Introduction: Conventionalization, Bifurcation, and Social Relationships on the Small Organic Farm

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Connor J. Fitzmaurice ◽  
Brian J. Gareau
Keyword(s):  
New England ◽  
Organic Agriculture ◽  
Small Farmers ◽  
Farming Practices ◽  
Market Conditions ◽  
Farmers Market ◽  
Organic Farm ◽  
Relational Work ◽  
The Everyday ◽  
Organic Farmers

This chapter transports the reader into the aisles of a New England Whole Foods Market, through the stalls of a regional farmers’ market, and into the fields of Scenic View Farm to introduce the challenges faced when trying to understand small farmers’ practices in light of the contemporary agricultural economy. It then outlines dominant theories in the study of organic agriculture, such as conventionalization and bifurcation, which often focus centrally on the market conditions and regulatory environment of the organic sector at the expense of the everyday practices of organic farmers. The chapter then introduces theoretical constructs of good matches and relational work from economic sociology as a means of understanding how small farmers balance market conditions with a host of other concerns in their routine farming practices and economic decisions. Finally, the chapter outlines the organization of the book, which moves from the broader history and context of organic agriculture to the everyday experiences of the farmers at Scenic View, before looking to the future of sustainable farming practices.

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

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.

Risk and risk management in organic agriculture: Views of organic farmers

2004 ◽  
Vol 19 (04) ◽  
pp. 218-227 ◽  
Author(s):  
James Hanson ◽  
Robert Dismukes ◽  
William Chambers ◽  
Catherine Greene ◽  
Amy Kremen
Keyword(s):  
Risk Management ◽  
Organic Agriculture ◽  
Organic Farmers

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

2007 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 118-124 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leland L. Glenna ◽  
Raymond A. Jussaume
Keyword(s):  
Organic Agriculture ◽  
Washington State ◽  
Gm Crops ◽  
Industrial Agriculture ◽  
United States Department ◽  
Marketing Environment ◽  
Organic Certification ◽  
Alternative Vision ◽  
Organic Farmers ◽  
Certified Organic

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.

Transition management for organic agriculture under citrus cultivation favors fungal diversity in soil

2018 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 120-127
Author(s):  
Juliana Cristina Scotton ◽  
Sérgio Kenji Homma ◽  
Wesley Luiz Fialho Costa ◽  
Diego Fontebasso Pelizari Pinto ◽  
José Silvio Govone ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Agriculture ◽  
Management System ◽  
Fungal Diversity ◽  
Diversity Index ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Diversity Indices ◽  
Transition Management ◽  
Farming Practices ◽  
Soil Fungal Community ◽  
Innovative Solution

AbstractThe present international scenario recognizes organic agriculture as an innovative solution to reduce agrochemicals and practices that degrade the agroecosystem. Yet, the shift from an already well-established agricultural model to a relatively new one is a challenging task and requires further scientific support. This work investigated the influence of transitional management – TM (from conventional to organic agriculture) on the soil fungal community under citrus, in dry and rainy periods. From 2012 to 2015 on, an area in Mogi Guaçú, SP, Brazil was selected, and two treatments were installed: a conventional management (CM) system based on farming practices with agrochemicals and fertilizers use, and another, transition management (TM) based on a 25% reduction per year of the chemical substances used in CM, with soil conditioner bokashi introduced. The performance of the transition system was evaluated in the context of soil fertility and diversity index of fungal taxa, by plate culture isolation, through the richness of Margalef (Dmg), diversity of Shannon (H′) and reverse Simpson (D). Differences in the occurrence and frequency of Paecilomyces, greater under CM and Penicillium, greater under TM, highlighted the influence of the management system employed. Richness and diversity indices were higher under TM. Principal component analysis revealed that 49.9% of the differences in fungal diversity was due to the management system. Only 16.5% was a result of the season of sampling. Four years of reduction/replacement of chemical practices in TM was sufficient to modify and favor some soil fungal taxa and consequently their activity. This research brings promising results to organic agriculture initiatives with relevant results for a tropical climate area.

Productivity and profitability of organic and conventional potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) production in West-Central Bhutan

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 640-654
Author(s):  
Norden Lepcha ◽  
Panya Mankeb ◽  
Suneeporn Suwanmaneepong
Keyword(s):  
Organic Agriculture ◽  
Solanum Tuberosum L ◽  
Crop Productivity ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
West Central ◽  
Organic Potato ◽  
Organic Farmers ◽  
Premium Price ◽  
Current Scenario ◽  
Benefit Cost

Abstract Bhutan aspires to be an entirely organic nation. Food self-sufficiency and increasing farm household income are critical priorities in the country. Realising these priorities necessitates assessing the country’s current organic agriculture performance. The objectives of this study were to investigate the productivity and profitability of organic and conventional potato and farmers’ constraints in producing organic potato in West-Central Bhutan. Multistage and purposive sampling techniques were used to select the study sample. A semi-structured questionnaire and face-to-face interviews were employed to gather primary data for the 2019 cropping cycle from 93 potato farmers: 43 organic farmers in the Gasa District and 50 conventional farmers in Wangdue Phodrang District. Descriptive statistics, cost and return analysis, and independent sample t-test were applied for data analysis. The results revealed that the conventional potato’s productivity (tuber yield) and profitability were significantly higher (p < 0.001) than organic potatoes. The average productivities for organic and conventional potatoes were 7.48 and 19.22 t/ha, respectively. Organic potato farmers incurred a loss of −202,708.47 Ngultrum (Nu)/ha, while conventional potato farmers incurred a profit of 83,832.85 Nu/ha. The benefit-cost ratios of organic and conventional potato stood at 0.40 and 1.27, respectively. Lack of premium price, pest and disease problems, low crop productivity, and climate change were the constraints faced by organic potato farmers. The study found that the productivity and profitability of the conventional potatoes were higher than the organic potatoes in West-Central Bhutan in the current scenario. Further, the critical information will contribute to guiding Bhutan’s vision for its organic agriculture development.

Labor of Meaning, Labor of Need

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary Mostafanezhad ◽  
Krisnawati Suryanata ◽  
Saleh Azizi ◽  
Nicole Milne
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Change ◽  
Coping Strategy ◽  
Civic Participation ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Organic Farms ◽  
Cultural Logic ◽  
Organic Farm ◽  
Organic Farmers

This chapter critically examines the promise of organic farm volunteering programs such as WWOOF in meeting organic farmers’ need for affordable labor in Hawaii. While organic farm volunteering offers a short term coping strategy for some organic farmers, the cultural logic and rationale that propels these programs perpetuates the underlying labor problems that plague small organic farms. This chapter demonstrates the limitations of organic farm volunteering when utilized as a form of civic participation to drive economic and socio-environmental change.

scholarly journals The Potential for Economic Development in Rural Communities in the Northeast

1981 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 21-28
Author(s):  
Frank M. Goode
Keyword(s):  
Economic Development ◽  
Rural Communities ◽  
New England ◽  
Economic Performance ◽  
Labor Costs ◽  
Market Conditions ◽  
Northeast Region ◽  
Manufacturing Sectors ◽  
Traditional Manufacturing ◽  
Future Economic Development

Recently released reports of the 1980 Census of Population has again focussed attention on the relatively poor economic performance of the Northeast region. This paper suggests that the labor costs and market conditions that have allegedly been responsible for the movement of traditional manufacturing out of the Northeast may be changing. Thus, this movement will not be a “drag” on the future economic development of the Northeast. The potential “turnaround” in the Northeast is suggested by the recent economic performance in New England and by Pittsburgh's ability to attract firms in rapidly growing manufacturing sectors.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document