What is MEA-Scope?
MEA-Scope is the Acronym
for “Micro-economic instruments for impact assessment of
multifunctional agriculture to implement the Model of European
Agriculture”, a Policy Oriented Research Project of the Sixth
Framework Programme (Priority 8, B1.1., Task 5) launched by the
European Commission in 2004.
As a Specific Targeted Research and Innovation Project (STREP)
MEA-Scope supports the realisation of sustainability of agriculture
and forestry by addressing their multifunctional role in rural
areas. MEA-Scope develops an integrated framework for the assessment
of the multifunctionality impacts of the CAP reform.
The Background
Common Agricultural Policy
(CAP) reform aims at higher international trade compatibility and
better targeting of social, environmental and consumer concerns,
while seeking to ensure the sustainable development of EU
agriculture. To optimise the effectiveness and efficiency of CAP
reform options towards multifunctionality implementations, tools are
required to assess the impacts of agricultural production on the
multiple functions of European landscapes.
The MEA-Scope objectives
The MEA-Scope objectives
For developing the
multifunctionality concept into an operational policy instrument,
MEA-Scope set five main objectives:
- Further development of the
multifunctionality concept for European agriculture;
- Development of quantitative tool for
assessment of the multifunctionality impacts of CAP reform
options;
- Answering of policy-relevant questions
for the implementation of the multifunctionality concept;
- Demonstration of the operability of the
integrated assessment framework;
- Generation of scientific knowledge on specific questions
regarding multifunctionality of agriculture, particularly with
respect to spatial scale and regional differences
more information: http://www.mea-scope.org
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SENSOR |
SENSOR is an Integrated Project in the 6th Framework Research Programme of the European Commission. 33 research partners from 15 European countries, China, Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay develop science based forecasting instruments to support decision making on policies related to land use in European regions. |
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SENSOR research
SENSOR’s main objective is to develop Sustainability Impact Assessment Tools (SIAT). They allow the assessment of land use policy effects on sustainable development at regional scale for Europe. The research process addresses:
- Policy scenarios. Based on narratives of global economic and societal trends for the target year 2025, optional policy decisions on land use and rural development are formulated and analysed with respect to their implications on land use sectors.
- Land use models. Land use changes are simulated at 1km² grid resolution to reflect possible driving force changes as expressed in global economic and societal trends and policy scenarios.
- Impact indicators. The impacts of land use changes on social, economic and environmental land use functions are assessed by means of around 40 impact indicators.
- Spatial reference framework. To analyse land use impacts within a regional context, social, economic and environmental characteristics are integrated towards regional profiles and clusters.
- Thresholds and targets. Expert judgements and participatory tools are employed to identify and evaluate sustainability problems, thresholds and targets related to land use impacts.
- Sensitivity analysis. Critical sustainability issues in sensitive regions such as mountains, coastal zones, islands and post-industrialised areas are identified and analysed in the light of driving force changes.
- Data and indicator management. GIS based, GMES/GEO compatible data and indicator management systems are developed for land use impact analysis at regional scale for EU 25.
- Sustainability Impact Assessment Tools. The above steps are transferred into decision support instruments to analyse the impacts of land use policy options on regional sustainability issues.
- Transferability test. SENSOR will test and adapt the developed approaches and methods in Targeted Third Countries (TTC) namely, China, Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay.
SENSOR products: SIAT supports Sustainability Impact Assessment
Policies on land use are highly dynamic and have cross sectoral effects. Understanding beforehand the size and impacts of these effects is an important prerequisite for efficient policy making. SIAT facilitates this process. The second SIAT prototype has been released in April 2008.
Features:
User oriented |
- Provides quick scan decision support designed for policy makers at European level
- Allows choices of policy options and target setting
- Illustrates cross-sectoral side effects of land use policies
- Compares regional policy effects with reference “business as usual” trend scenarios
- Provides interactive maps and 3D visualisation of future landscapes
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| Scenario-driven |
- Considers global economic, demographic and policy trends for target year 2025
- Provides trend based perspectives for land use changes in Europe
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| Multi-scale |
- Cross-scale analysis at various NUTS levels for EU 25
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| Plausibility checked |
- Builds upon stakeholder consultations on regional sustainability issues
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more information: http://www.sensor-ip.eu
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