Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Conventionalisation of Organic Farming Practices: From Structural Criteria Towards an Assessment Based on Organic Principles

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Sustainable Agriculture Volume 2

Abstract

Organic farming is widely perceived as being more environmentally friendly than conventional farming. As a form of sustainable agriculture, it receives substantial support from policy for its contribution to environmental protection as well as the provision of amenities such as biodiversity and cultural landscapes. Consumers are attracted to organic foods as they are produced without synthetic chemicals and comply with higher animal welfare standards. Although organic farming certainly has the potential to fulfil these expectations, studies have shown that some certified organic farms do not. Their practices comply with the regulations, but not with the principles of organic farming. This trend has been called ‘conventionalisation’ of organic farming. In this paper we review the studies that discuss the conventionalisation of organic farming, focusing on the farm level and on evidence from Europe. We argue that to strengthen organic farming’s transformative potential, the debate must move beyond its focus on the bifurcation between artisanal and conventionalised organic farms, so as to capture the full range of empirical heterogeneity. Our core argument is that to adequately understand the dynamics within organic farming and their potential impact on the ability of organic farming to fulfil the expectations of consumers and policy-makers, it is not sufficient to focus on structural** changes. Instead, we need to assess whether or not the observed changes comply with the principles and values that are the fundament of organic farming.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 299.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 379.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 379.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Notes

  1. 1.

    Especially in the 15 Member States of the former EU-15, as the Member States that joined the EU since 2004 tend to have a different agricultural structure and heritage, stemming from past socialist policies.

References

  • Aeberhard A., Rist S. (2009) Transdisciplinary co-production of knowledge in the development of organic agriculture in Switzerland, Ecol. Econ. 68, 1171–1181.

    Google Scholar 

  • Allen P., Kovach M. (2000) The capitalistic composition of organic: The potential of markets in fulfilling the promise of organic agriculture, Agr. Hum. Values 17, 221–232.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Alrøe H., Noe E. (2008) What makes organic agriculture move: protest, meaning or market? A polyocular approach to the dynamics and governance of organic agriculture, Int. J. Agr. Resour., Gov. Ecol. 7, 5–22.

    Google Scholar 

  • Andreoli M., Tellarini V. (2000) Farm sustainability evaluation: Methodology and practice, Agr. Ecosyst. Environ. 77, 43–52.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bähr M., Botschen M., Laberenz H., Naspetti S., Thelen E., Zanoli R. (2004) The European Consumer and Organic Food. Organic Marketing Initiatives and Rural Development, Vol. 4, University of Wales, Aberystwyth.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baars E., Baars T. (2007) Towards a philosophical underpinning of the holistic concept of integrity of organisms, NJAS-Wageningen J. Life Sci. 54, 463–477.

    Google Scholar 

  • Besson Y. (2008) Une histoire d’exigences : philosophie et agrobiologie. Paper presented at the conference “Développement et innovation en agriculture biologique” (DinABio) held 19–20 May 2008 in Montpellier, France.

    Google Scholar 

  • Best H. (2008) Organic agriculture and the conventionalization hypothesis: A case study from West Germany, Agr. Human Values 25, 95–106.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • BMLFUW (2007) Grüner Bericht. Bericht über die Lage der österreichischen Landwirtschaft 2007 [Report on the status of agriculture in Austria in 2007], BMLFUW (Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management), Vienna.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bowler I. (1992) The industrialisation of agriculture, in: Bowler I. (Ed.), The geography of agriculture in developed market economies, Longman, Harlow, pp. 7–31.

    Google Scholar 

  • Braband D., Geier U., Köpke U. (2003) Bio-resource evaluation within agri-environmental assessment tools in different European countries, Agr. Ecosyst. Environ. 98, 423–434.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brand K.W. (Ed.) (2006) Von der Agrarwende zur Konsumwende? Die Kettenperspektive [From the agricultural-turn to the consumption turn? The chain perspective]. Ergebnisband 2. Ergebnisse Sozial-Ökologischer Forschung Band 5. Oekom Verlag.

    Google Scholar 

  • Buck D., Getz C., Guthman J. (1997) From farm to table: The organic vegetable commodity chain of northern California, Sociol. Rural. 37, 3–20.

    Google Scholar 

  • Burch D., Lawrence G. (2005) Supermarket own brands, supply chains and the transformation of the agri-food system, Int. J. Sociol. Agr. Food 13, 1–18.

    Google Scholar 

  • CEC (2004) European action plan for organic food and farming, Communication from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament, COM(2004)415 final, Commission of the European Communities, Brussels, 7 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Coombes B., Campbell H. (1998) Dependent reproduction of alternative modes of agriculture: Organic farming in New Zealand, Sociol. Rural. 38, 127–145.

    Google Scholar 

  • DARD (2008) The code of good agricultural practice for the prevention of pollution of water, air and soil (COGAP), UK Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. Available on-line at: http://www.ruralni.gov.uk.

  • Darnhofer I. (2005) Organic farming and rural development: Some evidence from Austria, Sociol. Rural. 45, 308–323.

    Google Scholar 

  • Darnhofer I. (2006) Organic farming between professionalisation and conventionalisation - The need for a more discerning view of farmer practices. Paper presented at Joint Organic Congress, Odense, Denmark, May 30–31, 2006. Available on-line at: http://orgprints.org/7390/.

  • De Wit J., Verhoog H. (2007) Organic values and the conventionalization of organic agriculture, NJAS-Wageningen J. Life Sci. 54, 449–462.

    Google Scholar 

  • DeLind L.B. (2000) Transforming organic agriculture into industrial organic products: Reconsidering national organic standards, Hum. Organ. 59, 198–208.

    Google Scholar 

  • Degré A., Debouche C., Verhève D. (2007) Conventional versus alternative pig production assessed by multicriteria decision analysis, Agron Sustain. Dev. 27, 185–195.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dietl W., Lehmann J. (2004) Ökologischer Wiesenbau – Nachhaltige Bewirtschaftung von Wiesen und Weiden [Ecological grassland management – Sustainable management of meadows and pastures], Österreichischer Agrarverlag, Leopoldsdorf.

    Google Scholar 

  • DuPuis E.M., Gillon S. (2009) Alternative modes of governance: organic as civic engagement, Agr. Hum. Values 26, 43–56.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • EC (2004) European Action Plan for Organic Food and Farming. Commission Staff Working Document SEC(2004)739. Annex to the Communication from the Commission COM(2004)415final, 33 p. Available on-line at: http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/organic/.

  • EC (2007) Council Regulation (EC) No. 834/2007 of 28 June 2007 on organic production and labelling of organic products and repealing Regulation (EEC) No. 2092/91. Published in the Official Journal of the European Union L 189, on 20.7.2007.

    Google Scholar 

  • EEC (2001) Council Regulation (EEC) No. 2092/91 of 24 June 1991 on organic production of agricultural products and indications referring thereto on agricultural products and foodstuffs. Published in the Official Journal L 198, on 22.7.1991.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eurostat (2001) Organic farming. Statistics in Focus, Environment and Energy, Theme 8 – 5/2001, EuroStat, Luxembourg.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eurostat (2007) Different organic farming patterns within EU-25. An overview of the current situation. Statistics in Focus, Agriculture and Fisheries, 69/2007, EuroStat, Luxembourg.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fairweather J. (1999) Understanding how farmers choose between organic and conventional production: Results from New Zealand and policy implications, Agr. Hum. Values 16, 51–63.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • FiBL (2006) Ampferregulierung. Vorbeugende Möglichkeiten ausschöpfen [Dock regulation – Using preventive methods]. Merkblatt von Bioland, KÖN, Bio Austria und FiBL, 16 p. Available at http://www.fibl.org.

  • Flaten, O., Lien G., Ebbesvik M., Koesling M., Valle P.S. (2006) Do the new organic producers differ from the ’old guard’? Empirical results from Norwegian dairy farming, Renew. Agr. Food Syst. 21, 174–182.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Follett J. (2009) Choosing a food future: Differentiating among alternative food options, J. Agr. Environ. Ethics 22, 31–51.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Frederiksen P., Langer V. (2008) Patterns of resource use on Danish organic farms: Aspects of farmbased rural development, Int. J. Agr. Resour., Gov. Ecol. 7, 96–109.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goodman D. (1999) Agro-food studies in the ‘age of ecology’: Nature, corporeality, bio-politics, Sociol. Rural. 39, 17–38.

    Google Scholar 

  • Green K., Foster C. (2005) Give peas a chance: Transformations in food consumption and production systems, Technol. Forecasting Social Change 72, 663–679.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guthman J. (1998) Regulating meaning, appropriating nature: The codification of California organic agriculture, Antipode 30, 135–154.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guthman J. (2000) Raising organic: An agro-ecological assessment of grower practices in California, Agr. Hum. Values 17, 257–260.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guthman J. (2004a) Agrarian dreams. The paradox of organic farming in California, University of California Press, Berkeley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Guthman J. (2004b) The trouble with ‘organic lite’ in California: A rejoinder to the ‘conventionalisation’ debate, Sociol. Rural. 44, 301–316.

    Google Scholar 

  • Guptill A. (2009) Exploring the conventionalization of organic dairy: Trends and counter-trends in upstate New York, Agr. Hum. Values 26, 29–42.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hall A., Mogyorody V. (2001) Organic farmers in Ontario: An examination of the conventionalization argument, Sociol. Rural. 41, 399–422.

    Google Scholar 

  • Häring A.M., Dabbert S., Aurbacher J., Bichler B., Eichert C., Gambelli D., Lampkin N., Offermann F., Olmos S., Tuson J., Zanoli R. (2004) Organic farming and measures of European agricultural policy. Organic Farming in Europe: Economics and Policy, Vol. 11, University of Hohenheim, Department of Farm Economics, Hohenheim.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hazel L.N. (1943) The genetic basis of constructing selection indexes, Genetics 28, 476–490.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hendrickson M., James H. (2005) The ethics of constrained choice: How the industrialization of agriculture impacts farming and farmer behavior, J. Agr. Environ. Ethics 18, 269–291.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Holt G. (2006) A conceptual model of willingness to pay for organic food in the UK, in: Holt G., Reed M. (Eds.), Sociological perspectives of organic agriculture: From pioneer to policy, CABI, Wallingford, pp. 88–106.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • IFOAM (2005) Principles of organic agriculture, 4 p., IFOAM International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements, Bonn, available on-line at: http://www.ifoam.org/.

  • Jordan S., Shuji H., Izawa R. (2006) Conventionalization in the Australian organic industry: A case study of the Darling Downs region. In Sociological perspectives of organic agriculture: From pioneer to policy, CABI, Wallingford, pp. 142–156.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaut A., Mason H., Navabi A., O’Donovan J., Spaner D. (2008) Organic and conventional management of mixtures of wheat and spring cereals, Agron. Sustain. Dev. 28, 363–371.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Knickel K. (2008) Evaluating the environmental performance of farms in regionally adaptive and participatory ways, Paper presented at the conference on “Using evaluation to enhance the rural development value of agri-environmental measures” held 17–19 June 2008 in Pärnu, Estonia.

    Google Scholar 

  • Konefal J., Mascarenhas M., Hatanaka M. (2005) Governance in the global agro-food system: Backlighting the role of transnational supermarket chains, Agr. Hum. Values 22, 291–302.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lamine C., Bellon S. (2009) Conversion to organic farming: A multidimensional research object at the crossroads of agricultural and social sciences. A review, Agron. Sustain. Dev. 29, 97–112.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Langer V. (2002) Changes in farm level structure following conversion to organic farming in Denmark, Ame. J. Alternat. Agr. 17, 75–82.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Langer V., Frederiksen P. (2005) The development of farm size on Danish organic farms - A comment to the the conventionalisation debate. Presented at the ISOFAR, 21–23 September 2005 in Adelaide, available on-line at: http://orgprints.org/4406/.

  • Langmeier M., Frossard E., Kreuzer M., Mäder P., Dubois D., Oberson A. (2002) Nitrogen fertilizer value of cattle manure applied on soils originating from organic and conventional farming systems, Agronomie 22, 789–800.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Letourneau D., Bothwell S. (2008) Comparison of organic and conventional farms: challenging ecologists to make biodiversity functional, Front. Ecol. Environ. 6, 430–438.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lobley M., Butler A., Reed M. (2009) The contribution of organic farming to rural development: An exploration of the socio-economic linkages of organic and non-organic farms in England, Land Use Pol. 26, 723–735.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lockie S., Lyons K., Lawrence G., Mummery K. (2002) Eating “green”: Motivations behind organic food consumption in Australia, Sociol. Rural. 42, 23–40.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lockie S., Halpin D. (2005) The ’conventionalisation’ thesis reconsidered: Structural and ideological transformation of Australian organic agriculture, Sociol. Rural. 45, 284–307.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lockie S., Lyons K., Lawrence G., Halpin D. (2006) Going organic: mobilizing networks for environmentally responsible food production, CABI, Wallingford.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Lotter D.W. (2003) Organic agriculture, J. Sustain. Agr. 21, 59–128.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lund V., Röcklingsberg H. (2001) Outlining a concept of animal welfare for organic farming systems, J. Agr. Environ. Ethics 14, 391–424.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Luttikholt L.W. (2007) Principles of organic agriculture as formulated by the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements, NJAS-Wageningen J. Life Sci. 54, 347–360.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mäder P., Fließbach A., Dubois D., Gunst L., Fried P., Niggli U. (2002) Soil fertility and biodiversity in organic farming. Science 296, pp. 1694–1697.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Malkina-Pykh I., Pykh Y. (2008) Quality-of-life indicators at different scales: Theoretical background, Ecol. Ind. 8, 854–862.

    Google Scholar 

  • Meul M., van Passel S., Nevens F., Dessein J., Rogge E., Mulier A., van Hauwermeiren A. (2008) MOTIFS: A monitoring tool for integrated farm sustainability, Agron. Sustain. Dev. 28, 321–332.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Michelsen J., Hamm U., Wynen E., Roth E. (1999) The European market for organic products: Growth and development. Organic Farming in Europe: Economics and Policy, Vol. 7., University of Hohenheim, Department of Farm Economics, Hohenheim.

    Google Scholar 

  • Michelsen J. (2001) Recent development and political acceptance of organic farming in Europe, Sociol. Rural. 41, 3–20.

    Google Scholar 

  • Milestad R., Wivstad M., Lund V., Geber U. (2008) Goals and standards in Swedish organic farming: trading off between desirables, Int. J. Agr. Resour., Gov. Ecol. 7, 23–39.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moore O. (2008) How embedded are organic fresh fruit and vegetables at Irish farmers’ markets and what does the answer say about the organic movement? An exploration using three models, Int. J. Agr. Resour., Gov. Ecol. 7, 144–157.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nieberg H., Offermann F., Zander K. (2007) Organic farms in a changing policy environment: Impacts of support payments, EU-enlargement and Luxembourg reforms. Organic Farming in Europe: Economics and Policy, Vol. 13, University of Hohenheim, Department of Farm Economics, Hohenheim.

    Google Scholar 

  • Niemeijer D., de Groot R.S. (2008) A conceptual framework for selecting environmental indicator sets, Ecol. Indicators 8, 14–25.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Niggli U. (2007) Mythos,,Bio“. Kommentare zum gleichnamigen Artikel von Michael Miersch in der Wochenzeitung,,Die Weltwoche“ vom 20. September 2007. Commentary, FiBL, Frick, available on-line at: http://orgprints.org/11368/.

  • Norton L., Johnson P., Joys A., Stuart R., Chamberlain D., Feber R., Firbank L., Manley W., Wolfe M., Hart B., Mathews F., Macdonald D., Fuller R. (2009) Consequences of organic and non-organic farming practices for field, farm and landscape complexity, Agr. Ecosyst. Environ. 129, 221–227.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Obach B. (2007) Theoretical interpretation of the growth in organic agriculture: Agricultural modernization or an organic treadmill? Soc. Nat. Res. 20, 229–244.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Padel S. (2007) How do ethical values of organic agriculture relate to standards and to current practice? in: Zollitsch W., Winckler C., Waiblinger S., Haslberger A. (Eds.), Sustainable food production and ethics, Wageningen University Press, Vienna, pp. 26–30.

    Google Scholar 

  • Padel S. (2008) Values of organic producers converting at different times: Results of a focus group study in five European countries, Int. J. Agr. Resour., Gov. Ecol. 7, 63–77.

    Google Scholar 

  • Padel S., Foster C. (2005) Exploring the gap between attitudes and behaviour – Understanding why consumers buy or do not buy organic food, Br. Food J. 107, 606–625.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Padel S., Roecklingsberg H., Verhoog H., Alroe H., De Wit J., Kjeldsen C., Schmid O. (2007) Balancing and integrating basic values in the development of organic regulations and standards: Proposal for a procedure using case studies of conflicting areas, University of Wales, Aberystwyth, available on-line at: http://orgprints.org/10940/.

  • Renting H., Oostindie H., Laurent C., Brunori G., Barjolle D., Moxnes Jervell A., Granberg L., Heinonen M. (2008) Multifunctionality of agricultural activities, changing rural identities and new institutional arrangements, Int. J. Agr. Resour., Gov. Ecol. 7, 361–385.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rigby D., Cáceres D. (2001) Organic farming and the sustainability of agricultural systems, Agr. Syst. 68, 21–40.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rinnofner T., Friedel J.K., de Kruijff R., Pietsch G., Freyer B. (2008) Effect of catch crop on N dynamics and following crops in organic farming, Agron. Sustain. Dev. 28, 551–558.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rosin C., Campbell H. (2009) Beyond bifurcation: Examining the conventions of organic agriculture in New Zealand, J. Rural Stud. 25, 35–47.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rosset P., Altieri M.A. (1997) Agroecology versus input substitution: a fundamental contradiction of sustainable agriculture, Soc. Nat. Resour. 10, 283–295.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schermer M. (2006) Regional rural development: The formation of ecoregions in Austria, in: Holt G., Reed M. (Eds.), Sociological perspectives of organic agriculture, CABI, Wallingford, pp. 227–242.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Slee B. (2007) Social indicators of multifunctional rural land use: The case of forestry in the UK, Agr. Ecosyst. Environ. 120, 31–40.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smith E., Marsden T. (2004) Exploring the ’limits to growth’ in UK organics: Beyond the statistical image, J. Rural Stud. 20, 345–357.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stock P.V. (2007) ‘Good farmers’ as reflexive producers: An examination of family organic farmers in the US Midwest, Sociol. Rural. 47, 83–102.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sundrum A. (2005) Vom ökologischen Landbau zur ökologischen Landwirtschaft [From organic agriculture to organic farming], Ökologie Landbau 1/2005(133), 17–19.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sylvander B., Bellon S., Benoit M. (2006) Facing the organic reality: The diversity of development models and their consequences on research policies, in: Organic farming and European rural development 58–59. Odense, available on-line at: http://www.orgprints.org/8247/.

  • Thomas F., Groß D. (2005) Von der Bewegung zur Branche. Der Ökolandbau und seine sozialen und regionalen Ziele - Eine Diskussion über Anspruch, Realität und Perspektiven [From movement to trade sector], in: AgrarBündnis (Ed.), Landwirtschaft 2005, Der kritische Agrarbericht, pp. 61–70.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tomlinson I. (2008) Re-thinking the transformation of organics: The role of the UK government in shaping British organic food and farming, Sociol. Rural. 48, 133–151.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tovey H. (1997) Food, environmentalism and rural sociology: On the organic farming movement in Ireland, Sociol. Rural. 37, 21–37.

    Google Scholar 

  • Trewavas A. (2001) Urban myths of organic farming, Nature 410, 409–410.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • USDA (2007) Organic agriculture: US organic farm sector is diverse. Briefing Rooms, Economic Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, on-line: http://www.ers.usda.gov/briefing/organic/Farmsector.htm.

  • van Cauwenbergh N., Biala K., Bielders C., Brouckaert V., Franchois L., Garcia Cidad V., Hermy M., Mathijs E., Muys B., Reijnders R., Sauvenier X., Valckx J., Vanclooser M., van der Veken B., Wauters E., Peeters A. (2007) SAFE – A hierarchical framework for assessing the sustainability of agricultural systems, Agr. Ecosyst. Environ. 120, 229–242.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • van der Ploeg J.D. (1995) From structural development to structural involution: The impact of new development in Dutch agriculture, in: van der Ploeg J.D., van Dijk G. (Eds.), Beyond Modernization: The impact of endogenous rural development, van Gorcum, Assen, pp. 109–146.

    Google Scholar 

  • van Ittersum M.K., Ewert F., Heckelei T., Wery J., Alkan Olsson J., Andersen E., Bezlepkina I., Brouwer F., Donatelli M., Flichman G., Olsson L., Rizzoli A., Van der Wal T., Wien J.E., Wolf J. (2008) Integrated assessment of agricultural systems - A component-based framework for the European Union (SEAMLESS), Agr. Syst. 96, 150–165.

    Google Scholar 

  • Verhoog H., Matze M., Lammerts van Bueren E., Baars T. (2003) The role of the concept of natural (naturalness) in organic farming, J. Agr. Environ. Ethics 16, 29–49.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Watson C., Walker R., Stockdale E. (2008) Research in organic production systems – past, present and future, J. Agr. Sci. 146, 1–19.

    Google Scholar 

  • Willer H., Youssefi-Menzler M., Sorensen N. (Eds.) (2008) The world of organic agriculture. Statistics and emerging trends 2008, IFOAM and Frick: FiBL, Bonn, available at: http://www.fibl.org/.

Download references

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank all those who participated in the conventionalisation workshop in May 2007 in Vienna for their open and constructive contribution and for their assessment of the changes in organic farming in Austria. We would like to thank AERU at Lincoln University for providing the supportive environment that made this paper possible. We are grateful to the anonymous reviewers and to the editor for their constructive and helpful suggestions on an earlier version of this paper. Of course, the authors alone are responsible for the content of the paper.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. BOKU - Univ. of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences, Vienna, Feistmantelstr. 4, 1180, Vienna, Austria

    Ika Darnhofer

Authors
  1. Ika Darnhofer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Thomas Lindenthal
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Ruth Bartel-Kratochvil
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Werner Zollitsch
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ika Darnhofer .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. INRA-CMSE-PME, rue Sully 17, Dijon, 21000, France

    Eric Lichtfouse

  2. , LBE, French National Institute for Agricultur, Avenue des étangs, Narbonne, 11100, France

    Marjolaine Hamelin

  3. Unite d’Écodéveloppement, INRA-SAD, Avignon CX 09, 84914, France

    Mireille Navarrete

  4. UMR AGIR, INRA, Toulouse CX, France

    Philippe Debaeke

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2011 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Darnhofer, I., Lindenthal, T., Bartel-Kratochvil, R., Zollitsch, W. (2011). Conventionalisation of Organic Farming Practices: From Structural Criteria Towards an Assessment Based on Organic Principles. In: Lichtfouse, E., Hamelin, M., Navarrete, M., Debaeke, P. (eds) Sustainable Agriculture Volume 2. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-0394-0_18

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation