In each case study a sample of ‘scheme’ farms was compared to a sample of ‘non-scheme’ farms. Where this comparison was not possible (i.e. Finland where 96% of farms are in the AES) alternative comparisons were made (the Finnish case study included a comparison of AFI scores of scheme farms of different farming types). The farms were selected (in some cases in consultation with local scheme administrators) to be representative of the region and number of farms sampled varied from 10 to 81 per case study. Where possible (in 13 out of 14 case studies), the differences in AFI scores were analysed to compare the environmental status of scheme and non-scheme farms.
Application of the Agri-Environmental Footprint Index (AFI)
For each case study, the AFI methodology (described here in simplified, generic form) was individually customised and applied to a specific AES within a specified region (Table 1). The AFI methodological approach is described in Purvis et al. (2009) and in full detail in an on-line Users’ Manual www.footprint.rdg.ac.uk/afimanual. Definitions of the terms used in the AFI methodology are given in Fig. 2.