Title: Sustainability assessment of the agri-environmental practices in Greece. Indicators' comparative study

Authors: Ioannis Vardopoulos; Sotiris Falireas; Ioannis Konstantopoulos; Elli Kaliora; Eleni Theodoropoulou

Addresses: Department of Home Economics and Ecology, School of Environment, Geography and Applied Economics, Harokopio University, 70 Venizelou Eleftheriou Avenue, Kallithea 17676, Attica, Greece ' Department of Building Infrastructure and the Environment, Directorate of Technical Services, Hellenic Parliament, Parliament Mansion (Megaro Voulis), GR-10021, Athens, Attica, Greece; Division of Environmental Conservation and Management, Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences, Open University of Cyprus, P.O. Box 12794, 2252, Latsia, Nicosia, Cyprus ' Department of Project Studies and Implementation, Directorate of Technical Services, Municipality of Peristeri, 1 Karatheodori Street, Peristeri 12134, Attica, Greece; Division of Environmental Conservation and Management, Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences, Open University of Cyprus, P.O. Box 12794, 2252, Latsia, Nicosia, Cyprus ' Division of Environmental Conservation and Management, Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences, Open University of Cyprus, P.O. Box 12794, 2252, Latsia, Nicosia, Cyprus ' Department of Home Economics and Ecology, School of Environment, Geography and Applied Economics, Harokopio University, 70 Venizelou Eleftheriou Avenue, Kallithea 17676, Attica, Greece

Abstract: This research attempts to study whether the common agricultural policy is targeted enough and actually integrates the initial environmental concerns, aiming in understanding of the effectiveness of the policy in Greece. Through the development and calculation of several agri-environmental sustainability indicators, following the driving force-pressure-state-impact-response (DPSIR) model, the authors evaluate the environmental performance of Greek agriculture in comparison with Italy, Spain, Germany, and the Netherlands, under the common agricultural policy scheme. Results indicate that Greek agricultural production should follow the agricultural practices and environmental controls more closely, in order to increase agricultures' environmental performance rate and reach sustainability.

Keywords: common agricultural policy; indicators; sustainable development; Greece.

DOI: 10.1504/IJARGE.2018.098024

International Journal of Agricultural Resources, Governance and Ecology, 2018 Vol.14 No.4, pp.368 - 399

Received: 10 Feb 2018
Accepted: 01 Nov 2018
Published online: 26 Feb 2019 *

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