Governance of Water-Related Conflicts in Agriculture: New Directions in Agri-Environmental and Water Policies in the EU (Environment & Policy, 37)

This book deals with voluntary approaches between farmers and water suppliers as an instrument to meet environmental standards, impacted by agricultural activities, more economically efficient and environmentally effective than by exclusive application of alternative instruments including command-and-control approaches. The book is based largely on the results of the research project 'Co-operative Agreements in Agriculture as an Instrument to Improve the Economic Efficiency and Economic Effectiveness of the European Water Policy', which was supplemented for specific issues by key experts. The research was partly funded by the European Commission under the Specific RTD Programme in the Field of Environment and Climate (Contract No. ENV4-CT98-0782) and partly by the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature Management and Fisheries in the Netherlands, the Environment Agency in England and Wales, the UK Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, and the Government of the German Bundesland North Rhine­ Westphalia. Additional funds for preparing the book were obtained from the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature Management and Fisheries in the Netherlands. The financial and technical support received from the different organisations is gratefully acknowledged. The editors appreciate very much the efforts the authors have made in preparing their contributions for the book and for the secretarial assistance provided by Mrs. Tessa van Dongen from LEI who took responsibility for guiding the publication process and preparing the chapters of the book. We also appreciate the support given by Mrs. Henny Hoogervorst and Mrs. Gloria Verhey (Kluwer Academic Publishers).

The book contributes to a better understanding of the role such co-operation can play in complying cost-effectively with European environmental legislation, in particularly the EU Nitrates and Water Framework Directives, and in achieving a sustainable agriculture. The feasibility of meeting environmental standards by the application of voluntary agreements between farmers and water suppliers is analysed as a more economically efficient and environmentally effective means compared to applying alternative instruments like command-and-control and taxes. In addition, the potential of voluntary co-operative agreements for achieving a more flexible European Union water policy as well as for reforming the Common Agricultural Policy is assessed.
The book will appeal to those researching and working in achieving a more sustainable water management and agricultural practices.

The book contributes to a better understanding of the role such co-operation can play in complying cost-effectively with European environmental legislation, in particularly the EU Nitrates and Water Framework Directives, and in achieving a sustainable agriculture. The feasibility of meeting environmental standards by the application of voluntary agreements between farmers and water suppliers is analysed as a more economically efficient and environmentally effective means compared to applying alternative instruments like command-and-control and taxes. In addition, the potential of voluntary co-operative agreements for achieving a more flexible European Union water policy as well as for reforming the Common Agricultural Policy is assessed. The book will appeal to those researching and working in achieving a more sustainable water management and agricultural practices Front Matter....Pages i-xiii Introduction....Pages 1-5 The Concept of Resource Users’ Self-governance....Pages 7-21 Occurrence of Co-operative Agreements....Pages 23-43 Achievements of Co-operative Agreements....Pages 45-65 Co-operative Agreements versus other Instruments....Pages 67-84 Germany: Searching for Strategies to provide pure Water....Pages 85-107 France: Improved Farming Practices in Water Catchment Areas....Pages 109-132 The Netherlands: From Compensation to Legal Constraints....Pages 133-150 United Kingdom: Financial and Cultural Constraints....Pages 151-166 Instruments that promote Co-operative Agreements....Pages 167-180 Water utility — farmer Co-operation in the US....Pages 181-205 Co-operative Agreements in the Context of EU Policy....Pages 207-215 Back Matter....Pages 217-225