organic agriculture Articles
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What makes organic agriculture move: protest, meaning or market? A polyocular approach to the dynamics and governance of organic agriculture
Many different actors have hopes and aspirations for the future of organic agriculture. They have different perspectives on organic agriculture with different understandings of what it is and what makes it move. Each perspective entails a certain understanding of organic agriculture featuring certain concepts and values and a particular logic or rationality. It is important to acknowledge this ...
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Sustainable rural tourism development based on agricultural resources: the eco-inn initiative in Taiwan
Rural tourism is often considered an economic alternative for rural areas facing decreasing profits and requiring a second or third economic footing. However, like other tourism activities, rural tourism results in a full range of environmental impacts. In particular, accommodation generates various environmental loadings and should be managed carefully. An eco-inn, the environmentally friendly ...
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Organic agriculture as a new player in sustainable regional development? Case studies of rural areas in Eastern Germany
The paper analyses the possible effects of organic agriculture on sustainable regional development in peripheral Eastern German regions, drawing on results from two recent research projects taking two different but complementary perspectives on the organic sector. One project, 'Regional wealth reconsidered', analysed a broad variety of economic, ecological, social and cultural activities in the ...
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Patterns of resource use on Danish organic farms: aspects of farm-based rural development
The diversity in the Danish organic farming sector in terms of patterns of human resource use is investigated. Based on the total time allocated to agricultural activities almost half the organic farms are full-time farms, one third part-time and the rest hobby farms. Spouses contribute little time to agricultural activities and 75% of them has full- or part-time jobs outside the farm. Half of ...
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Feeding the world from organics
Washington State University researchers have concluded that feeding a growing global population with sustainability goals in mind is possible. Their review of hundreds of published studies provides evidence that organic farming can produce sufficient yields, be profitable for farmers, protect and improve the environment and be safer for farm workers. The review study, “Organic Agriculture ...
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Looking for alternatives: the construction of the organic beef chain in Mugello, Tuscany
There is a growing consensus that organic farming is undergoing critical changes as it is integrated into food chains. A situation of 'deadly embrace' between organic and retail chains can be observed and explained by the appropriation of both the alternative values and the economic benefits associated with the organic food production by the 'dominant' actors within the conventional agro-food ...
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Policy instruments in support of organic farming in Austria
This paper explores the connection between agricultural policy measures and the development of organic farming in Austria from 1991 onwards. First, past policy measures are reviewed. Then, various new policy strategies for the further development of the organic sector in Austria are elaborated and their potential impact discussed. The analysis suggests that the current direct policy measures ...
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From principle to action: applying the precautionary principle to agricultural biotechnology
The precautionary principle advises that we take measures to avoid harm to the environment and public health even when there is scientific uncertainty regarding the nature and extent of harms that may result. The principle is rapidly evolving and gaining status in national and international law. We review four key elements included in all interpretations of the precautionary principle to date. We ...
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A decade of debate over non-trade concerns and agricultural trade liberalisation: convergences, remaining conflicts and a way forward
The debate over non-trade concerns (NTC) and trade liberalisation for the past decade is reviewed and convergences and remaining conflicts are identified. It is found that, while the legitimacy of multifunctionality is no longer controversial and there is a convergence of the views on the best policy instrument for addressing NTC, divergent positions regarding the treatment of NTC in market ...
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Goals and standards in Swedish organic farming: trading off between desirables
Organic farming is an explicitly value-based movement working towards a set of goals. The standards of organic farming serve the purpose of telling organic producers what they need to do, to be certified organic, but they are also as a means to steer them towards the goals of organic production. Both standards and goals are dynamic and subject to change. While goals can be broad and idealistic, ...
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Values of organic producers converting at different times: results of a focus group study in five European countries
This paper presents the results of a focus group study of the values of organic producers entering the sector at different times in Austria, Italy, the Netherlands, the UK and Switzerland. As well as expressing values widely associated with organic farming, such as food quality, health and environmental protection, they also mentioned professional challenge, fairness in the food chain, and ...
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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 ...
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Family as an autonomous institution for local agricultural resources governance: discourse on organic agriculture development in the mountains of Nepal
This paper focuses on the institutional dynamics of family–led organic farms in the mountains of Nepal. It is based on continuous observations and experiences of local farmers who have dedicated themselves to organic agriculture for a significant period of time. It is found that family–led organic farming can contribute significantly to the sustainable use of local agricultural resources. The ...
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Bi-On, a product suitable for use in organic agriculture
Bi-On, a product suitable for use in organic farming Ecological, organic or biological agriculture is a cultivation system based on the optimum use of natural resources without using synthetic chemicals or genetically modified organisms (GMOs), thus being able to produce organic foods, as well as preserving the fertility of the soil and respecting the environment. All this in a sustainable, ...
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How embedded are organic fresh fruit and vegetables at Irish farmers' markets and what does the answer say about the organic movement? An exploration, using three models
This article is about the responses the organic movement makes to various pressures on the alterity of farmers' markets (FMs) in Ireland. These pressures are the increasing distance food travels to the FM, availablity of processed foods, disconnected vendors and produce, appropriation, market forces and evaluations and finally policy pressures. However, the research presented here suggests that ...
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Factors influencing the conversion to organic farming in Norway
Determinants of the decision to convert to organic farming methods are examined by applying bivariate analyses and a multinomial logit model to a survey of 1018 Norwegian crop and dairy farmers. The results show that 4% of the conventional respondents plan to convert by 2009, which may imply that the national goal of 10% organically managed area will not be achieved. The analysis indicates that ...
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Chetna Organic Agriculture Producer Company – India - Case Study
Chetna Organic Agriculture Producer Company was established with the primary aim of enhancing the livelihood of tribal smallholder farmers dependent on rain-fed agriculture through making their farming systems more profitable and sustainable. Chetna promotes organic cotton farming and alongside undertakes participative research on the best package of practice depending on the agro-climatic ...
By SourceTrace
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Enhancing undergraduate agro-ecological laboratory employment through experiential learning
We piloted an educational model, the Sustainable Agriculture Scholars Program, linking research in organic agriculture to experiential learning activities for summer undergraduate employees in 2007 and 2008. Our objectives were to: (1) further student understanding of sustainable agriculture research, (2) increase student interest in sustainable agriculture careers, and (3) use community service ...
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How to develop organic agriculture through fertilizer manufacturing equipment
?Fertilizer manufacturing equipment processes organic wastes from agricultural production into organic fertilizers, and re-invests them in agriculture to realize the recycling of agricultural system. Organic agriculture is the combination of cultivation and aquaculture, as far as possible in agricultural production using waste processed into organic fertilizer, reduce production costs. Organic ...
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Is organic farming climate friendly?
Think organic farming is climate friendly? You might want to think again. A study published recently in the journal Agriculture and Human Values suggests that as organic agriculture emulates conventional industrial agriculture, the environmental benefits may not be the slam-dunk that Earth-loving proponents might like them to be. It’s well known that organic practices offer climate ...
By Ensia
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