In the 1990s, the OECD began developing indicators of the environmental performance of agriculture amidst increased attention to the sustainability of the agriculture sector. The OECD agri-environmental indicators (AEI) provide internationally comparable data that offer a comprehensive, long-term perspective of the changes in resource use and environmental outcomes related to agriculture. The database covers key dimensions of agri-environmental sustainability, including land, water and other input uses, greenhouse gas (GHG) and ammonia emissions, nutrient balances and farmland bird biodiversity in OECD Member countries and non-Member countries.
The OECD AEIs provide a reliable and robust source of data to assess environmental performance and inform policy action. They help review trends, highlight areas of progress, and identify persistent challenges. They can also help policymakers identify where efforts may be needed to improve the environmental performance of their agriculture. By providing comprehensive and comparable data, the AEIs provide a benchmark for the environmental performance of agriculture across countries.
The data analysed in this report show that, while most OECD Member countries increased their agricultural production over the 1990‑2023 period, the environmental performance of the agriculture sector registered mixed results. The overall level of GHG emissions from agriculture in OECD Member countries has not decreased substantially from its 1990 level, though many countries have improved nutrient management and reduced GHG emission intensities. Biodiversity loss, as observed in selected countries through the Farmland Bird Index, is also a continuing concern, particularly in areas with high-intensity farming. By providing a data-driven overview of these trends, this report contributes to discussions on how to align agricultural policies with environmental sustainability objectives.