Extending Organic Farming in Germany – Precondition, Strategies, Implications, Policy Options
Introduction
Since several years a number of different actors have called for an extension of organic farming in Germany. In 1998 the extension of organic farming was adopted as a policy objective by the Federal Government, which in February 2001 set the concrete goal of 20 % organic farming in the year 2010.
Against this background the question arose, how organic farming could be extended and which strategies and political measures might be carried out by the Ministry of Consumer Protection, Food and Agriculture itself. To work out possible answers was the main aim of this study.
Aims of Project
The interdisciplinary project team followed a multi-method approach, which set the focus on the different actors relevant to the enlargement of the organic sector. Through a literature analysis, a discourse analysis and group discussions with consumers and farmers as well as interviews with actors of the value creation chain the following central questions had to be
answered:
- Which aspects impede the extension of the organic sector?
- Which measures are discussed to promote the extension of organic farming and who arethe responsible actors for eventually carrying them out?
- How are organic farming and organic products perceived by the different target groups (e. g. consumers, farmers)?
- Are organic farming and organic products considered as a contribution to the most urgent problems and wishes of the target groups?
Results
The discourse analysis shows that the role of organic farming and its contribution to a sustainable agriculture in Germany are disputed among the social actors. Organic farming is the preferred model for a few of them only. Within the scientific debate the ecological achievements of organic farming are widely agreed upon. Nevertheless, the specific sustainability of the system as a whole in comparison to other farming systems is disputed among scientists.
The literature and the empirical analysis led to the conclusion that barriers for the enlargement of the organic sector can be found at all steps of the value creation chain and also on the demand side. The identified problems are in part typical for niche markets, but there are specific problems of the organic sector as well. In sum, they prevent that more farmers, processors and retailers consider “organic” as an option to solve their own most urgent problems. Especially from the farmers` point of view organic farming would increase their enterpreneurial risks of all kinds.
Conclusions
Based on the results of the different analyses and the already existing policies nine strategies for the extension of organic farming were formulated and checked by a number of criteria. As a central result turned out that you can not achieve a significant contribution to the extension of organic farming in Germany with only one strategy. Therefore a strategic concept needs to address several issues simultaneously and must include a mix of supply and demand orientated strategies. It is recommended to closer determine the mix of strategies and measures through a participatory process that should lead to a medium-term concept (action plan) for
the whole organic sector. The concept should also include elements of evaluation to facilitate policy-learning. Within the participatory process the discussion about the extension of organic farming should be shifted “from how much to how”. In addition more differentiated aims concerning the structure of the sector or special product markets should be set.
Funder
Ministry of Consumer Protection, Food and Agriculture.
Project Value
€380.000
Duration
December 2000 – September 2004
Additional Information
final publication: Kuhnert/Feindt/Beusmann 2005.