Organic agriculture and the conventionalization hypothesis: A case study from West Germany

Abstract

The recent growth in organic farming has given rise to the so-called “conventionalization hypothesis,” the idea that organic farming is becoming a slightly modified model of conventional agriculture. Using survey data collected from 973 organic farmers in three German regions during the spring of 2004, some implications of the conventionalization hypothesis are tested. Early and late adopters of organic farming are compared concerning farm structure, environmental concern, attitudes to organic farming, and membership in organic-movement organizations. The results indicate that organic farming in the study regions indeed exhibits signs of incipient conventionalization. On average, newer farms are more specialized and slightly larger than established ones and there is a growing proportion of farmers who do not share pro-environmental attitudes. Additionally, a number, albeit small, of very large, highly specialized farms have adopted organic agriculture in the last years. However, the vast majority of organic farmers, new and old ones included, still show a strong pro-environmental orientation.

Appendix: Items used for the scale of environmental concern (translated from German)

General environmental concern

“When I think about the environmental conditions under which our children and grandchildren will have to live, I am worried.” “If we continue to behave the way we used to do, we are heading towards an ecological disaster.” “When reading newspaper articles on environmental problems, or when watching corresponding telecasts, I often become indignant and angry.” “There are limits to growth which our industrialized world already has exceeded or soon will approach.” “Up to now, the greatest part of the population does not behave very environmentally friendly.” “In my opinion, the dimension of ecological problems is exaggerated by the environmentalists.” “Politicians are still doing by far to less to protect the environment.” “In favor of the environment, all of us should be willing to cut down on our standard of living.” “Environmental measures should be enforced even if there is a loss of jobs.”

Agricultural environmental concern

“Modern agriculture damages biotopes and contributes to the loss of wild animals and plants.” “Synthetic fertilizers and pesticides derogate the natural fertility of the soil and decrease product quality.” “If you use chemical substances in agriculture, you work against nature.” “The contamination of the ground water by fertilizers is worse than many people are willing to realize.” “Even if errors are made once in a while, farmers are the best conservationists.” “Synthetic fertilizers and pesticides do not have harmful effects. They facilitate quality production.” “The use of chemical substances in farming makes sense if it yields more than it costs.”