The Interplay of Conventional and Organic - Re-Thinking Organic Food and Farming in a Changing World - page 156

how the social and cultural influences of a farming style are imperative in accepting
'good practices.' Specifically those farming systems most similar to organic are able
to accept organic as a model of “good farming”.
Jones' chapter on the history of organic in Australia underlines health and
ecological issues as dominant elements of the Australian foundation for organic.
Interestingly, the social dimension appears to be less important and might explain
the tendency toward conventionalization. Brock and Barham highlight social and
cultural barriers in a religious movement that lead to different attitudes concerning
how to farm with respect to environmental impacts. Interestingly, the Amish
religious foundation allows both organic and conventional approaches. Viewed from
outside this movement, it is of interest to note how, from a social, cultural and
religious perspective, it bridges both management systems.
All contributions show how important it may be for understanding organic
diversification, to discuss multiple farming styles, time horizons, regional, national,
continental or religious influences. Social and cultural commonalities could bridge
conventional and organic farming as well as within the organic movement. The
IFOAM Principles could serve as an ethical platform to bring the social and cultural
characteristics into the debate. But the neo-liberal dominance and governmental
rules that create market conditions, influence the industrialization of the organic
sector, and marginalize social and cultural dimensions, therefore should be more
considered.
References
Balfour, E.B. 1943. The living soil . London: Faber & Faber.
Conford, P. 1988. The organic tradition: An anthology of writings on organic farming, 1900-1950 .
Bideford: Green Books.
Massingham, H.J. 1942. Remembrance. In A mirror of England , ed. E. Abelson. Bideford: Green
Books.
Stock, P.V. 2007. 'Good farmers' as reflexive producers: An examination of family organic farmers
in the US Midwest. Sociologia Ruralis 47(2): 83-102.