Once eco, eco always?

Researchers are investigating the reasons of the exit from the organic farming

Organic farming in Germany is growing. The latest figures were recently presented at the most important trade fair "BioFach". A look behind the growth performance, however, reveals more: rising annually around 600 farms from organic farming from. However, this has so far hardly perceived by the public as more clearly and more businesses have switched to organic farming as got out. Which companies and motives are behind them exits, reveals a new study that has created together with the University of Kassel and other partners the Thünen Institute.

The investigation shows that between 2003 and 2010 190 have about dropouts or average 1,4 percent of existing organic farms per year with agriculture completely stopped each year. More about 410 holdings returned an annual average back to conventional farming. This is after all, a share of average 3,3 percent of existing organic farms.

Whether an organic farm attracts a return to conventional farming into consideration depends on internal, family and personal requirements and the external environment. "Are there any major changes there, the economy of the operation is being questioned," says Dr. Jürn Sanders from Thünen Institute and co-author of the study. In general, there are several factors that lead to return migration. play a particularly important role in economic motives, lack of development prospects in organic farming and problems with the eco guidelines and controls.

The results of the study show that return conversions can not be completely avoided. If organic farming does not fit to the personal and operational conditions is a return to conventional economic system is often an obvious decision. but the results of the study also show that there are various approaches to reduce the rate of Rückumsteller and to create better conditions for all organic farms. Chief among these are an improved conversion consulting, reliable support for organic farming as well as transparent and practicable guidelines. Positive effects have also unified and simplified Ökokontrollen and better marketing conditions.

The study is available at the website of the Thünen Institute:

www.ti.bund.de/de/startseite/institute/bw/aktuelles-service.html

Source: Braunschweig [Thünen Institute]