Support For Organic Farming Research Articles

Organic farming support policy as viewed by the farmers

The purpose of this paper is to present the policy for organic farming support in Poland as viewed by three groups of farmers: “committed”, “pragmatic”, and “committed pragmatic” ones. The authors determined the differences and similarities between the groups in how they view the support policy and found out whether they intend to continue or discontinue organic production in the future. The study relies on a qualitative survey administered to 154 organic farms. Most farmers were found to have a negative view of amendments to organic farming regulations. This can lead to a higher perception of risks involved in organic farming compared to conventional agriculture and may discourage them from continuing organic production in the future. When it comes to expectations about future policy, increased financial support is of key importance. This is especially true for two farmer groups: “committed” and “committed pragmatic” farmers. According to this study, the number of “pragmatic” farms is likely to change the most because every third member of that group intends to discontinue organic farming, and every third is hesitant about it.

Policy strategies for managing food safety risks associated with climate change and agriculture

Managing food safety risks associated with climate change and agriculture necessitates comprehensive policy strategies to safeguard public health, ensure food security, and sustain agricultural productivity. This review delves into the multifaceted challenges posed by climate change on food safety and explores policy approaches aimed at mitigating these risks. Climate change presents a myriad of challenges to food safety, including altered patterns of precipitation, temperature extremes, and increased occurrences of extreme weather events. These changes impact various stages of the food supply chain, from production to consumption, exacerbating existing food safety risks and introducing new ones. Addressing these challenges requires proactive policy strategies that integrate climate adaptation and food safety management. Policy strategies for managing food safety risks associated with climate change encompass a range of measures aimed at enhancing resilience, promoting sustainable agricultural practices, and strengthening food safety systems. One key approach involves the implementation of climate-smart agriculture (CSA) practices, which aim to improve agricultural productivity while minimizing environmental impacts and enhancing resilience to climate change. CSA practices such as crop diversification, soil conservation, and water management can help mitigate the impacts of climate change on food safety by reducing the risk of contamination and enhancing the quality of agricultural products. Furthermore, policies aimed at promoting sustainable food production systems can contribute to mitigating food safety risks associated with climate change. These policies may include incentives for farmers to adopt sustainable farming practices, support for organic farming, and regulations to reduce the use of chemical inputs in agriculture. By promoting environmentally friendly farming practices, such policies can help minimize the occurrence of foodborne pathogens and chemical contaminants in food products, thereby enhancing food safety. In addition to promoting sustainable agricultural practices, policy strategies for managing food safety risks associated with climate change also focus on strengthening food safety systems and enhancing surveillance and monitoring mechanisms. This includes investing in infrastructure and capacity building to improve food safety testing and inspection capabilities, as well as enhancing early warning systems for foodborne disease outbreaks. By strengthening food safety systems, policymakers can better detect and respond to emerging food safety risks exacerbated by climate change, thereby reducing the likelihood of foodborne illness and protecting public health. Furthermore, international collaboration and knowledge sharing are essential components of effective policy strategies for managing food safety risks associated with climate change. Given the global nature of both climate change and the food supply chain, coordinated action at the international level is crucial for addressing shared challenges and exchanging best practices. International organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) play a critical role in facilitating collaboration and providing technical assistance to countries in developing and implementing effective food safety policies in the context of climate change. Managing food safety risks associated with climate change and agriculture requires a multifaceted approach that integrates climate adaptation, sustainable agriculture, and robust food safety systems. By implementing proactive policy strategies that promote sustainable practices, strengthen food safety systems, and foster international collaboration, policymakers can mitigate the impacts of climate change on food safety and ensure the availability of safe and nutritious food for all.

Upscaling environmental incentives in the Common Agricultural Policy: an assessment of the potential of transfers from the first to second pillar

Agri-environment-climate measures and organic farming support have been the main contractual instruments promoting environment-friendly agricultural practices in the European Union since the 90s. They are insufficient in reaching significant environmental improvements, partly because underfunded. Using French panel data from the farm accountancy data network, we evaluate the impact of a budget transfer from income support to environmental incentives on contract uptake. We apply a generalised Tobit model to estimate the adoption probability and the acceptable farm-level payment triggering this adoption and simulate a transfer from direct payments to organic farming support and agri-environment-climate measures budget. Results suggest this mechanism increases adoption. Decreasing direct payments affects participation probabilities and acceptable farm-level payments, differently depending on the type of environmental contract, the type of direct payment and the farm technical orientation. We evaluate several transfer scenarios and provide ex-ante elements on how it could help reaching the Green Deal organic target.

Environmental Knowledge, Values, and Responsibilities Help to Enhance Organic Farming Intentions: A Case Study of Yunlin County, Taiwan

This study aimed to identify the key factors that may influence farmers’ support for organic farming, which is an eco-friendly approach that nourishes the productivity of agricultural and ecological systems. To explore farmers’ adoption of organic-agriculture-related behaviors and the factors that influence these behavioral intentions, this research developed a questionnaire based on Kaiser’s theory of ecological behavior. The participants were 152 farmers, who were recruited via stratified sampling from four major agricultural zones in the county. The results revealed that environmental knowledge, environmental value, and feelings of responsibility positively influenced farmers’ behavioral intentions toward organic agriculture. The positive influence of environmental knowledge on behavioral intentions was enhanced by farmers’ experience, age, and time spent in agriculture each week. However, the positive influences of environmental value and feelings of responsibility were not moderated by the three aforementioned variables. Appropriate promotional and educational measures should incorporate the real-life experiences of farmers to increase their environmental knowledge, environmental value, and feelings of responsibility toward organic agriculture, thereby effectively enhancing their willingness to adopt this type of agriculture.

Implementation of Eco‐schemes in Fifteen European Union Member States

SummaryEco‐schemes are set to play an important role in the European Union’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) post‐2022 for the delivery of environmental and climate benefits and enhanced animal welfare. This article surveys current plans for the design of eco‐schemes in fifteen European Union Member States. The number of eco‐scheme measures to be offered per country varies between 3 and 21, and the complexity and level of ambition of the individual measures are quite heterogeneous. The majority of the proposed eco‐scheme measures either build upon components from greening obligations or stem from agri‐environmental and climate schemes currently offered under Pillar 2. All fifteen Member States address Green Deal targets, with particular emphasis being given to biodiversity enhancement and non‐productive land. Eight of the countries surveyed are planning to provide support for organic farming through an eco‐scheme. The greater creative freedom offered by the CAP’s New Delivery Model has resulted in a situation where similar measures are programmed as eco‐schemes in some countries and as Pillar 2 measures in others. By adding yet another policy instrument to the CAP’s toolbox, the complexity of the CAP is vastly increased. It remains to be seen how farmers will respond.

Model of state support for organic farming of Kazakhstan in the context of creation of international regulatory framework for the industry

The paper evaluates the status and prospects for a wider market capacity of organic foods and items. The paper analyzes regulatory framework for organic market in Kazakhstan. The paper describes the conditions for the development of the organic market. The transformation of global food market structures has influenced the organic farming. Demand for organic products has been growing rapidly. Whereas the European Union has put in place at the time an effective system for regulating organic production, the EAEU, CIS, and SCO countries can see this production taking shape only now. It is argued that Kazakhstan is harnessing its agricultural potential only partially, including organic food production. The paper proves that the development of green farming entrepreneurship in Kazakhstan will enable agricultural organizations, aided by the measures of state support, to form a new niche in the market for organic products and expand the supply of organic products in the world market. New approaches are proposed for the first time in regard to formulating regulations, model laws, and recommendations of international unions.

Natural potential versus rationality of allocation of Common Agriculture Policy funds dedicated for supporting organic farming development – Assessment of spatial suitability: The case of Poland

Agriculture exerts a strong pressure on the environment and can both preserve biodiversity, diversify and improve landscape quality, and cause declines in farmland biodiversity. In response to growing environmental concerns, the European Union has introduced dedicated measures including the “Organic Farming” (OF) Measure, which is implemented in Poland under the Rural Development Programme. The Measure is the subject of the research presented in this article. In the context of the challenges faced, the uptake of subsidies depends on appropriate spatial targeting of organic farming support by making it better suited to the environmental conditions (potential) prevailing in a specific area. Therefore the aim of the study is to investigate the spatial match (i.e. consistency between the natural potential of a region and funding policy) between OF support and the prevailing natural conditions. Three indicators are used in the research: the indicator of environmental suitability of land for organic farming (IESAOF), the indicator of uptake of organic farming funds (IUOFF), and the indicator of spatial fit of organic farming support (ISFOFS). They pertain to both the spatial differentiation of the absorption of organic farming funds and to selected environmental indicators measuring the quality of individual natural components. The analysis relied, inter alia, on spatial autocorrelation methods: Moran’s I and LISAs. The study has been carried out using Poland as an example at different spatial scales: the regional (16 regions; NUTS2) and the local (2175 LAU level 2 units). The use of the synthetic ISFOFS index has allowed the spatial discrepancies between IESAOF and IUOFF and areas with spatial mismatch to be identified. The study has established areas with untapped potential and those where OF funds are underutilised given their environmental potential. The situation described is detrimental to the effectiveness of support, which is contrary to the CAP principles. The key findings are important in the context of monitoring and evaluating the EU’s agricultural policies, which should take more account of the characteristics of the individual countries, including their natural regional and local specificities.

Organic Farming Support Policy in a Sustainable Development Context: A Polish Case Study

This paper assesses the extent, scope and importance of financial support for Polish organic farming from 2004 to 2019. The analysis focuses particularly on how the changes in the amount and structure of organic farming payments affected farmers’ interest in specific organic crops during three financing periods: the 2004–2006 Rural Development Plan, the 2007–2013 Rural Development Programme (RDP) and the 2014–2020 Rural Development Programme. This paper aims to answer the question of whether and to what extent the organic farming support policy impacted the development trends followed by, and transformation processes affecting, this sector. It follows from this analysis that in the first decade after joining the European Union, Poland implemented a policy of making payments easily available. It was primarily focused on the quantitative growth of organic farming rather than on stimulating supply. As the payments were easily accessible and decoupled from production, subsidy-oriented farmers were additionally encouraged to seek political rent. This resulted in the instability of a large group of farms who discontinued their organic farming activity in 2014. That year, the policy was amended because of the need to improve the allocation efficiency of subsidies and to couple them with the provision not only of environmental public goods but also of private goods in the form of organic farming products. The current support policy opens up greater opportunities for leveraging the potential of organic farming while reaping environmental and socioeconomic benefits and contributing more than ever to sustainable development.

Loi d’appui à l’agriculture biologique au Costa Rica. D’une élaboration réussie à une mise en œuvre partielle

Cet article analyse l’émergence puis la mise en œuvre de la loi d’appui à l’agriculture biologique au Costa Rica à partir d’une revue des travaux antérieurs et des textes de loi ainsi que d’entretiens conduits au niveau national. Le processus d’élaboration de la loi est marqué par la capacité des mouvements sociaux de l’agroécologie, alliés à des agents du ministère de l’Agriculture, à influencer son contenu et à aboutir à sa promulgation en 2007. La mise en œuvre de la loi a été freinée par un système dominé par l’agriculture conventionnelle, par des divisions internes aux mouvements sociaux et des actions non coordonnées avec le ministère de l’Agriculture, liées à des visions divergentes de l’agriculture biologique et de l’agroécologie. La création récente d’un département dédié à l’agriculture biologique au sein du ministère de l’Agriculture laisse espérer un dépassement des blocages identifiés.

On the Way to Eco-Innovations in Agriculture: Concepts, Implementation and Effects at National and Local Level. The Case of Poland

The aim of the study was to provide the examples of eco-innovations in agriculture relating to the concept of sustainable development and the indication of their conditions. Quantitative and qualitative methods were applied to the research, namely: descriptive statistical and economic analysis of the Polish Farm Accountancy Data Network (FADN) data and Statistics Poland data, as well as case studies of organic food producers, covering the years 2005–2019. Indicated information sources, encompassing long time span of analysis and various data collections, allowed presenting the complementary picture of eco-innovations at the sector and farm levels. The research examined the different types of ecological innovations in Polish agriculture, including: (1) organisational innovations with an institutional background (e.g., the organic farming support and greening mechanism of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP)—implemented in the family farming sector); and (2) the product, marketing, process and organisational innovations in selected organic farms that were individual farmers’ initiatives. On the one hand, the research documented the effectiveness of new agricultural policy solutions in the agricultural sector that are examples of organisational eco-innovations. During 2005–2016, the certification system, as well as policy support, contributed to the development of organic farms in Poland in terms of the growth in the share of this type of holdings in total (from 0.5% to 4.6%) and in the overall utilised agricultural area (UAA) (from 0.3% to 3.7%). Moreover, during 2014–2015, as a result of the greening in agricultural holdings, the area sown with pulses and papilionaceous, i.e., crops improving soil structure and protecting soils, rose by 174% and 161%, respectively. On the other hand, the case studies conducted showed that the food producers’ knowledge and skills combined with a favourable local economic and social situation, as well as institutional support, played a key role in the process of the emergence of eco-innovations. Among those factors, the respondents’ individual characteristics associated with attitudes towards farming and the social, human and physical capital passed on by family members should be highlighted. This paper contributes to existing literature in two ways. First, this study combines both quantitative and qualitative (including in-depth interviews) approaches to eco-innovations at the micro and macro level of analysis. Second, by differentiating two approaches to ecological innovations, namely the conventional and the sustainable, the article indicates and considers the key factors favourable to the latter.

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF ORGANIC FARMING IN BULGARIA - STATE AND OPPORTUNITIES

Abstract: In recent years, Bulgarian organic agriculture is one of the sectors that is developing rapidly despite of the overall stagnation in Bulgarian agriculture and is continuously growing in farming areas as well as in number of farmers. This development is related to the suitable conditions for its adoption in our country - ecologically preserved areas; awareness and willingness of consumers to eat healthy; the realization of the benefits to the environment and rural areas; institutional support for organic farming and the good perception of organic products on international markets.Aim: Examine the condition and opportunities for development of sustainable organic farming in Bulgaria.Design / Research methods: The methods used to complete the tasks are systematic and comparative analysis, an estimated constructive method; method of statistical groupings, inductive and deductive methods of forming generalizations.Conclusions / findings: Organic farming combines the best environmental practices, biodiversity heightening, nature conservation and high production standards. At the same time, it provides public goods in terms of rural development and responds to specific consumer demand for clean and healthy products.Originality / value of the article: Organic production is an international, European and national priority. Organic farming plays an important part in the Common agricultural policy of EU for the 2014-2020 period, as well as for Bulgarian agricultural policy as a tool in regards to the sustainable management of natural resources, the preservation of food quality and safety and the humane farming means.

Organic farming support and its current situationin Hungarian Land Policy

Organic farming is evolving worldwide, both production and consumption growing steadily. Despite the outbreakof this cultivation trend, Hungarian farmers apply only a small extent of the potential opportunities, so theagricultural government wanted to increase the size of the agricultural land in organic farming in line with theEU objectives. The National Rural Strategy for the Development of Ecological Management sets the goal forHungary to increase the area of organic farming to 350,000 hectares by 2020. In order to achieve these goals, thestatus of organic farming should be studied in the Hungarian land policy system. The aim of the research is tocarry out a comprehensive analysis of the consequences in the land policy resulting from the support system oforganic farming. The study presents the most important rules affecting the sector and the aid for agriculture andrural development system. The current CAP runs from 2014 to 2020, so it is particularly interesting to see whatchanges can be expected in the post-2021 support system. The dissertation analyses the new regulation applicableafter 2021 on organic farming, the Regulation 2018/848 of the European Parliament and of the Council.

Study of factors affecting on the tendency to greenhouse organic cucumber producers in Yazd province

Increase in greenhouse production in Yazd province has resulted increase in consuming of fertilizer and pesticide use therfor, so it is necessary to reduce using of chemical materials in greenhouse production and increase of organic products. The aim of this study was to investigate the factors influencing process of transition to organic agriculture in greenhouse cucumber producers in Yazd province. This study was a descriptive-survey research. Data collection tools were questionnaires and face to face interviews with 144 producers of greenhouse cucumber in the province. Data analysis was done using descriptive analysis, T-test and logit econometric model. Among 144 greenhouse cucumber producers, 59 people have a positive trend to become organic farmers and 85 people showed no interest. Results showed that the low knowledge of producers in the field of organic farming, lack of sufficient support of organic farming by government, high-risk of organic farming, the lack of specific market and are the major obstacles on the way of the production of organic products. Logit model results showed that there is a significant positive relationship between the level of production experience, age, education, sanitary positive attitude towards environment and desire to have organic farming. There is a significant negative correlation between using of chemical fertilizers and pesticides and desire to have organic farming. Due to lack of knowledge in the field of technical, management and sales of organic products, government support and control of the production in this area is essential.

THE LATEST SOLUTIONS OF THE EUROPEAN UNION’S ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY AND THE CHANGES IN THE INSTRUMENTS OF COMMON AGRICULTURAL POLICY

The purpose of this article is to describe manifestations and consequences of the impact of the environmental policy of the European Union on selected tools of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). The author used descriptive analysis of the EU strategic documents related to both policies. The descriptive analysis also refers to the accompanying legislation and to factual material based on statistical data on the implementation of the CAP instruments shaped under the influence of environmental policy. Other data shows the changes in the impact of agriculture on environment. The main mechanism of the impact of environmental policy on the CAP is based on the principle of integration of environmental policies with sectoral policies. It was reinforced in subsequent EU environment action programmes. Thanks to the implementation of that principle, the environmental implications were reflected in the changes of CAP. Special attention has been paid to the latest solutions: seventh EU environmental action programme and climate and energy package. They have affected both the development of an environmental policy and its relations with the CAP. As a result, the EU modified the instruments of I and II pillar (direct payments, agri-environmental programmes, support for organic farming) in such a way as to have a more beneficial impact on the environment. This also applies to the standards directly applicable to farmers (cross-compliance). The regulations of water protection, climate change, biodiversity and soils in conjunction with the economic instruments of the CAP contributed to the limitation of agricultural negative impact on environment.

POLISH ORGANIC FARMING ON THE BACKGROUND OF THE EUROPEAN UNION IN LIGHT OF NEW REGULATIONS

The theme of the development of organic farming in the EU and in Poland was taken up in the study, pointing out that organic production is an element of the EU agricultural product quality schemes. In this sense, organic production pursues the same objectives under the Common Agricultural Policy which are an integral part of all the EU systems of quality agricultural production. Within the EU, the number of organic farms increased from 124.8 thousand in 2004 to 186.2 thousand in 2010 (49.2%), while the level of organic crops increased respectively from 5.9 million hectares to 9.2 million hectares (55.9%). In Poland in 2013, there were 19,900 certified organic farms adding 6.7 thousand ones which were to undertake organic production during the so-called transition (adaptation) period. The average area of an organic farm was twice larger than that of the average size in the country. These farms occupied 1.4% of the total area of agricultural land including farms which are in the stage of transition. This area accounted for 2.0% of arable land in the country. An important part of the functioning of such farms was their certification, which implied products with logos and mandatory labelling. Financial support for organic farming was carried out within the framework of agri-environmental programmes with participation of farmers in the food quality scheme of the RDP. Between 2014–2020, additional actions related to organic farming were undertaken.

HOW MIGRANTS FROM CITIES BECOME POTENTIAL INNOVATORS IN KOREAN RURAL COMMUNITIES

Since 2010 there were more migrants from urban center to rural area due to the increase of retirees population and willingness to seek alternative lifestyles to a neo-liberal society. By this migrants movement, rural policy makers expected and considered as a new source of labor to supplement the farming industry and to vitalize social activities in rural society, and to provide organizational ability to systemize rural projects in order to cope with a changing environment. However, it is not quite clear how these migrants may bring about changes in farming and in local communities. This paper will discuss the conditions and potentiality of these migrants in relation to farming projects. The paper argued that most migrants were well-educated, innovators for new farming practices, market oriented, tend to engage in health food production, and emphasize on eco-farming or environmentally friendly farming. As newcomers they have limitations in regards to farming technology, knowledge, physical power and land holdings. In regards to eco-friendly farming, they seem to be influenced more by NGOs and governmental support for organic farming. The migrants who do not farm mostly involved in village projects during the course of implementation. It was concluded that the migrants were very valuable assets to rural community and play a crucial role in putting together various interest groups in villages and establishing income-generating projects so that villagers can start being optimistic about their future.

Growing under the common agricultural policy: the institutional development of organic farming in Central and Eastern European countries from 2004 to 2012

This paper analyses the institutional development of organic food and farming from 2004 to 2012 in six European countries: Austria, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary and Romania. Based on document analysis and expert interviews with key informants on organic farming development in each country, similarities and differences in the development of the organic sector were analysed to evaluate if countries gaining accession to the EU at different times undergo similar organic sector development. Furthermore, the development of the organic sector was explored against the background of increasing involvement of the mainstream agricultural sector in organic farming development. To conclude, the uptake and support of organic farming by mainstream agriculture resulted in a change in the nature of the organic farming community. Rather than influencing the mainstream agricultural system, the organic farming community is increasingly reacting to changes in mainstream agricultural institutions. There has been a loss of influence by the organic farming community over the development of the organic sector. Organic farming is rather seen by the mainstream agricultural sector as a way to address current problems the regime is dealing with, rather than providing a role model for future farming development.

Can't Buy Me Green? A Review of Consumer Perceptions of and Behavior Toward the Price of Organic Food

Support for organic farming is a promising policy for improving sustainability in the food sector. Further consumer demand, however, is hindered by high prices. We review research from 2000 to 2014 on the role of perceived price, income, price knowledge, willingness to pay, and reactions to price changes on organic food. We find that price is the major perceived barrier to purchase. Income is only a partial explanatory factor and is superseded by psychographic variables. Willingness to pay a premium is around 30% (ranging from 0% to 105%) and depends on consumer segments and product category. Price knowledge is vague, and organic consumers' price sensitivity is relatively lower than that of occasional or nonorganic consumers. The results suggest that further market differentiation in terms of organic consumer segments and food categories is necessary. Furthermore, we discuss detailed implications for public policy and practice and present a future research agenda.

Plentiful Support for Organic Farming Practices as Drivers of Increased Soil Functionality

Plentiful Support for Organic Farming Practices as Drivers of Increased Soil Functionality

The role of multi-target policy instruments in agri-environmental policy mixes

The Tinbergen Rule has been used to criticise multi-target policy instruments for being inefficient. The aim of this paper is to clarify the role of multi-target policy instruments using the case of agri-environmental policy. Employing an analytical linear optimisation model, this paper demonstrates that there is no general contradiction between multi-target policy instruments and the Tinbergen Rule, if multi-target policy instruments are embedded in a policy-mix with a sufficient number of targeted instruments. We show that the relation between cost-effectiveness of the instruments, related to all policy targets, is the key determinant for an economically sound choice of policy instruments. If economies of scope with respect to achieving policy targets are realised, a higher cost-effectiveness of multi-target policy instruments can be achieved. Using the example of organic farming support policy, we discuss several reasons why economies of scope could be realised by multi-target agri-environmental policy instruments.