Opting into and out of organic farming
2010
Ferjani, A. | Reissig, L. | Mann, St., Forschungsanstalt Agroscope Reckenholz-Taenikon ART, Ettenhausen (Switzerland)
The current situation in terms of the production, processing and marketing of organically grown foods can basically be rated as very positive. The market for organic food is growing by double digits. Despite this, only a few farms are at present in the phase of conversion to organic farming. What's more, between 2005 and 2007 the number of organic farms actually fell by 4.2 per cent. In 2007, 11.2% of Swiss farms were farming according to the organic guidelines, with the percentage of organic farms in the arable farms group being very low (1.1%). With the support of Bio Suisse, the umbrella organisation for organic farmers in Switzerland, Agroscope Reckenholz-Tänikon Research Station conducted a project aimed at assessing both the hurdles to opting in and reasons for opting out of organic farming. The aims of the study were as follows: (1) to identify the reasons for opting into/ opting out of organic farming; (2) to identify the factors inhibiting the conversion of arable farms to organic methods; (3) and to determine the attitudes of current agricultural pupils to organic farming.[...] Based on the results of the survey, we identified five lines of action tailored to the needs of the optimisers (i.e. farms which are open to either type of farming method): guideline continuity, lobbying for agricultural-policy support, marketing aids, advisory service, and provision of internships.
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Este registro bibliográfico ha sido proporcionado por Agroscope Reckenholz-Tänikon Research Station