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Socio-cultural processes behind the differential distribution of organic farming in Denmark: a case study

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Abstract

Conversion to organic farming, along with its associated driving forces and barriers, has been explored intensively over the past decade, while studies on the distribution and impacts of local socio-cultural processes in relation to conversion to and diffusion of organic farming have been scarce. The concentration of organic farms in Denmark differs according to county and, moreover, there appears to be large within-county variation in the density of organic farms. The present study explores local aspects of conversion to organic farming and the factors that may help explain variation in density and concentration of organic farms within smaller areas. The study is based on nine qualitative interviews with organic farmers from two neighboring areas, referred to as “mainland” and “island,” respectively. Three farms were situated in the high-density area (mainland) and the remaining six in the low-density area (island). Furthermore, five advisors with connections to the area provided information with regard to their local experience and perceptions. Three main, and to some extent interacting, issues are discussed. The first is the price of land related to local scarcity of land, in the context of structural development and the effects of agricultural policies. The second is distance – both physical and social. Cooperation and exchange of experience among organic farmers was frequent on the mainland side, while isolation and lack of interaction was more common for the island farmers. Third, the role of the agricultural advisory service and the existence of champion farmers are important: pioneer farmers on the mainland have been supported by committed agricultural advisors, while lack of organic champion farmers and low priority granted to organic farming among agricultural advisors were found on the island.

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Acknowledgments

This study has been funded under the DARCOF II program (2000–2006): Sustainable production systems. Valuable comments on the manuscript were given by reviewers along with Carey Smith, Adrian Marc Bolliger, Vibeke Langer, Andrew James Jackson, and Wendy Waalen. A special thanks to the respondents who generously shared their time and thoughts and thus made this research possible.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Agricultural Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Marie-Louise Risgaard

  2. Department of Policy Analysis, National Environmental Research Institute, Roskilde, Denmark

    Pia Frederiksen & Pernille Kaltoft

  3. SkaertoftMoelle, Skaertoft 2-4, Augustenborg, 6440, Denmark

    Marie-Louise Risgaard

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  1. Marie-Louise Risgaard
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  2. Pia Frederiksen
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  3. Pernille Kaltoft
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Correspondence to Marie-Louise Risgaard.

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Marie-Louise Risgaard has an MSc within the field of organic agriculture. Her research interests are organic farming and rural development with the present occupation as innovative partner at a small-scale organic enterprise. In this capacity she is responsible for creating links between the organic enterprise, the gastronomic sector and organic markets, locally as well as nationally.

Pia Frederiksen, PhD, is a geographer and senior scientist with research skills in rural development, sustainability, landscape analysis, and agri-environmental indicators.

Pernille Kaltoft, PhD, is an environmental sociologist and senior scientist whose work focuses on organic farming and farmers’ perceptions. Dr. Kaltoft’s general research interests include values, perceptions, and views of nature related to agricultural and environmental issues.

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Risgaard, ML., Frederiksen, P. & Kaltoft, P. Socio-cultural processes behind the differential distribution of organic farming in Denmark: a case study. Agric Hum Values 24, 445–459 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10460-007-9092-y

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