Measuring the social and ecological performance of agricultural innovations on rangelands: Progress and plans for an indicator framework in the LTAR network
Sheri Spiegal, Nicholas P. Webb, Elizabeth H. Boughton, Raoul K. Boughton, Amanda L. Bentley Brymer, Patrick E. Clark, Chandra Holifield Collins, David L. Hoover, Nicole Kaplan, Sarah E. McCord, Gwendŵr R. Meredith, Lauren M. Porensky, David Toledo, Hailey Wilmer, J. D. Wulfhorst, Brandon T. Bestelmeyer
Abstract
The Long-Term Agroecosystem Research Network launched the LTAR Agricultural Performance Indicator Framework to evaluate how agricultural innovations perform relative to sustainable intensification goals in five domains: Environment, Productivity, Economic, Human Condition, and Social. Here we describe our progress and plans for measuring the performance of agricultural innovations on rangelands. We present a method for measuring outcomes of management innovations against site-specific benchmarks, which can be applied in grazinglands worldwide. LTAR typically studies management on fine scales (ecological site, ranch); how to measure effects on broad scales (landscape, community) remains a persistent question. LTAR’s Agricultural Performance Indicator Framework will evolve with stakeholder engagement.