WP7 will examine the up-scaling potential for agricultural management practices at the level of Europe and China and assess the soil environmental footprint of future trends in the agricultural sector under various scenarios. The up-scaling analysis will build on the farming systems and agricultural practices inventoried in each pedo-climatic zone. The dynamic component of the evaluation is essential for the analysis. Over the past few decades agricultural management in Europe and China has changed considerably, driven by various economic, social and demographic factors and changes in consumer preferences and demand. It is to be expected that these changes in farming systems and agricultural management will continue into the future. Trends will be evaluated and the appropriateness of extrapolating these trends spatially (into main agricultural regions) and temporally (into the future) will be explored. In doing this, due attention will also be given to policies aiming at restructuring the agricultural sector in Europe and China. The Case Studies (WP5, WP6) will inform and validate the continental-scale indicators.

Activities will include: i) defining typical combinations of farming systems and agricultural practices in Europe and China and their effects on soil quality; ii) up-scaling the applicability of agricultural management practices to the continental level; iii) developing scenarios of future farm systems and agricultural management activities in Europe and China for improved productivity (crop yield and yield stability) and enhanced soil quality; and iv) evaluating changed soil environmental footprints for a range of policy scenarios in Europe and China.

The main deliverables of this WP will be reports on i) the scenarios of future farm systems and agricultural management activities; and ii) the evaluation of changed soil environmental footprints for a range of policy scenarios.