Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
read
The Ecologist
which was read by 8 per cent of organic respondents. The last three
periodicals have a strong focus on rejection of pesticide use and GM technology which have
adverse effects on agricultural sustainability and food security. Organic farmers read much
more widely and seemed more critical in their reading tastes than conventional farmers
which may be related to organic farmers on average having higher academic qualifications
than the conventional respondents.
Organic farmers
Conventional farmers
Descending rank order in
Frequency
Percentage
Frequency
Percentage
Frequency of membership
Game Conservancy Trust
2
8
8
32
Wildlife Trust
5
20
1
4
Woodland Trust
4
16
0
0
National Trust
3
12
3
12
Friends of the Earth
3
12
0
0
RSPB
2
8
2
8
Wildfowl and Wetland Trust
1
4
0
0
Greenpeace
1
4
0
0
Rare Breeds Survival Trust
1
4
0
0
FWAG
0
0
1
4
LEAF
0
0
1
4
None
14
56
14
56
Total participating
11
44
11
44
Table 2. Frequency of farmers' membership of environmental organisations
Respondents were asked the loosely worded question about how they thought farmers
should 'behave' in the countryside, to ascertain which agri-environmental issues they
perceive as important. The answers were analysed by means of using the 'frequency of
mention' of key environmental/agricultural words/concepts used as indicators of the
respondents' level of environmental behavioural awareness. These words/concepts are
listed in an order loosely linked to adjacent themes in order to gain a progression of ideas
throughout the analysis (see Table 3). Four key findings emerge from the analysis: first, the
term 'behave responsibly' is used by over a quarter of organic farmers and somewhat fewer
conventional farmers; second, almost a quarter of organic farmers, contrasting with
less than
a tenth of conventional farmers, use the words 'stewards, keepers, custodians or protectors';
third, the same number, in both survey groups, use the terms 'pride, respect or sensitivity
towards the environment'; and fourth, more conventional than organic farmers use the
words looking after, care and good condition. Interestingly, only a fifth of conventional
farmers referred to 'producing food' contrasting with fewer organic farmers' specific
reference to the 'quality' and 'locality' of food produced. These comments suggest that
although organic food may be available, it could be too expensive for increasing numbers of
low-income families who will possibly experience some food insecurity.
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