Analysis of agri-environmental measures in Hungary – a regional perspective

The hypothesis behind this paper is that agri-environmental measures (AEMs) in Hungary, and probably in the other EU New Member States, are not merely substitutes for traditional agricultural subsidies, but measures which could support rural development and encourage environmentally sustainable agricultural production. The first part of this paper examines concepts closely related to AEMs, as well as the place of AEMs in regional, rural, and agricultural development policy. The second part shows how agri-environmental measures have gained ground in Hungary. The third part presents the results of an analysis of the Hungarian AEMs’ database. Finally, based on the literature and analysis findings, it is suggested that, for sustainable development, one needs to economically evaluate natural resources in agriculture.