Organic Farming as an Alternative Maintenance Strategy in the Opinion of Farmers from Natura 2000 Areas

Abstract

Agricultural land accounts for approximately 40% of the total Natura 2000 (N2K) network area. Therefore, many habitats and species protected under the Habitats and Birds Directives are dependent on or linked to agricultural practices. This implies that sustaining agriculture of a high natural value is a priority in achieving the aim of halting the loss of biodiversity in the European Union (EU). However, extensive agriculture is unprofitable in many regions of the EU, which results in it being either abandoned or intensified in the absence of financial support. Hence, organic farming (OF), which is most often supported with public funds, can be an alternative to conventional agriculture in N2K areas. This article is an empirical study of the differences in perceiving the possibilities of farm functioning in a protected area (PA) by organic and conventional farm owners. It was examined whether this could be the actual path to improving farmers’ living conditions in the context of legal protection of naturally valuable areas. The study material comprises the results of a survey conducted at the turn of 2016 and 2017, which addressed a total of 292 farmers, including 152 organic farm operators and 140 conventional farm operators, whose areas under cultivation were located within the N2K “Dolina Biebrzy” (“Biebrza Valley”) PLH200008 area in Poland. For the analysis of the data collected using structured questionnaires, a variety of statistical methods and techniques were applied. The study results indicated that in terms of satisfaction with the economic performance of their farms, there is no major difference between the opinions expressed by organic and conventional farm owners. However, organic farming could be an alternative livelihood strategy from the environmental policy perspective.

The Risk of Agricultural Land Abandonment as a Socioeconomic Challenge for the Development of Agriculture in the European Union

“…These factors decrease agricultural rents and farm income, and they force farmers to search for other sources of income. Various payment schemes have been introduced to maintain agricultural operations in areas characterized by low farming productivity [67]. In the analyzed years, farmland sales and rental prices were very low in Czechia, Romania, Slovenia, Poland, Slovakia, Lithuania, Estonia, and Latvia.…”

A Review on the Relation between European Protected Areas, Farming Systems and Certification/Labelling Schemes of Agri-Food Products with a Protected Area Logo

“…The opinions of organic and conventional farm owners on the economic satisfaction of running a farm inside a PA has been studied in a Natura 2000 area in Poland by Pawlewicz et al [32]. Organic farming inside the PAs can be an alternative maintenance strategy to conventional farming as it can sustain the development of rural areas and mitigate the effects of restrictions imposed by the PA. An empirical study with a sample of 152 organic farm and 140 conventional farm operators indicated that there is no major difference between the opinions expressed by organic and conventional farm owners.…”

“…Social factors, like the harsh working conditions and low social status associated with agriculture can be a significant reason for the abandonment of farming activities especially in the mountainous PAs with natural constraints [30]. Additionally, the establishment of PAs imposes restrictions in land use activities which can influence farmers' income as they might limit their ability in profit maximisation [32]. While in some PAs the legal form of protection appears to be quite flexible [32], in other cases, environmental restrictions on agricultural production have resulted in the abandonment of previous farming systems like the traditional agro-pastoral systems [31].…”

“…Additionally, the establishment of PAs imposes restrictions in land use activities which can influence farmers' income as they might limit their ability in profit maximisation [32]. While in some PAs the legal form of protection appears to be quite flexible [32], in other cases, environmental restrictions on agricultural production have resulted in the abandonment of previous farming systems like the traditional agro-pastoral systems [31]. Subsidies for organic farming and participation in agri-environmental schemes (AES) can provide a good economic incentive for farmers [32] which can also be combined with other complementary activities like processing and direct marketing of their high-quality products or other agritourism activities [34].…”

“…While in some PAs the legal form of protection appears to be quite flexible [32], in other cases, environmental restrictions on agricultural production have resulted in the abandonment of previous farming systems like the traditional agro-pastoral systems [31]. Subsidies for organic farming and participation in agri-environmental schemes (AES) can provide a good economic incentive for farmers [32] which can also be combined with other complementary activities like processing and direct marketing of their high-quality products or other agritourism activities [34]. On the other hand, livestock intensification and cultivation of more specialised profitable crops in the most fertile and easily accessible areas is a common practice in recent years [30,33].…”