriculture%20at%20a%20Crossroads_Global%20Report%20%28English%29.pdf

  • IFAD (2010) The rural poverty report 2011. International Fund for Agricultural Development, Rome

    Google Scholar 

  • Inocencio A, Kikuchi M, Tonosaki M, Maruyama A, Merrey D, Sally H, Jong I (2007) Costs and performance of irrigation projects: a comparison of sub-Saharan Africa and other developing regions. International Water Management Institute, Colombo

    Google Scholar 

  • Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (2007) Climate change 2007: synthesis report. An assessment of the intergovernmental panel on climate change. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK and New York, USA

    Google Scholar 

  • Jakobsen J, Rasmussen K, Leisz S, Folving R, Quang NV (2007) The effects of land tenure policy on rural livelihoods and food sufficiency in the upland village of Que, North Central Vietnam. Agric Syst 94(2):309–319. doi:10.1016/j.agsy.2006.09.007

    Google Scholar 

  • Jie C (2007) Rapid urbanization in China: a real challenge to soil protection and food security. CATENA 69(1):1–15. doi:10.1016/j.catena.2006.04.019

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaufmann D, Kraay A, Mastruzzi M (2007) Governance Matters VII: aggregate and individual governance indicators 1996–2007. World Bank, Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  • Kelly RA, Jakeman AJ, Barreteau O, Borsuk ME, ElSawah S, Hamilton SH, Henriksen HJ, Kuikka S, Maier HR, Rizzoli AE, van Delden H, Voinov AA (2013) Selecting among five common modelling approaches for integrated environmental assessment and management. Environ Model Softw 47:159–181. doi:10.1016/j.envsoft.2013.05.005

    Google Scholar 

  • Lefroy RDB, Bechstedt H-D, Rais M (2000) Indicators for sustainable land management based on farmer surveys in Vietnam, Indonesia, and Thailand. Agric Ecosyst Environ 81(2):137–146. doi:10.1016/s0167-8809(00)00187-0

    Google Scholar 

  • Li FJ, Dong SC, Li F (2012) A system dynamics model for analyzing the eco-agriculture system with policy recommendations. Ecol Model 227:34–45. doi:10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2011.12.005

    Google Scholar 

  • Ligon E, Sadoulet E (2007) Estimating the effects of aggregate agricultural growth on the distribution of expenditures. Background paper for the World Development Report (WDR) 2008

  • Lio M, Liu M-C (2008) Governance and agricultural productivity: a cross-national analysis. Food Policy 33(6):504–512. doi:10.1016/j.foodpol.2008.06.003

    Google Scholar 

  • López-Ridaura S, Masera O, Astier M (2002) Evaluating the sustainability of complex socio-environmental systems. The MESMIS framework. Ecol Ind 2(1–2):135–148. doi:10.1016/s1470-160x(02)00043-2

    Google Scholar 

  • López-ridaura S, Keulen HV, Ittersum MKv, Leffelaar PA (2005) Multiscale methodological framework to derive criteria and indicators for sustainability evaluation of peasant natural resource management systems. Environ Dev Sustain 7(1):51–69. doi:10.1007/s10668-003-6976-x

    Google Scholar 

  • Mamatzakis EC (2003) Public infrastructure and productivity growth in Greek agriculture. Agric Econ 29(2):169–180. doi:10.1016/s0169-5150(03)00085-9

    Google Scholar 

  • Mellor J (2001) Faster more equitable growth-agriculture, employment multipliers and poverty reduction. Paper prepared for USADD/G/EGAD

  • Moss B (2008) Water pollution by agriculture. Philos Trans R Soc B Biol Sci 363(1491):659–666. doi:10.1098/rstb.2007.2176

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Müller O, Krawinkel M (2005) Malnutrition and health in developing countries. Can Med Assoc J 173(3):279–286. doi:10.1503/cmaj.050342

    Google Scholar 

  • Mulley BG, Unruh JD (2004) The role of off-farm employment in tropical forest conservation: labor, migration, and smallholder attitudes toward land in western Uganda. J Environ Manage 71(3):193–205. doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2004.02.002

    Google Scholar 

  • Nelson CJ (2007) Sustainability of agriculture—issues, observations and outlook. J Crop Improv 19(1):1–24

    Google Scholar 

  • Ness B, Urbel-Piirsalu E, Anderberg S, Olsson L (2007) Categorising tools for sustainability assessment. Ecol Econ 60(3):498–508. doi:10.1016/j.ecolecon.2006.07.023

    Google Scholar 

  • Ness B, Anderberg S, Olsson L (2010) Structuring problems in sustainability science: the multi-level DPSIR framework. Geoforum 41(3):479–488. doi:10.1016/j.geoforum.2009.12.005

    Google Scholar 

  • Odendo M, Obare G, Salasya B (2009) Factors responsible for differences in uptake of integrated soil fertility management practices amongst smallholders in western Kenya. Afr J Agric Res 4(11):1303–1311

    Google Scholar 

  • OECD (2001) Environmental indicators for agriculture methods and results, vol 3. OECD, Paris

    Google Scholar 

  • Oerke EC (2006) Crop losses to pests. J Agric Sci 144(01):31–43. doi:10.1017/S0021859605005708

    Google Scholar 

  • Oerke EC, Dehne HW (2004) Safeguarding production—losses in major crops and the role of crop protection. Crop Prot 23(4):275–285. doi:10.1016/j.cropro.2003.10.001

    Google Scholar 

  • Oldeman LR, Hakkeling RTA, Sombroek WG (1991) World map of the status of human-induced soil degradation. An Explanatory Note. UUEP and ISRIC, Wageningen 34 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Parry M, Rosenzweig C, Livermore M (2005) Climate change, global food supply and risk of hunger. Philos Trans R Soc B Biol Sci 360(1463):2125–2138. doi:10.1098/rstb.2005.1751

    Google Scholar 

  • Pender J (2004) Development pathways for hillsides and highlands: some lessons from Central America and East Africa. Food Policy 29(4):339–367. doi:10.1016/j.foodpol.2004.07.005

    Google Scholar 

  • Pham LV, Smith C (2013) Agricultural sustainability in developing countries: an assessment of the relationships between drivers and indicators in Hoa Binh province, Vietnam. Agroecol Sustain Food Syst 37(10):1144–1186. doi:10.1080/21683565.2013.833153

    Google Scholar 

  • Phillips JM (1994) Farmer education and farmer efficiency: a meta-analysis. Econ Dev Cult Change 43(1):149–165

    Google Scholar 

  • Place F (2009) Land tenure and agricultural productivity in Africa: a comparative analysis of the economics literature and recent policy strategies and reforms. World Dev 37(8):1326–1336. doi:10.1016/j.worlddev.2008.08.020

    Google Scholar 

  • Pontius J, Dilts R, Bartlett A (eds) (2002) Ten years of IPM training in Asia—from farmer field school to community IPM. FAO, Rome

    Google Scholar 

  • Praneetvatakul S, Janekarnkij P, Potchanasin C, Prayoonwong K (2001) Assessing the sustainability of agriculture: a case of Mae Chaem Catchment, northern Thailand. Environ Int 27(2–3):103–109. doi:10.1016/s0160-4120(01)00068-x

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pretty JN (2008) Agricultural sustainability: concepts, principles and evidence. Phil Trans R Soc B 363:447–465

    Google Scholar 

  • Pretty J, Ward H (2001) Social capital and the environment. World Dev 29(2):209–227. doi:10.1016/s0305-750x(00)00098-x

    Google Scholar 

  • Pretty JN, Morison JIL, Hine RE (2003) Reducing food poverty by increasing agricultural sustainability in developing countries. Agric Ecosyst Environ 95(1):217–234. doi:10.1016/s0167-8809(02)00087-7

    Google Scholar 

  • Pretty JN, Noble AD, Bossio D, Dixon J, Hine RE, Penning de Vries FWT, Morison JIL (2005) Resource-conserving agriculture increases yields in developing countries. Environ Sci Technol 40(4):1114–1119. doi:10.1021/es051670d

    Google Scholar 

  • Prokopy LS, Floress K, Klotthor-Weinkauf D, Baumgart-Getz A (2008) Determinants of agricultural best management practice adoption: evidence from the literature. J Soil Water Conserv 63(5):300–311

    Google Scholar 

  • Rao NH, Rogers PP (2006) Assessment of agricultural sustainability. Curr Sci 91(4):439–448

    Google Scholar 

  • Rasul G, Thapa GB (2004) Sustainability of ecological and conventional agricultural systems in Bangladesh: an assessment based on environmental, economic and social perspectives. Agric Syst 79(3):327–351. doi:10.1016/s0308-521x(03)00090-8

    Google Scholar 

  • Reed MS, Fraser EDG, Dougill AJ (2006) An adaptive learning process for developing and applying sustainability indicators with local communities. Ecol Econ 59(4):406–418. doi:10.1016/j.ecolecon.2005.11.008

    Google Scholar 

  • Reidsma P, König H, Feng S, Bezlepkina I, Nesheim I, Bonin M, Sghaier M, Purushothaman S, Sieber S, van Ittersum MK, Brouwer F (2011) Methods and tools for integrated assessment of land use policies on sustainable development in developing countries. Land Use Policy 28(3):604–617. doi:10.1016/j.landusepol.2010.11.009

    Google Scholar 

  • Reimers M, Klasen S (2013) Revisiting the role of education for agricultural productivity. Am J Agric Econ 95(1):131–152. doi:10.1093/ajae/aas118

    Google Scholar 

  • Roling NG, Wagemakers MAE (eds) (1998) Facilitating sustainable agriculture: participatory learning and adaptive management in times of environmental uncertainty. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • Rondot P, Collion M (2001) Agricultural producer organizations: their contribution to rural capacity building and poverty reduction. World Bank, Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  • Rossing WAH, Zander P, Josien E, Groot JCJ, Meyer BC, Knierim A (2007) Integrative modelling approaches for analysis of impact of multifunctional agriculture: a review for France, Germany and The Netherlands. Agric Ecosyst Environ 120(1):41–57. doi:10.1016/j.agee.2006.05.031

    Google Scholar 

  • Roudier P, Sultan B, Quirion P, Berg A (2011) The impact of future climate change on West African crop yields: what does the recent literature say? Glob Environ Change 21(3):1073–1083. doi:10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2011.04.007

    Google Scholar 

  • Roy R, Chan N (2012) An assessment of agricultural sustainability indicators in Bangladesh: review and synthesis. Environmentalist 32(1):99–110. doi:10.1007/s10669-011-9364-3

    Google Scholar 

  • Royal Society of London (2009) Reaping the benefits: science and the sustainable intensification of global agriculture. Royal Society, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Ruane J, Sonnino A (2011) Agricultural biotechnologies in developing countries and their possible contribution to food security. J Biotechnol 156(4):356–363. doi:10.1016/j.jbiotec.2011.06.013

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Saltelli A (2007) Composite Indicators between analysis and advocacy. Soc Indic Res 81(1):65–77. doi:10.1007/s11205-006-0024-9

    Google Scholar 

  • Scherr SJ (1999) Soil degradation: a threat to developing-country food security by 2020?. International Food Policy Research Institute, Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  • Scherr SJ (2000) A downward spiral? Research evidence on the relationship between poverty and natural resource degradation. Food Policy 25(4):479–498. doi:10.1016/s0306-9192(00)00022-1

    Google Scholar 

  • Siciliano G (2012) Urbanization strategies, rural development and land use changes in China: a multiple-level integrated assessment. Land Use Policy 29(1):165–178. doi:10.1016/j.landusepol.2011.06.003

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith P, Martino D, Cai Z, Gwary D, Janzen H, Kumar P, McCarl B, Ogle S, O’Mara F, Rice C, Scholes B, Sirotenko O, Howden M, McAllister T, Pan G, Romanenkov V, Schneider U, Towprayoon S, Wattenbach M, Smith J (2008) Greenhouse gas mitigation in agriculture. Philos Trans R Soc B 363(1492):789–813

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Speelman EN, Astier M, López Ridaura S, Leffelaar PA, Ittersum MKv (2006) Trade-off analysis for sustainability evaluation: a case study of the Purhepecha region, Mexico. Outlook Agric 35(1):57–64

    Google Scholar 

  • Speelman EN, López-Ridaura S, Colomer NA, Astier M, Masera OR (2007) Ten years of sustainability evaluation using the MESMIS framework: lessons learned from its application in 28 Latin American case studies. Int J Sustain Dev World Ecol 14(4):345–361

    Google Scholar 

  • Stern N (2006) Stern review: economic of climate change. United Kingdom’s Treasury, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Swaminathan MS (2006) An evergreen revolution CSSA Betty Klepper Endowed Lectureship speech, Tuesday 8 Nov. 2005, ASA–CSSA–SSSA International Annual Meetings, Salt Lake City, UT. Crop Sci 46(5):2293–2303. doi:10.2135/cropsci2006.9999

    Google Scholar 

  • Teruel RG, Kuroda Y (2005) Public infrastructure and productivity growth in Philippine agriculture, 1974–2000. J Asian Econ 16(3):555–576. doi:10.1016/j.asieco.2005.04.011

    Google Scholar 

  • Thornton PK, van de Steeg J, Notenbaert A, Herrero M (2009) The impacts of climate change on livestock and livestock systems in developing countries: a review of what we know and what we need to know. Agric Syst 101(3):113–127. doi:10.1016/j.agsy.2009.05.002

    Google Scholar 

  • Tilman D, Cassman KG, Matson PA, Naylor R, Polasky S (2002) Agricultural sustainability and intensive production practices. Nature 418(6898):671–677

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • UN (2009) World population prospects: the 2008 revision population database, viewed 12th August 2012. http://esa.un.org/unpp/index.asp?panel=1

  • Ut TT, Hossain M, Janaiah A (2000) Modern farm technology and infrastructure in Vietnam: impact on income distribution and poverty. Econ Polit Wkly 35(52/53):4638–4643. doi:10.2307/4410109

    Google Scholar 

  • Uusitalo L (2007) Advantages and challenges of Bayesian networks in environmental modelling. Ecol Model 203(3–4):312–318. doi:10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2006.11.033

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Cauwenbergh N, Biala K, Bielders C, Brouckaert V, Franchois L, Garcia Cidad V, Hermy M, Mathijs E, Muys B, Reijnders J, Sauvenier X, Valckx J, Vanclooster M, Van der Veken B, Wauters E, Peeters A (2007) SAFE—a hierarchical framework for assessing the sustainability of agricultural systems. Agric Ecosyst Environ 120(2–4):229–242. doi:10.1016/j.agee.2006.09.006

    Google Scholar 

  • van der Werf HMG, Petit J (2002) Evaluation of the environmental impact of agriculture at the farm level: a comparison and analysis of 12 indicator-based methods. Agric Ecosyst Environ 93(1–3):131–145. doi:10.1016/s0167-8809(01)00354-1

    Google Scholar 

  • Von Braun J (2007) The World food situation: new driving forces and required actions. International Food Policy Research Institute, Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  • von Wirén-Lehr S (2001) Sustainability in agriculture—an evaluation of principal goal-oriented concepts to close the gap between theory and practice. Agric Ecosyst Environ 84(2):115–129. doi:10.1016/s0167-8809(00)00197-3

    Google Scholar 

  • Walter C, Stützel H (2009) A new method for assessing the sustainability of land-use systems (I): identifying the relevant issues. Ecol Econ 68(5):1275–1287. doi:10.1016/j.ecolecon.2008.11.016

    Google Scholar 

  • Walz R (2000) Development of environmental indicator systems: experiences from Germany. Environ Manage 25(6):613–623. doi:10.1007/s002670010048

    Google Scholar 

  • WCED (1987) Our common future. Oxford University Press, Oxford

    Google Scholar 

  • Wiek A, Binder C (2005) Solution spaces for decision-making—a sustainability assessment tool for city-regions. Environ Impact Assess Rev 25(6):589–608. doi:10.1016/j.eiar.2004.09.009

    Google Scholar 

  • World Bank (2008) World development report 2008: agriculture for development. World Bank, Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  • World Bank (2010) Vietnam development report 2011: natural resource management. World Bank, Ha Noi

    Google Scholar 

  • World Bank (2013) World development indicators database. World Bank, Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  • Wu Y, Zhang X, Shen L (2011) The impact of urbanization policy on land use change: a scenario analysis. Cities 28(2):147–159. doi:10.1016/j.cities.2010.11.002

    Google Scholar 

  • Zepeda L (ed) (2001) Agricultural investment and productivity in developing countries. FAO, Rome

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhen L, Routray JK (2003) Operational indicators for measuring agricultural sustainability in developing countries. Environ Manage 32(1):34–46

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhen L, Routray JK, Zoebisch MA, Chen G, Xie G, Cheng S (2005) Three dimensions of sustainability of farming practices in the North China Plain: a case study from Ningjin County of Shandong Province, PR China. Agric Ecosyst Environ 105(3):507–522. doi:10.1016/j.agee.2004.07.012

    Google Scholar 

  • Zheng F, He X, Gao X, Zhang C-E, Tang K (2005) Effects of erosion patterns on nutrient loss following deforestation on the Loess Plateau of China. Agric Ecosyst Environ 108(1):85–97. doi:10.1016/j.agee.2004.12.009

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, The University of Queensland, Gatton, QLD, 4343, Australia

    Luong Van Pham

  2. School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia

    Carl Smith

Authors
  1. Luong Van Pham
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Carl Smith
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Luong Van Pham.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Pham, L.V., Smith, C. Drivers of agricultural sustainability in developing countries: a review. Environ Syst Decis 34, 326–341 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10669-014-9494-5

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10669-014-9494-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation