An Approach to Assess Sustainability of Agricultural Farms

Abstract

This paper gives an answer to important questions such as: "what is sustainability of farms?" and "how to assess sustainability of farms?" First, evolution of the "concept" and the major approaches for assessing sustainability of farms is discussed. More adequate definition of the farm sustainability is suggested as ability of a particular farm to maintain its governance, economic, social and ecological functions in a long term. Next, a specific for the conditions of Bulgarian farms framework for assessing farm sustainability is proposed. The later includes a system of appropriate principles, criteria, indicators, and reference values for evaluating governance, economic, ecological and social aspects of farms sustainability as well as an approach for their integration and interpretation. The ultimate objective of this study is to work out an effective framework for assessing sustainability of farms in the specific economic, institutional and natural environment of farms of different types and location, assist farm management and strategies, and agricultural policies and forms of public intervention in agriculture.

Keywords: farm sustainability, governance, economic, social, ecological aspects, framework for assessment

JEL Classification: Q12, Q18, Q56, Q57