Policies for improving productivity and resource efficiency in the context of green growth

Innovation, together with market-based incentives and appropriate regulation and taxation, can accelerate the transition to greener growth and help decouple environmental degradation from economic growth. New technologies realised through R and D have the potential to reduce the load of known toxins in agricultural production, substitute safer alternatives, protect ground or surface waters, conserve natural habitats, reduce nutrient loads in soils, lower gaseous nitrogen loss and reduce the amount of nonrenewable energy used in the cropping cycle. This chapter discusses policies for improving productivity and resource efficiency in the context of promoting green growth, paying particular attention to R and D, technology and innovations.