Organic Food Sector Research Articles

Generating Policy Capacity in Emerging Green Industries: The Development of Organic Farming in Denmark and Australia

In many cases, when governments commit themselves to green policy targets, they also imply the development of ‘green’ industries to reach those targets. But, how do governments foster the development of such industries? This is particularly relevant because such industries are often in a very early stage of their evolution. Taking the case of organic farming, we argue that the state's ability to foster ‘policy capacity’ is critical to the emerging development trajectories of such industries. Focussing on the state's ability to generate policy capacity in the Danish and Australian organic food sector, this article suggests that policy capacity develops as a result of high levels of state and associative capacity and the ability to create conditions favourable for corporatist deliberation. The comparative study undertaken demonstrates that these conditions are met in the Danish case, resulting in a high level of policy capacity. By contrast, Australia suffers from a low level of policy capacity as a result of low state and associative capacity and lack of corporatist deliberation.

Relational capabilities for value co‐creation and innovation in SMEs

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the relational capabilities developed by small and medium‐sized suppliers in relationships with larger customers and to explore the influences of these relational capabilities on value co‐creation and innovation.Design/methodology/approachThe paper presents a framework to evaluate the types of relational capabilities developed by small and medium‐sized suppliers that enable them to manage in relationships with larger customers in the context of changing relationship requirements in the organic food sector. The methodology employed involves in‐depth case studies of small and medium‐sized UK organic food suppliers working in relationships with large retail supermarket customers.FindingsThe findings suggest that the identified set of relational capabilities may be employed by small and medium‐sized suppliers to enable them to inform and support innovation and the implementation of initiatives to create value in the eyes of their current and potential customers and concomitantly enhance their position as preferred suppliers.Research limitations/implicationsThe findings were based on a small number of case studies of small UK organic food suppliers. Therefore, there is scope for future studies to explore the issues addressed in the paper in wider relationship, network and country settings.Originality/valueThe research is among the first to offer a conceptual framework and an empirical contribution linking relational capabilities, value co‐creation and innovation in small and medium‐sized suppliers.

Growth and Development in the U.S. Retail Organic Food Sector

This study uses retail purchase data reported by the Nielsen Homescan panel to examine the development of selected U.S. organic food sectors since the implementation of the National Organic Standards. Results show that organic market shares within the fresh fruit and vegetable sectors grew slightly in 2003–2006. Apples, bananas, carrots, and tomatoes prove to have the highest share of organic sales within their sectors. The share of organic milk sales attributed to private labels has increased from 12 to 32 percent in 2004–2007. The organic market share within the strained baby food sector almost doubled from 8 to 15 percent in 2004–2007. Findings show a demographically diverse group of consumers willing to expend their food dollars on organic foods.

Quality Related Communication Approaches for Organic Food

As food quality becomes more complex, consumers tend to reduce their involvement in the food purchase and price becomes relevant, given the lack of information available on food products. The organic food sector provides high, complex food quality profiles and has therefore been seriously affected by this development. Some food SMEs are starting to emphasize certain quality factors, ie., sustainability in food production and processing, to communicate products added value. This article provides an overview of the main media of communication on food quality. It also presents the results from an information display matrix, used to analyze the consumer's information and quality assessment behaviour for apple purchase in Switzerland.

Policies Supporting Organic Food and Farming in the EU: Assessment and Development by Stakeholders in 11 European Countries

There is no single ‘best way’ of policy development. Bottom-up approaches to policy design and a broad debate among stakeholders facilitate policy learning and innovation. A novel approach of a bottom-up policy design process involving stakeholders is introduced. The first results obtained by implementing this methodology are presented. The outcomes of a large international effort for a development of policies for organic food and farming, which took place in Maj 2004 in Europe, are analyzed: the synthesized results from 11 European countries (AT, CH, CZ, DE, DK, EE, GB, HU, IT, PL, SI) on the current situation of policies related to the organic food market in Europe are highlighted and policy recommendations for the development of the organic food and farming sector are formulated. Specifically, strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of policies related to the organic food market are identified and policy instruments used to address these aspects are developed.

Sharpening up research on organics: why we need to integrate sectoral policy research into mainstream policy analysis

As a fast growing state sponsored industry, the organic food sector is likely to attract the increased attention of policy analysts who are interested in industry development. We critically review the European comparative research on growth in the organic sector, focusing on policy analysis. A common element in these accounts is that findings are by no means clear on why variation in organic growth between countries exists. The literature provides a range of possible variables explaining divergent patterns of organic sector development but solid conclusions are elusive. We suggest that future policy orientated research on organic sector apply existing theories on public policy and carefully design studies in accordance with the prescriptions of the comparative research method. This would enable policy researchers to reach more robust conclusions on policy relevant factors influencing growth of the organic sector than are currently found in the literature.

Potential alternative disinfection methods for organic fresh-cut industry for minimizing water consumption and environmental impact

Disinfection is one of the most important processing steps affecting the quality and safety and the shelf-life of the end product in fresh-cut processing. Chlorine is the most widely used disinfectant in fresh-cut industry. However, recent outbreaks associated with pathogen contamination in fresh-cut vegetables raised the concerns about the efficacy of chlorine treatment in assuring the safety of the products. Moreover, due to the environmental and health risks posed by the use of chlorine, there is a trend in eliminating chlorine from the disinfection process. Thus, there is a need for alternative sanitizers to be used for the disinfection of fresh-cut vegetables, not only for the organic food sector but also for the conventional food processors. Another challenge for the food industry is the minimization of water consumption and wastewater discharge rates. The United Nations Environment Programme stated that Europe is one of the two global regions where more water is used for industry than for agriculture. Among the different industries, the food industry ranks third in water consumption and wastewater discharge rates coming after the chemical and refinery industries. The adoption of less water consuming systems is required for improved water management in the industry. Therefore the food industry is now seeking alternatives to chlorine which assure the safety of the products, maintain the quality and shelf-life, while also reducing the water consumption rates in processing. Chlorine dioxide, ozone, organic acids, peroxyacetic acid, electrolyzed oxidizing water and hydrogen peroxide are the main alternative sanitizing agents that gained interest in recent years. The effects of these disinfecting agents on the microbiological, nutritional and sensory quality of fresh-cut produce, and also the possible environmental impact and the potential on minimizing water consumption rates in the food industry are reviewed in this manuscript.

Steak up to the horns!

Recent conversations concerning organic food systems have focused on the conventionalization hypothesis, which posits that the organic food sector has become increasingly bifurcated between “historical” players in the organic movement on one side, and on the other by distributors and industrial operators recently arrived in the sector, who practice a more conventionalized form of organic agriculture which is now on the ascendancy. The most prominent explanations for the growth and dominance of a conventionalized organic food system have been economic, based in the logics of input costs, especially land rent. We use the cases of the Belgian Blue commodity system and the Belgian organic beef commodity system to argue that conventionalization is also cognitive. To understand the role of cognition in the ascendance of the conventional organic food sector, we utilize concept of “référentiel”—or system of cognitive references—as developed by Muller and Jobert. We believe that comparing organic and conventional practices as two systems of cognitive references makes a deeper understanding of conventionalization possible in two ways: first because it makes it clear that the two systems coexist on a cognitive level, understood in a broad sense as tightly knit sets of knowledges, beliefs, standards, and images. Secondly, the concept of référentiel enables one to understand how the conventional system can become irreversible (lock-in effect) and thus incompatible with the development of the organic system.

Decision making process of community organic food consumers: an exploratory study

PurposeSubstantial changes in the organic food sector and recent studies on the Canadian organic food market are showing promising trends. However, community organic food markets are different from organic food mainstream markets. In a domain growing in theoretical and practical importance, the main objective of this paper is to develop an understanding and analysis of “community organic food market”.Design/methodology/approachFocus groups were conducted and data collected were analyzed using content analysis.FindingsFive main themes emerged and brought contributions in terms of: organic food definition and recognition, organic food consumers' motivations, trust with regard to organic food, labeling and certification process, organic food distribution channels, and the proposition of a conceptual model of decision making with regard to organic food consumers in small communities.Research limitations/implicationsData collection was conducted in only one small community location and should be extended to other small communities as well as urban city centers.Practical implicationsThis study provides some insights to managers in terms of the market mix and target marketing of organic food niche markets.Originality/valueThe paper explores the difference between an organic food mainstream market and an organic food niche/community market using a consumer behaviour perspective.

The organic food market in Portugal: contested meanings, competing conventions

The European Union regulatory framework on organic farming gave a new impulse to the institutionalisation of the Portuguese organic farming movement. This paper offers an analytical account based on interviews with key market and institutional actors within the organic food sector in Portugal. The qualitative analysis undertaken is underpinned by the premises of convention theory and aims at showing that this particular market is becoming polarised. This polarisation is featured by the official/pro-certification claims (where industrial and opinion conventions hold sway) and the unofficial/beyond certification claims (underpinned by green, inspirational and domestic conventions). A trend towards the 'conventionalisation' of the organic market is gradually emerging, whilst a tendency for 'movement resistance' still persists. This paper reflects upon the polarisation and polarised claims that are enmeshed in a market of disputes of contested meanings and competing conventions around organic food.

Stories around food, politics and change in Poland and the Czech Republic

This study of the politics of food production/consumption in Poland and the Czech Republic brings together food and post‐socialist studies. The food stories explored in the paper, relating to packaging, restaurant dining, self‐provisioning and the emergence of an organic food sector, open up the politics of everyday life in these significant cases. We show that there are diverse responses to ‘transition’ that are resistant or alternative to dominant narratives of linear progression towards Western ‘normality’. This finding is of wider significance at a time when debates about globalization and sustainability are promoting searches for alternative economic forms and practices.

‘Good Farmers’ as Reflexive Producers: an Examination of Family Organic Farmers in the US Midwest

AbstractIn the wake of an explosion in the organic food sector, it is vital to differentiate, not only between conventional and organic producers, but between types of organic producers. By exploring a network of family organic farmers in the US Midwest through participant observation and interviews we can better understand the inherent overlap between the categorisations of producer and consumer through the lenses of identity and the reflexive producer. By studying a small network of organic food producers, I illustrate the emergence of a small, but important category of reflexive producers that shed light on the alternative ideology and actions of family organic farmers concerned with protecting the environment and the health of their customers and people in general. Furthermore, reflexive farmers illustrate the moral care associated with good farming.

Development of a balanced scorecard

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to propose an integrated qualitative and quantitative approach to the development of a balanced scorecard (BSC) for a real life case company KVIC (Khadi and Village Industries Commission, organic food sector, India).Design/methodology/approach – In this paper the semi‐structured interviews with director, managers, professional consultant, review of published reports and observations made during research work are considered as basis.Findings – This paper illustrates how the use of a mix approach of cause and effect diagram, Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM) and Analytic Network Process (ANP) can address some of the shortcomings related to the development of BSC in the light of a real life case company KVIC (Khadi Village and Industry Commission, organic food sector India). The paper delivers a complete framework of BSC for the case company.Research limitations/implications – The paper outlines the limitations of proposed approach in regard to validity of present ...

The 'Conventionalisation' Thesis Reconsidered: Structural and Ideological Transformation of Australian Organic Agriculture

In contrast with the uncritical optimism of popular narratives on organic food and agriculture, social scientists have debated at length the potential for the organic food sector to ‘conventionalise’; that is, to transform from an oppositional social movement promoting fundamentally different agroecologies and social relationships into a highly regulated and capital intensive food industry differing little from its conventional counterparts. Often, this is argued to result in a ‘bifurcation’ between industrial organic producers and a residual of small, artisanal social movement activists. Data from surveys of 397 certified organic and 434 conventional farmers in Australia call into question, however, the tendency of the bifurcation model to dichotomise small and large producers in this manner. Despite considerable polarisation in the economic scale of organic producers, there was no evidence that larger organic producers held significantly different values and beliefs to smaller organic growers. Nor were larger organic growers poised to capture greater market share through faster rates of expansion, or any less likely to support local consumption through sales direct to consumers.

Organizational Resource Bundles and Institutional Change in the U.S. Organic Food and Agricultural Certification Sector

This analysis explores the competitive implications of new institutional standards within the organic certification industry based on a theoretical perspective that integrates institutional and resource-based theories. The authors provide a historical account of the development of certification standards and discussions of three certification agencies: Quality Assurance International (QAI), Oregon Tilth, Inc. (OTCO) and the Food Alliance (FA). They find that QAI incorporated the standards into its overall resource bundle. Conversely, the imposition of national standards seemed to diminish OTCO’s position by institutionalizing standards previously considered unique. Finally, FA focused on exceeding the expectations of the newly promulgated national standards. Thus, the development of national standards may serve as source of competitive advantage or constraint depending on the organization’s preexisting resource bundles. In addition, the evolution of national standards may permit the emergence of a latent niche focused on exceeding the expectations of the new standards.

Selection of Third-Party Logistics (3PL): A Hybrid Approach Using Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM) and Analytic Network Process (ANP)

The use of third-party logistics (3PL) providers is becoming prevalent. The relationships associated with 3PL are typically more complex than any traditional logistics supplier relationships and they are truly strategic alliances. These relationships have become a popular way to enhance an organization’s flexibility in meeting rapidly changing market conditions, focus on core competencies, and develop long-term growth strategies. This study offers an understanding of the criticality of various 3PL selection issues and provides a list of 26 selection criteria. Using the real- life case of KVIC (Khadi and Village Industry Commission, India) organic food sector, it proposes a hybrid approach of interpretive structural model (ISM) and analytic network process (ANP) for a proper selection of 3PL service providers. This paper discusses the implications of the results in a real-life context. Further, managerial insights developed through the use of ISM- and ANP-based complementary approaches uncover the scope for improvements in the quality of supply chain practices. This paper summarizes the developed understanding of supply chain practices and identifies a few inherent limitations of the used approach.

RESEARCH DIRECTIONS FOR ORGANIC TREE FRUIT PRODUCTION IN NORTH AND SOUTH AMERICA

RESEARCH DIRECTIONS FOR ORGANIC TREE FRUIT PRODUCTION IN NORTH AND SOUTH AMERICA

Managing Relationships in the UK Organic Food Sector

The paper explores the management of business-tobusiness relationships in the rapidly growing UK organic food industry. Interviewees perceived that supermarkets were attempting to use market power to dominate the industry, despite their partnership rhetoric. This was potentially at the expense of smaller companies that had pioneered the development of the organic food sector. A severe supply shortage of organic products had boosted the relative bargaining position of the pioneer companies. As this advantage declines, the pioneer companies face a limited window of opportunity to build relationships with the supermarkets. The paper concludes by considering implications for relationships within the industry, and for relationship management in general.

Homoeopathic Remedies in the Treatment of Mastitis

There is an increasing demand for organic produce worldwide. In the United Kingdom, the organic food sector shows a growth in retail sale values of approximately 40% per year. Currently, there are about 150 organic dairy farms, with organic milk production predicted to reach 150 million litres in 2003.2 Mastitis affects organically managed cattle to the same degree as conventionally farmed cows, and has been identified as a major concern in organic dairy herds.1 Use of antibiotics for the treatment of sick animals is allowed under organic regulations, but milk and meat withholding periods are extended. In addition, the routine or continued use of antibiotics is prohibited.
 Homoeopathy was found to be the main alternative to antibiotics for mastitis treatment in the Hovi and Roderick1 study. However, existing data on the efficacy of alternative therapies is deficient. The current study at Cambridge University aims to establish the efficacy of a commonly used homoeopathic remedy for the treatment of clinical mastitis by comparing it with intramammary antibiotic therapy.

Organic Farming: Ex Post Strategy or Ex Ante Business Analysis?

Recent strategy debates have emphasised the importance of skilled management to build core competencies within the firm and thus nurture competitive advantage. For some, the competency of management is so crucial that market maturity is simply just a state of mind. This paper critically reviews this claim through an investigation of the structure and dynamics of the organic food sector. This paper argues that “resource-based” arguments are less strategy discourses and more histories of successful or failed companies. As such they are difficult to apply to ex ante situations such as agriculture, where the market is mature yet there are no obvious solutions. The organic sector offers one way out for farmers, but it too is constrained or governed by its sectoral environment and operating ratios. In conclusion this paper argues that market maturity is therefore not a stale of mind because sectoral pressures create real economic and financial problems which individual managers alone cannot solve.