Technologies in organic farming: consumers’ values and acceptance

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingArticle in proceedingsResearchpeer-review

  • Jesper Lassen
In organic farming a dilemma is posed by the heavy reliance on nutrients from conventional livestock farming. For Danish organic plant producers the influx of conventional nutrients accounts for up to 70% of their nutrients. Facing this problem, Danish organic farmers’ organizations have decided to phase out their use of conventional manure before 2021. This, however, raises a number of questions about consumers’ acceptance of the alternative technologies that have been proposed to close the nutrient gap. Drawing on qualitative interviews with Danish organic consumers, this paper first discusses what, from a consumers perspective, characterizes the technologies consumers associate with organic production. This part of the analysis shows that by and large consumers regard organic technologies as the opposite of conventional farming. Second, consumers’ perceptions of solutions suggested to close the nutrient gap by recycling sewage sludge, and in particular the criteria applied when these technologies are assessed, are analysed. This part of the analysis shows how organic consumers base their assessment of alternative strategies and technologies primarily on concerns about environmental risks (pollution) and consequences for human health. Broader ideas about ecosystems and the recycling of nutrients between the agricultural sector and the urban population are notably absent. On the basis of these findings the paper concludes by discussing the relationship between the consumers’ values that guide what is perceived as an acceptable organic technology and the ideological principles behind organic production systems as they are formulated by the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM).
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationKnow your food : food ethics and innovation
EditorsDiana Elena Dumitras, Ionel Mugurel Jitea, Stef Aerts
Number of pages6
Volume1
Place of PublicationWageningen
PublisherWageningen Academic Publishers
Publication date2015
Pages271-276
ISBN (Print)978-90-8686-264-1
ISBN (Electronic)978-90-8686-813-1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2015
Event12th Congress of the European Society for Agricultural and Food Ethics: Know your food! – Food Ethics and Innovation - Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Duration: 28 May 201530 May 2015
Conference number: 12

Conference

Conference12th Congress of the European Society for Agricultural and Food Ethics
Nummer12
LandRomania
ByCluj-Napoca
Periode28/05/201530/05/2015

ID: 141294264