Organic agriculture: A fountain of alternative innovations for social, economic, and environmental challenges of conventional agriculture in a developing country context

Abstract

• How organic agriculture-based innovations overcome societal challenges in Kenya was assessed. • Adoption of product, process, marketing, organizational and institutional innovations was noted. • These innovations overcome social, economic, and ecological challenges. • However, policy innovation is still limited. • The limited policy innovation requires more government effort. The discontent with the agri-food system changes prompted a shift from the modernization paradigm to the sustainability paradigm and the emergence of alternative innovations. This study identified organic agriculture-based innovations and assessed how they overcome the social, economic, and ecological challenges of conventional agriculture in a developing country context. Using data collected from Kenya, the study identified a range of innovations. Financial innovations were adopted, a peer learning system emerged, some organic farms diversified into a new non-conventional agricultural activity of agro-tourism, and resource use was deepened by turning resources once considered as wastes, weeds, and foodstuffs into more valuable products for controlling pests and diseases and maintaining soil fertility. New interdependent marketing channels, namely: organic farmers’ markets and basket delivery schemes were introduced. Online and peer advertising techniques were adopted to promote organic products. A participatory guarantee system of organic certification was adopted and new product standards were created. These innovations are overcoming many challenges in the organic sub-sector, including limited information, market risk, limited access to financial services and dependence on external markets, and limited policy integration. However, policy innovation is still limited. This requires an urgent effort from the Government of Kenya.