Work

Can reducing technical inefficiencies of pesticides achieve environmental impact targets? The case of Dutch arable farms

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Farmers manage each type of pesticide differently, given the varying risks they address. As both damage-abating and polluting inputs, we have incorporated their negative impacts into a non-parametric framework to estimate the technical inefficiency of different pesticides and environmental inefficiency of Dutch arable farms from 2011 to 2021. Results suggest that farmers are more efficient in using insecticides rather than fungicides, herbicides and other pesticides, and have a higher potential to reduce negative pesticide impacts on aquatic organisms compared to soil organisms. However, even with full efficiency, the vast majority of farmers would not meet acceptable pesticide impact levels that are seen as sustainable in the long run.

Source: European Review of Agricultural Economics

DOI: 10.1093/erae/jbag001

Authors: Emmanuel Ahovi, Jaap Sok, Alfons Oude Lansink

Institution: Wageningen University & Research

Language: English

Topic: Efficiency Analysis Using DEA

Subfield: Management Science and Operations Research

Field: Decision Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Zero hunger, Responsible consumption and production, Clean water and sanitation

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $5,071