Session 7c: Incorporating SOM into farming system evaluation

Chair:   Taro Takahashi (University of Bristol, UK)

Studies have shown that results of inter-system comparisons based on economic and environmental performance indicators can easily be reversed when assumptions regarding the short-term and long-term effects of SOM are altered. In this section, we discuss theoretical and empirical strategies to overcome this issue and make system evaluation more robust and more relevant to both agricultural producers and policymakers. We welcome all types of SOM research with an element of either economic or environmental assessment, but in particular studies that link SOM measurements/model outputs to a non-process-based quantitative approach (e.g. life cycle analysis, market equilibrium modelling and economic experiments) to holistically evaluate multiple farming systems.