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Featured researches published by Ulrich Schmutz.


Ecology Letters | 2010

Scale matters: the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales

Doreen Gabriel; Steven M. Sait; Jenny A. Hodgson; Ulrich Schmutz; William E. Kunin; Tim G. Benton

There is increasing recognition that ecosystems and their services need to be managed in the face of environmental change. However, there is little consensus as to the optimum scale for management. This is particularly acute in the agricultural environment given the level of public investment in agri-environment schemes (AES). Using a novel multiscale hierarchical sampling design, we assess the effect of land use at multiple spatial scales (from location-within-field to regions) on farmland biodiversity. We show that on-farm biodiversity components depend on farming practices (organic vs. conventional) at farm and landscape scales, but this strongly interacts with fine- and coarse-scale variables. Different taxa respond to agricultural practice at different spatial scales and often at multiple spatial scales. Hence, AES need to target multiple spatial scales to maximize effectiveness. Novel policy levers may be needed to encourage multiple land managers within a landscape to adopt schemes that create landscape-level benefits.


Archive | 2013

Short Food Supply Chains and Local Food Systems in the EU. A State of Play of their Socio-Economic Characteristics

Moya Kneafsey; Laura Venn; Ulrich Schmutz; Balász Bálint; Liz Trenchard; Trish Eyden-Woods; Elizabeth Bos; Gemma Sutton; Matthew Blackett

The present study aims at describing the state-of-play of short food supply chains (SFSC) in the EU understood as being the chains in which foods involved are identified by, and traceable to a farmer and for which the number of intermediaries between farmer and consumer should be minimal or ideally nil. Several types of SFSCs can be identified, for example CSAs (Community-Supported Agriculture), on-farm sales, off-farm schemes (farmers markets, delivery schemes), collective sales in particular towards public institutions, being mostly local / proximity sales and in some cases distance sales. Such type of food chain has specific social impacts, economic impacts at regional and farm level as well as environmental impacts translating themselves into a clear interest of consumers. SFSCs are present throughout the EU, although there are some differences in the different MS in terms of dominating types of SFSCs. In general, they are dominantly small or micro-enterprises, composed of small-scale producers, often coupled to organic farming practices. Social values (quality products to consumers and direct contact with the producer) are the values usually highlighted by SFSCs before environmental or economic values. In terms of policy tools, there are pros and cons in developing a specific EU labelling scheme which could bring more recognition, clarity, protection and value added to SFSCs, while potential costs might be an obstacle. Anyhow, a possible labelling scheme should take into account the current different stages and situations of development of SFSCs in the EU and be flexible enough accommodate these differences. Other policy tools, in particular training and knowledge exchange in marketing and communication are considered important and should continue to be funded by Rural Development programmes, as well as possibly other EU funds in view of the positive social and not specifically rural impacts.


Plant and Soil | 2009

Converting simulated total dry matter to fresh marketable yield for field vegetables at a range of nitrogen supply levels

Claas Nendel; Ulrich Schmutz; A. Venezia; F. Piro; C. Rahn

Simultaneous analysis of economic and environmental performance of horticultural crop production requires qualified assumptions on the effect of management options, and particularly of nitrogen (N) fertilisation, on the net returns of the farm. Dynamic soil-plant-environment simulation models for agro-ecosystems are frequently applied to predict crop yield, generally as dry matter per area, and the environmental impact of production. Economic analysis requires conversion of yields to fresh marketable weight, which is not easy to calculate for vegetables, since different species have different properties and special market requirements. Furthermore, the marketable part of many vegetables is dependent on N availability during growth, which may lead to complete crop failure under sub-optimal N supply in tightly calculated N fertiliser regimes or low-input systems. In this paper we present two methods for converting simulated total dry matter to marketable fresh matter yield for various vegetables and European growth conditions, taking into consideration the effect of N supply: (i) a regression based function for vegetables sold as bulk or bunching ware and (ii) a population approach for piecewise sold row crops. For both methods, to be used in the context of a dynamic simulation model, parameter values were compiled from a literature survey. Implemented in such a model, both algorithms were tested against experimental field data, yielding an Index of Agreement of 0.80 for the regression strategy and 0.90 for the population strategy. Furthermore, the population strategy was capable of reflecting rather well the effect of crop spacing on yield and the effect of N supply on product grading.


Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems | 2017

Sustainability impact assessments of different urban short food supply chains: Examples from London, UK

Ulrich Schmutz; Moya Kneafsey; Carla Sarrouy Kay; Alexandra Doernberg; Ingo Zasada

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Archive | 2016

Guidelines for experimental practice in organic greenhouse horticulture

Martin Koller; Francis Rayns; Stella Cubison; Ulrich Schmutz; G.J. Messelink; W. Voogt

Content of the chapter 3.2.3 - Aims of compost experiments - General requirements - Quantity of compost used - Reference plots - Experimental design - References and further informationContent of the chapter 3.2.2 - General requirements - Fertilisers - Fertiliser applicatin - Soil and plant samples - EvaluationThe aim of this handbook of experimental guidelines is to help conduct experiments for organic horticulture in greenhouses throughout Europe. It considers vegetables, fruit and ornamental production. Using standardised research procedures for experiments will aid a comparison of results and dissemination of knowledge. The editors have tried to incorporate as many climatic zones, countries and crops as possible in order to represent a wide area of Europe although some smaller crops or certain specific climates could not be included.Content of the chapter 3.2.2 - Setting up experiments - Evaluation of experiments - Determination of pH, EC and nutrients in growing media - References and further informationContent of the chapter 3.4 - Preconditions and site selection - Application technology and water requirement - Assessments and artificial inoculation - Efficacy evaluation - References and further informationA pre-condition for trials concerning organic vegetable and fruit crops is the EU regulation 834/2007 on organic farming, or any other equivalent regulation in countries outside the EU. Inside the EU, in addition to the public (legally binding) EU standard, private standards of certification bodies defining organic or bio-dynamic production are also relevant. Research should always be conducted on well-established organic land (ideally converted for at least 5 years), and the history of conversion should be documented in the Materials and Methods section of any report (for research studying the process of conversion this is obviously not applicable). If the research involves methods and products which are currently not part of organic standards (public or private) the protocol has to be discussed with the certification body first. In the case of on-farm trials the farmer also needs to be involved. Prior approval from the certification body and written documentation on the extent of the trials and the new methods tested should always be kept.Content of the chapter 4.6.2 - Crop requirements - Experimental design - Crop management - Disease and pest infestation, physiological disorders and other abiotic damage - Assessments during growth - Assessments at harvest - Overall value score - References and further information


Archive | 2016

Sustainability assessment tools for organic greenhouse horticulture

Lucia Foresi; Ulrich Schmutz; Assumpció Antón; Anja Vieweger; Martina Bavec; Matthias Meier; Muhammad Shadid; Nancy Peña; Richard Petrasek; Denis Stajnko; T. Vukamaniĉ; Jan Landert; Rainier Weißhaidinger; R.J.M. Meijer

This booklet describes different tools currently employed for sustainability evaluation, according to the field of expertise and experience of the authors. Each method serves a different purpose and covers different aspects of sustainability (environmental, economic, social or all together). This body of work will attempt to show the complexity of assessing sustainability in a comprehensive way, by giving a short background and describing the main features of each tool, and supplying the reader with a practical example of application whenever possible.


Land Use Policy | 2012

The ‘Neighbourhood Effect’: A multidisciplinary assessment of the case for farmer co-ordination in agri-environmental programmes

Lee-Ann Sutherland; Doreen Gabriel; Laura Hathaway-Jenkins; Unai Pascual; Ulrich Schmutz; Dan Rigby; R.J. Godwin; Steven M. Sait; Ruben Sakrabani; William E. Kunin; Tim G. Benton; Sigrid Stagl


Gartenbauwissenschaft | 1999

Effect of NaCl salinity on growth, leaf gas exchange, and mineral composition of grafted mango rootstocks (var. '13-1' and 'Turpentine')

Ulrich Schmutz; P. Lüdders


Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture | 2007

Balancing fertility management and economics in organic field vegetable rotations

Ulrich Schmutz; Francis Rayns; Chris Firth


Sustainability | 2017

Food Production and Consumption: City Regions between Localism, Agricultural Land Displacement, and Economic Competitiveness

Federica Monaco; Ingo Zasada; Dirk Wascher; Matjaž Glavan; Marina Pintar; Ulrich Schmutz; C. Mazzocchi; Stefano Corsi; Guido Sali

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Dirk Wascher

Wageningen University and Research Centre

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