Organic and conventional Washington State farmers' opinions on GM crops and marketing strategies

AbstractA 1999 United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) policy on organic certification excluded the use of genetically modified (GM) crops. The decision remains controversial because it provokes debate over the fundamental meaning of organic agriculture. Some scholars, farmers and activists claim that organic agriculture represents a value orientation that is opposed to trends in industrial agriculture, of which GM crops are the latest product. Because organic farmers are a significant constituency in this debate, we examined their values and practices related to marketing, environment and GM crops. From a survey of 1181 Washington State farmers, we created a sub-sample of 598 crop farmers (fruits, vegetables and grains), of which 109 described themselves as organic (certified organic, moving towards organic certification and non-certified organic), and we analyzed organic and conventional farmer responses to a number of issues to discern comparative commitment to self-seeking economic interests. Results reveal differences among conventional and organic farmers on GM crops and several marketing and environmental values and practices, suggesting that there is some validity to portraying organic agriculture as an alternative vision to industrial agriculture.

Download Full-text

Organic agriculture in Argentina's Pampas. A case study on Pampa Orgánica Norte farmers

Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems ◽

10.1017/s1742170521000338 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-9

Author(s):

Silvina M. Cabrini ◽

Luciana Elustondo

Keyword(s):

Management Practices ◽

Active Role ◽

Organic Production ◽

Organic Certification ◽

Technology Generation ◽

Natural Grasslands ◽

Organic Farmers ◽

Sheep Production ◽

Certified Organic

Abstract Faced with a society that demands the reduction of negative environmental impacts of agriculture while producing high-value, healthy food for local and export markets, Argentina is currently in a debate on the alternative paths toward sustainability in agricultural production. Argentina is ranked second in the world in terms of land under organic certification. Extensive sheep production in Patagonia natural grasslands accounts for most of this area and harvested organic area remains a very small fraction of total harvested land (0.6%). This paper aims to contribute to the discussion of opportunities and limitations in organic farming as an ecological intensification alternative for Argentina's Pampas. A case study was conducted on Pampa Orgánica Norte. This is a group of nine organic farmers that manages field crops and livestock-certified organic production. Farmers interviewed in this study considered different criteria including economic and environmental attributes when choosing to produce organically. However, the main drivers for conversion to organic production are related to environmental factors, in particular ecosystem protection. The main limitations in organic production are related to crop management practices, primarily weed control. To achieve the goal of increasing organic production a more active role of the public sector in technology generation and transfer was demanded by farmers.

Download Full-text

Manfaat Ekonomi Sertifikasi Organik pada Usaha Tani Mete di Desa Dukuh, Kecamatan Kubu, Kabupaten Karangasem

Jurnal Agribisnis dan Agrowisata (Journal of Agribusiness and Agritourism) ◽

10.24843/jaa.2018.v07.i02.p06 ◽

2018 ◽

pp. 232

Author(s):

BAGUS UTAMA EMTIEN ◽

I WAYAN BUDIASA ◽

PUTU UDAYANI WIJAYANTI

Keyword(s):

Internal Control ◽

Positive Impact ◽

Economic Benefits ◽

Selling Price ◽

International Institute ◽

Organic Certification ◽

Cashew Nut ◽

Organic Farmers ◽

Nut Production ◽

Certified Organic

The Economic Benefits of Organic Certification on Cashew Farming in the Dukuh Village, Kubu Sub-District of Karangasem Regency Demand for organic cashew nuts in the international market is very high. The existence of organic certificate gives positive impact for cashew farmers, especially in increasing the selling price. Subak Abian Buana Kusuma is one of subak abian in Karangasem regency which conducts certified organic farming from certification institution of International Institute for Marketecology (IMO) Switzerland. Organic cashew certification is done by international certification agency IMO (Institute for Marketecology) Switzerland with the support of PT. PMA (Profil Mitra Abadi) and Dinas Kehutanan dan Perkebunan Kabupaten Karangasem to Subak Abian Buana Kusuma which is technically certified by ICS (Internal Control System). Revenue per hectare of certified organic farmers is Rp. 28,111,004,74 and non-organic farmers is Rp. 12,560,166.20, with a percentage of 119% greater income per hectare of organic farmers while the income per kg of organic farmers is Rp. 21,238.16 and non-organic farmers is Rp. 11,721.14 / kg with a percentage of 81% larger per kilogram of organic farmers. Premium price received by farmers is Rp.9000,00 with the cost of certification per kg is Rp. 163.00. Organic premium received by farmers is Rp. 9,517,02 / kg. The RC ratio of Subak Abian Buana Kusuma and Pandan Sari were 4.69 and 2.87 respectively, and the Profit Rate was 369% and 187%, compared to 5% for 5% said to be very worthy to be cultivated. The value of t arithmetic> t table (2.34> 2.05), means that the income per hectare of organic cashew farms is greater than non-organic cashew nut production.

Download Full-text

Socio economic aspect of organic farming practices for improving farmer’s income in some locations of Kerala, India

Bangladesh Journal of Agricultural Research ◽

10.3329/bjar.v44i3.43474 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 44 (3) ◽

pp. 401-408

Author(s):

N Karunakaran ◽

MS Sadiq

Keyword(s):

Organic Farming ◽

Fair Trade ◽

Global Market ◽

Open Market ◽

Organic Certification ◽

Foreign Countries ◽

Organic Farmers ◽

Certified Organic ◽

Crop Income

Agriculture is the major source of livelihood and is under the big threat of liberalization and modernization. Organic farming is eco-friendly, promotes sustainable development, protects the fertility of the soil and ensures long term crop income to the farmer. In 2018, total area under organic certification process is 3.56 million hectare and produced around 1.70 million MT of certified organic products. In Kerala, the total area under organic farming stands at 15790.49 hectare. Organic farmers fail to capture the market for selling their products and have less capacity in the competing world, leads to worse financial situation of farmers. The total volume of export during 2017-18 was 4.58 lakh MT. Fair trade has flourished as an initiative for lifting poor organic farmers by providing higher price, credit and improved community life. It is also a market for high value products in the global trade policies. Fair Trade Alliance Kerala (FTAK) is a small farmers’ organisation to access global market on fair trade in an equitable trading terms and improved income. The system provides better price to products compared to open market and benefited fair trade exporting. This paper by studying FTAK focused the impacts of it on income and highlights the increased production of organic crops, better prices, premium and schemes to farmers. The study revealed that fair trade farmers earned higher price (20 to 50 percent) for commodities and marketing of products to foreign countries without intermediaries and organic farming is a better option for increasing farmer’s income in India. Bangladesh J. Agril. Res. 44(3): 401-408, September 2019

Download Full-text

Non-Certified Organic Agriculture: An Opportunity for Resource-Poor Farmers?

Outlook on Agriculture ◽

10.5367/000000005774378775 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 34 (3) ◽

pp. 135-140 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Daniel Cáceres

Keyword(s):

Organic Agriculture ◽

Social Actors ◽

Organic Movement ◽

Organic Products ◽

Resource Poor ◽

Organic Farmers ◽

Certified Organic

Drawing upon a case study from Argentina, this paper focuses on social actors who cannot be formally included within the organic movement: non-certified organic farmers. Even when they grow, consume and sell organic products, they are unable to become certified organic farmers, mainly for economic reasons. This paper analyses the main features of this group and the socioeconomic significance and impact of their farming strategy on the livelihoods of resource-poor farmers.

Download Full-text

Review on Status of Organic Farming

Nutrition and Food Processing ◽

10.31579/2637-8914/061 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 4 (6) ◽

pp. 01-04

Author(s):

Isreal Zewide

Keyword(s):

Organic Agriculture ◽

Crop Production ◽

Production Capacity ◽

Farming Systems ◽

Tropical Fruit ◽

Southwestern Ethiopia ◽

Organic Farmers ◽

Production Area ◽

Certified Organic ◽

Organic Resources

Organic agriculture started much more recently in thousands of years ago, Agriculture almost equal share of the farming systems of crop production and characterizes the key issues of Ethiopian economy. The quality of organic resources and their fertilizer equivalence are the main criteria to be judged for effective utilization of the organic resources for soil fertility improvement and promotion of agricultural products both in quantity and quality.Organic agriculture is production system that sustains the health of soils, ecosystems and people. The evaluation of organic matter in soils depends on type and nature of organic source. Organic agriculture in the extent to which African farmers certified yields (more than 50% higher than local yield averages). The export main products produced are cotton, sesame and coffee, followed by cocoa, dried fruits, frozen fruit/pulp, fresh mainly tropical fruit and spices. Ethiopia is famous as the origin of coffee and is the largest producer in Africa. Forest coffee has the advantage that it originates from an organic and shaded production area - a quality increasingly important for coffee drinkers worldwide coffee cultivation systems, superior quality and organic in nature. Certified-organic farmers will generally require a higher price to compensate for the costs of inspection, certification and the major source of foreign exchange and thus account more than half of the value of total export. Total number of 12 forest coffee cooperatives in remote areas of southwestern Ethiopia were certified according to Fairtrade, organic (EU standard) and Utz Certified standards. The common understanding of agricultural production in all types of organic agriculture is managing the production capacity of an agro-ecosystem. Pesticides and fertilizers are damaging human health and polluting the surrounding environment and thus violating the sustainability of ecosystem.

Download Full-text

The Politics of Organic Farming: Populists, Evangelicals, and the Agriculture of the Middle

Gastronomica The Journal of Food and Culture ◽

10.1525/gfc.2011.11.2.38 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 11 (2) ◽

pp. 38-47 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

laura sayre

Keyword(s):

Organic Agriculture ◽

Organic Food ◽

The United States ◽

The Political ◽

President Obama ◽

Wide Range ◽

Organic Farmers ◽

Certified Organic ◽

Political Spectrum ◽

The One

This article examines the political allegiances of the organic food and farming movement, asking whether the widespread media assumption that organic agriculture is a leftist cause is correct. Despite the enthusiasm with which organic food advocates welcomed the election of President Obama in 2008—and despite the fact that the geographical distribution of certified organic farms in the United States maps closely against states and counties voting Democratic in the 2008 Presidential elections—a wide range of historical and contemporary evidence suggests that political and social conservatives have long formed an important element within the organic movement's ranks. A distinction is drawn between the politics of organic consumers and the politics of organic farmers, although both groups are shown to include vocal supporters from both ends of the political spectrum. Ultimately, organic farming's political shape-shifting is linked to its mobilization of agrarian ideology, which can be seen as both a strength and a weakness for the movement. On the one hand, organic agriculture shows signs of capturing a political authority and authenticity long associated with America's heartland; on the other hand, a hard-line conservative approach to food and farm policy leaves major social and environmental issues associated with agriculture unaddressed.

Download Full-text

USDA Organic Certification: Who Should Be Certified?

EDIS ◽

10.32473/edis-hs210-2004 ◽

1969 ◽

Vol 2004 (4) ◽

Author(s):

James J. Ferguson

Keyword(s):

Cooperative Extension Service ◽

Agricultural Product ◽

Publication Date ◽

Organic System ◽

University Of Florida ◽

Organic Certification ◽

Organic Farmers ◽

Certified Organic ◽

National Organic Program ◽

Organic Standards

According to The National Organic Program (NOP) any “farm, wild crop harvesting, or handling operation (processors and manufacturers) that wants to sell an agricultural product as organically produced must adhere to the national organic standards.” This means that USDA certified organic farmers and handlers must have an organic system plan approved by an accredited certifying agent and use materials in accordance with the National List of Allowed Synthetic and Prohibited Nonsynthetic substances. This document is HS970, one of a series of the Horticultural Sciences Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Publication date: March 2004. https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/hs210

Download Full-text

The 1980s to the Present

10.1093/oso/9780199642533.003.0009 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Gregory A. Barton

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

United Nations ◽

Organic Farming ◽

The United States ◽

Global Market ◽

Health Food ◽

Organic Certification ◽

Organic Farmers ◽

The United Nations ◽

Mainstream Press

While a few positive stories on organic farming appeared in the 1970s most mainstream press coverage mocked or dismissed organic farmers and consumers. Nevertheless, the growing army of consumer shoppers at health food stores in the United States made the movement impossible to ignore. The Washington Post and other newspapers shifted from negative caricatures of organic farming to a supportive position, particularly after the USDA launched an organic certification scheme in the United States under the leadership of Robert Bergland. Certification schemes in Europe and other major markets followed, leading to initiatives by the United Nations for the harmonization of organic certification through multilateral agencies. As organic standards proliferated in the 1990s the United Nations stepped in to resolve the regulatory fragmentation creating a global market for organic goods.

Download Full-text

Benefits of Organic Agriculture under the Perspective of the Bioeconomy: A Systematic Review

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su13126852 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (12) ◽

pp. 6852

Author(s):

Camila Fritzen Cidón ◽

Paola Schmitt Figueiró ◽

Dusan Schreiber

Keyword(s):

Organic Agriculture ◽

Renewable Resources ◽

World Population ◽

Green Technologies ◽

Ecological Benefits ◽

Conventional Agriculture ◽

Organic Farmers ◽

Potential Benefits ◽

Development Objectives ◽

Global Growth

The opportunities for the global growth of the bioeconomy (BE) are generated by the need to expand the food supply for an increasing world population without compromising the environment even further. Organic agriculture (OA) claims to be more environmentally friendly than conventional agriculture and capable of addressing sustainable development objectives by using green technologies, resulting in economic, social, and ecological benefits. The aim of this paper is to investigate the relation between OA and BE through a systematic literature review. We addressed the benefits of OA under perspective of the main aspects of BE. As demonstrated by previous papers assessed on this review, OA can be a means to facilitate strategies for the use of renewable resources to mitigate the emergencies arising from global warming, as claimed by the BE concept. This article introduces a necessary discussion due the lack of previous studies reporting the capacity of OA to connect with the BE. As a final contribution, we present a conceptual framework characterizing potential benefits of OA under the perspective of BE, for organic farmers and researchers to advance in sustainability and green innovation.

Download Full-text