Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
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Pugliese notes that within the European context, there are obvious synergies
between organic farming and processes of rural development, which can be
encouraged with political support in the future.
A study in Norway looked at the overlap between consumer and organic
farmer perceptions of their rural region (Torjusen et al. 2001). Research
methods included a “vision seminar” to discover the status of agriculture in
the region, a rapid appraisal approach that involved farmer interviews, and
a mail questionnaire of 368 consumers (54 percent of whom had purchased
organic food). Many interests of organic consumers and farmers coincided
on topics that go beyond simple organic methods listed in certification
rules. The authors note that these groups both tended to be concerned
about ethical, environmental, and health issues and were locally oriented,
which indicates a great potential for building a local food system in theory
and in practice.
So, organic farming can help us reduce those food miles! It has the po-
tential for aiding rural development efforts, through local food distribution
and personal relationships among farmers and consumers. But we must be
cautious, as there are factors that may inhibit this synergy. Specifically, or-
ganic production and marketing may become as globalized as conventional
production, if current trends continue.
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GRI-BUSINESS GOES ORGANIC
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There are indications that organic farming is becoming more like con-
ventional farming, a process that has been termed “conventionalization.”
Perhaps the most devastating exposé of the new industrialization of or-
ganic agriculture was Michael Pollan's article (2001b) in the
New York Times
Magazine
. Even the most ardent organic supporter can't help but feel dis-
appointed and perhaps a bit betrayed by the way processed organic foods
are so similar to conventional ones. Personal interviews with many organic
industry experts showed how big business made inroads into the organic
market. He described, for example, an organic TV dinner that contained
natural chicken flavor and xanthan gum (two rather unnatural sounding
ingredients) and noted that the brand (Cascadian Farms) was actually a
subsidiary of the huge U.S. food conglomerate General Mills. The story
of organics, as he tells it, is one of big money business, and it contradicts
traditional organic philosophy.
Huge organic vegetable farms (often acres cut out of the middle of a
mega-conventional farm) are found in California. According to this article,
the “industrial production” of both organic and conventional crops uses
