Ecological Direct Payments

      Category:  Price-Based Instruments
      Policy Type:  Subsidies, Grants & Incentive Payments
      Sector:  Agriculture
      Region:  Europe
      Country:  Switzerland
      Description: Ecological Direct Payments are granted by the Swiss government to farmers who voluntarily apply stricter farming practices than those required by regulations. They compensate for special performance with regard to the environment and livestock. The types of ecological direct payments include payments for organic farming, payments for protecting water, and payments for ecological set-aside areas.
      Outcome:  The water protection payments help to reduce the level of nitrates and phosphates in rivers and lakes, while the payments for organic farming limit the use of mineral nitrogen fertilizers.

      Reference:  Ecological Direct Payments

      Environmental Farm Action Program (EFAP)

      Category:  Price-Based Instruments; Environmental Outreach & Education
      Policy Type:  Subsidies, Grants & Incentive Payments; Technical Assistance
      Sector:  Agriculture
      Region:  North America
      Country:  Canada
      Description: Canada's Environmental Farm Action Program (EFAP) provides financial and technical assistance to producers in order to accelerate the adoption of Beneficial Management Practices in Manitoba.
      Outcome:  The EFAP helps increase awareness of environmental assets and risks associated with the farming operations. It also helps identify options and actions to reduce the identified risks and improve farm production efficiencies.

      Reference:  Environmental Farm Action Program

      Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)

      Category:  Price-Based Instruments; Environmental Outreach & Education
      Policy Type:  Subsidies, Grants & Incentive Payments; Technical Assistance
      Sector:  Agriculture
      Region:  North America
      Country:  United States
      Description: The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) in the United States provides financial and technical assistance to agricultural producers through contracts up to a maximum term of ten years in length. The National Water Quality Initiative supported by EQIP helps farmers and ranchers implement conservation systems to reduce nitrogen, phosphorous, sediment and pathogen contributions from agricultural land in specific approved watershed. The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has the authority to provide financial assistance payments to eligible producers through EQIP.
      Outcome:  The EQIP helps agricultural producers to meet Federal, State, Tribal and local environmental regulations and deliver environmental benefits, including improved water quality, conserved ground and surface water, reduced soil erosion and etc.

      Reference:  Environmental Quality Incentives Program (US)

      Environmental Quality Standards (EQS) for Water Pollution

      Category:  Regulatory Approaches
      Policy Type:  Environmental Caps & Limits; Environmental Standards
      Sector:  Mixed
      Region:  Asia
      Country:  Japan
      Description: Japan's basic Environment Law establishes Environmental Quality Standards (EQS) for water quality with the aim of protecting both human health and the living environment. Environmental quality standards for the living environment include standards for biological oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), dissolved oxygen (DO). In addition, standards for nitrogen and phosphorus have been established for lakes/reservoirs and sea/coastal areas in order to prevent eutrophication. Waters that do not meet environmental quality standards are subject to area-wide total pollutant load control reduction targets.
      Outcome:  The standards help to reduce nitrogen and phosphorus discharges.

      Reference:  Environmental Quality Standards for Water Pollution

      Environmentally Friendly Agriculture Fosterage Act (2009)

      Category:  Regulatory Approaches; Institutions & Capacity
      Policy Type:  Environmental Standards; Environmental Caps & Limits; Frameworks & Guidance; Partnerships
      Sector:  Agriculture
      Region:  Asia
      Country:  South Korea
      Description: Korea's Environmentally Friendly Agriculture Fosterage Act aims to increase the role of agriculture in environmental preservation, reduce environmental pollution caused by agriculture, and foster farmers who practice environmentally friendly agriculture, thereby pursuing sustainable and environmentally friendly agriculture. Under this Act, the State and local governments shall aggressively promote the implementation of policies in compliance with the standards for the safe and appropriate use of agricultural chemicals and maximum residue limits, the amount of fertilizers to be sprayed on crops, the limitations on the discharge of livestock excretions, and the ban on the dumping of agricultural wastes, in order to prevent environmental pollution for these agricultural activities. Moreover, the Minister for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries shall, in consultation with the heads of the relevant central administrative agencies, formulate a plan (fosterage plan) to foster the development of environmentally friendly agriculture every five years. This Act also states that the Minister for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries or the heads of local governments may subsidize necessary costs for persons who are in charge of the research and development, dissemination or direction of environmentally friendly agricultural technologies and materials. In addition, the Government shall promote the exchange and sharing of information and technology concerning environmentally friendly agriculture through international cooperation with international organizations related to the environment or the relevant nations.
      Outcome:  This Act promotes sustainable farming practices, reduces chemical input use, encourages the adoption of soil conservation practices, and addresses biodiversity concerns.

      Reference:  Environmentally-Friendly Agriculture Fosterage Act (2009)