In: Steffe, J. (Ed.) Proceedings of the Third European Conference of the European Federation for Information Technology in Agriculture, Food and the Environment, 18 - 20 June 2001. EFITA, Montpellier, France, pp. 125-130 A LEARNING TOOL FOR SUSTAINABILITY AT A MIXED ECOLOGICAL FARM J. WOLFERT, E.A. GOEWIE Societal Aspects of Biological Farming Group, Wageningen University, The Netherlands E-mail : sjaak.wolfert@users.info.wau.nl A.J.M. BEULENS, H. SCHOLTEN Information Technology Group, Wageningen University, The Netherlands E.A. LANTINGA, G.J.M. OOMEN Biological Farming Systems Group, Wageningen University, The Netherlands ABSTRACT This paper presents a management control (MC-)model that supports the process of translating the complex and dynamic concept of sustainability to the operational management of a mixed ecological farm. Sustainable farm development is defined as maintaining the ability to continue in an ever-changing economic, ecological and social environment. Mixed ecological farm management focuses on effective nutrient cycles and preventive management. The primary production process is modeled in a product flow model. A negotiation process of the farmer with his environment sets a hierarchy of sustainability goals. These goals are further deployed, resulting in a farm-specific electronic handbook containing procedures and instructions in order to achieve and assure sustainability-related goals. INTRODUCTION This paper describes a management control (MC) model that supports decision-making of the farmer from the perspective of sustainability. It is related to a research project on mixed ecological farming (see www.agro.wau.nl/apm/efs.htm). ‘Mixed’ refers to the integration of arable and animal farming; ‘ecological’ is equivalent to organic farming. First we define our working definitions of sustainability and of mixed ecological farming. Then we describe the MC-model architecture. Finally, we provide a concrete example of how this model should be used in practice. SUSTAINABILITY AND MIXED ECOLOGICAL FARMING Sustainable development is maintaining the ability to continue. Hence, a farm must be simultaneously economically viable, ecologically sound and accepted by society. As the environment, constituted by these three dimensions, is constantly changing, sustainable farm management is characterized by a continuous process of resetting goals and searching for appropriate means to reach these goals. The farmer himself must set his goals by a negotiation process with his environment (Röling, 1994). This will result in a diversity of local-specific sustainable farms and management styles.