What is this thing called organic? – How organic farming is codified in regulations

Seufert, Verena; Ramankutty, Navin; Mayerhofer, Tabea

doi:10.1016/j.foodpol.2016.12.009

Cited by 185 publications

(127 citation statements)

References 61 publications

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“…For example, while the organic movement has focused on a holistic farming system (including the cultivation of polycultures, enhancing soil quality, and fostering human, animal and societal health), organic certification as a label has largely focused on substituting inputs with "chemical-free" products [166,172]. A strict adherence to such a principle-based approach could impede the search for sustainable agricultural systems since the pathways to sustainability cannot be one-size-fits-all in a CAS.…”

Section: Production Scale Shift: From Prescriptive To Place-based Farmentioning

confidence: 99%

5 Key Challenges and Solutions for Governing Complex Adaptive (Food) Systems

et al. 2017

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Abstract:There is increasing recognition in academic circles of the importance of adaptive governance for the sustainability of social-ecological systems, but little examination of specific implications for the 34% of land-use where human activities are pervasive but potentially commensurate with functioning ecosystems: agricultural production systems. In this paper, we argue for the need to view food systems and agro-ecosystems as multi-scalar complex adaptive systems and identify five key challenging characteristics of such systems: multi-causality; cumulative impacts; regime shifts; teleconnections and mismatch of scales. These characteristics are necessary features of multi-scalar adaptive systems, and apply equally to social and natural subsystems. We discuss the implications of these characteristics for agricultural production systems and consider how governance can rise to these challenges. We present five case studies that highlight these issues: pollinator declines; payments for ecosystem services; pest control and pesticide resistance; downstream aquatic systems in Tasman Bay, New Zealand; and riparian buffers in Puget Sound, USA. From these case studies we derive recommendations for managing agricultural systems, both specific and general. Ultimately, adaptive governance of agro-ecosystems will likely hinge upon three paradigm shifts: viewing farmers and ranchers not only as food producers but also as land and water managers; seeking not yield maximization but rather resilient management of food ecosystems; and critically, as it transcends the production-system literature, engaging broad audiences not only as consumers but also citizens.

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Section: Production Scale Shift: From Prescriptive To Place-based Farmentioning

confidence: 99%

5 Key Challenges and Solutions for Governing Complex Adaptive (Food) Systems

et al. 2017

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“…The robust implementation of a well-articulated food policy can address the key issues that have been causing poor yields in the region [13]. The impacts of climate change, weak labor, weak technology and inadequate agricultural systems are among the key challenges that should be well addressed in the policy.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Yields of the Major Food Crops: Implications to Food Security and Policy in Tanzania’s Semi-Arid Agro-Ecological Zone

Mkonda

2017

Sustainability

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While Tanzania has been facing food shortage for some decades, little efforts have been made to elicit optimal crop yields. To limit this problem, there is a need for a robust agricultural policy that aims at stabilizing agricultural production and socio-economic entitlement among the farmers. The present study analyses the production trend of maize, sorghum and millet (i.e., staple food crops) under rain fed agriculture in Kongwa District, the semi-arid agro-ecological zone of Central Tanzania, and envisage their implications to food security and policy. We collected a set of crop data from the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries. In addition, 400 respondents were sampled randomly in the study area during household survey while a series of interviews and discussions were conducted mostly basing on the expertise. The Mann-Kendall Test and Microsoft excel (window 13) and theme content methods were employed for data analyses. The results showed that the production trends for maize, sorghum and millet yields have been decreasing at R 2 = 0.40, 0.35 and 0.11 respectively and this trend was supported by 80% of the respondents. This decrease was greatly influenced by the temporal decrease in the mean annual rainfall (R 2 = 0.21). The diminishing production trend has already decreased food security for 30% in the area. Since agricultural policy can be among the main sources of this poor yields, an explicit and sound agricultural policy should be the central aspect in planning and implementing agricultural activities.

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“…The process seems to intensify as the organic farming system grows [1,16,17]. Many examples show that organic farmers, especially the late adopters and the larger ones, simply substitute banned for allowed inputs rather than redesigning the system in accordance with organic farming principles [44,45]. This and other signs indicate that an organic food system based on certification of food production methods alone is not enough to escape the pressures towards conventionalization that endanger the potential of organic farming to be a more sustainable alternative to the prevailing food system in the EU [18,45].…”

Section: Development Of Organic Farming In the Eu Seen Through The Symentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, the organic farming system risks remaining in the undesired trajectory of Eroding Goals for two main reasons. First, several organic principles (foremost fairness and care) are still not reflected in this regulation (Table 1) and, for those that are reflected, their integration into implemented rules is very limited (e.g., social and environmental values) [45,61]. Second, organic producers can be granted several derogations from rules (e.g., use non-organic manure for crops or feed for livestock).…”

Section: Eroding Goals: Escaping From Conventionalization Of Organicmentioning

confidence: 99%

Development of Organic Farming in Europe at the Crossroads: Looking for the Way Forward through System Archetypes Lenses

et al. 2017

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Abstract:Over the last several decades, policymakers and stakeholders in the European Union (EU) have put considerable effort into increasing the adoption of organic farming, with the overall objective of its sustainable development. However, the growth of the organic sector has come with many challenges that jeopardize its sustainability. The question then is how to move organic farming in Europe forward and at the same time capitalize on its potential contribution to sustainability? Organic farming in the EU is a highly complex and dynamic food system and as such this question cannot be answered in isolation using a one-dimensional mind-set and tools of the past. In this paper, we use three system archetypes-Limits to Growth, Shifting the Burden and Eroding Goals-to sharpen our ability: (1) to analyze and anticipate difficulties in the development of organic farming in the EU under the current policy measures; and (2) to find effective ways to address these difficulties. A system archetype consists of a generic system structure that leads to unintended behavior over time and effective strategies for changing the structure into one that generates desirable behavior. The analysis reveals that in order to move forward, policymakers and stakeholders should reemphasize fundamental solutions rather than quick fixes that often generate unintended consequences. Specifically, Limits to Growth shows us that the leverage for moving organic farming out of the niche does not necessarily lie in increasing subsidies that push engines of growth, but rather in anticipating and managing its limits arising from, for instance, market dynamics or intrinsic environmental motivation. In turn, Shifting the Burden brings to attention how easily and unnoticeably the EU's organic farming system can become dependent on third countries thereby undermining its own sustainability. Finally, Eroding Goals highlights that is it important to continuously improve regulatory standards based on an external frame of reference, as otherwise organic farming in the EU will continue on its trajectory towards conventionalization.

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What is this thing called organic? – How organic farming is codified in regulations

Cited by 185 publications

References 61 publications

5 Key Challenges and Solutions for Governing Complex Adaptive (Food) Systems

5 Key Challenges and Solutions for Governing Complex Adaptive (Food) Systems

Yields of the Major Food Crops: Implications to Food Security and Policy in Tanzania’s Semi-Arid Agro-Ecological Zone

Development of Organic Farming in Europe at the Crossroads: Looking for the Way Forward through System Archetypes Lenses

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