Abstract
CONTEXT: Regardless 30 years of similar regulations and a common internal market, the diffusion of organic farming strongly differs amongst European member states. While the share of organic farmland in 2018 in Denmark and Austria was respectively 9.8% and 24.7%, in the Netherlands it was only 2.3%. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this paper was to analyze what factors may determine the very different diffusion of organic dairy farming in the Netherlands, compared to Denmark and Austria. METHODS: We applied the Technological Innovation System (TIS) framework to the case of organic dairy farming in the Netherlands, for which a literature review and interviews with key actors within the dairy value chain were carried out. To identify potential leverage points for upscaling also interviews with key actors from Denmark and Austria were held. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Various barriers in the fulfilment of the seven TIS functions of Dutch organic dairy farming could be identified. With regard to the system function market formation a diversification in certified dairy products are signaled as important factors for upscaling. The function entrepreneurial activities will benefit from an reinforcement of governmental subsidies, since farmers who convert to organic run financial risks. Regarding the function guidance of the search, more consistent and systemic governmental support is needed, since the conversion to organic encompass a regime shift rather that supporting newcomers entering the sector. SIGNIFICANCE: By studying the blocking mechanisms that hinder diffusion of organic dairy, the paper provides several leverage points that may also be applicable to the arrested diffusion of organic farming in other countries as well as the larger sustainability transition in European agriculture.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 103368 |
| Pages (from-to) | 1-14 |
| Number of pages | 14 |
| Journal | Agricultural Systems |
| Volume | 198 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Apr 2022 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:In many instances, forms of sustainable agriculture start as grassroot movements initiated by social interests (e.g., Schiller et al., 2020 ). Today, many types exist (e.g., Pretty et al., 2018 ) but are relatively immature to study a long-term sustainability transition (e.g., Darnhofer et al., 2015 ). Organic farming emerged in Europe in the early 20th century largely independently by private activities ( Offermann et al., 2009 ). From 1991 it has been ‘institutionalized’ by the establishment of a European wide organic regulation, the EC Regulation 2092/91 ( Michelsen, 2001 ; Offermann et al., 2009 ). This replaced most national policies which were established in the 1980s ( Seufert et al., 2017 ). The regulation of 1991 was repealed, and the current organic legislation falls under council regulation EC NO 834/2007 ( The Council of the European Union, 2007 ). For the period from 2014 to 2020 the CAP provided funding for organic farming through the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFDR). Each EU country implements their own Rural Development Programme (RDP) specifically tailored to their own challenges and capabilities ( Meredith et al., 2008 ). Currently, the European Commission has set out an ambitious action plan for the further development of organic production by member states towards 25% of organic agricultural area by 2030 ( European Commission, 2021 ).
Publisher Copyright:
© 2022
Funding
In many instances, forms of sustainable agriculture start as grassroot movements initiated by social interests (e.g., Schiller et al., 2020 ). Today, many types exist (e.g., Pretty et al., 2018 ) but are relatively immature to study a long-term sustainability transition (e.g., Darnhofer et al., 2015 ). Organic farming emerged in Europe in the early 20th century largely independently by private activities ( Offermann et al., 2009 ). From 1991 it has been ‘institutionalized’ by the establishment of a European wide organic regulation, the EC Regulation 2092/91 ( Michelsen, 2001 ; Offermann et al., 2009 ). This replaced most national policies which were established in the 1980s ( Seufert et al., 2017 ). The regulation of 1991 was repealed, and the current organic legislation falls under council regulation EC NO 834/2007 ( The Council of the European Union, 2007 ). For the period from 2014 to 2020 the CAP provided funding for organic farming through the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFDR). Each EU country implements their own Rural Development Programme (RDP) specifically tailored to their own challenges and capabilities ( Meredith et al., 2008 ). Currently, the European Commission has set out an ambitious action plan for the further development of organic production by member states towards 25% of organic agricultural area by 2030 ( European Commission, 2021 ).
Keywords
- Innovation
- Niche
- Organic farming
- Regime shift
- Sustainable agriculture