Assessing contract solutions for agricultural public goods in the Netherlands

Farming significantly influences public goods (PGs) like water quality and biodiversity, both positively and negatively. Balancing sustainable PG delivery with short-term profitability is challenging. This study examines agri-environmental contracts in the Netherlands through a web-based search of grey literature. We gathered data on 137 agri-environmental contracts, reporting on PG delivery 294 times. The PG biodiversity was reported most frequently to be targeted by contracts (40%) followed by the PG agricultural landscapes and recreation (15%). We found various actors involved, particularly private ones, who are underrepresented in the literature and need more attention. Contrary to the preference for result-based contracts, 48% is input-based. In 68% of cases, monetary payments motivate participation, but tools like knowledge sharing are also reported. In 25% of the contracts, monitoring of results was not reported and effects on PG delivery were barely described. Furthermore, unexpected positive or negative spill-over effects of management practices on different PGs are not considered, risking counter effective outcomes. This study provides the first comprehensive national-level overview of contracts identifying current uptake of contracts and gaps therein, revealing a clear discrepancy between contract status and recent research on the topic. A better understanding of contract characteristics is vital for effective PG delivery in agriculture.