EU organic research project

(FAIR3-1996-1794 - "Effects of the CAP-reform and possible further developments on organic farming in the EU")

The European Commission has commissioned a research project on organic farming in order to provide an assessment of the impact of the CAP-reform and of possible policy developments on organic farming in the European Community. Five universities and scientific institutions in the United Kingdom, in Italy, in Denmark and in Germany are working for the first time on a complete inventory of organic farming on a European level.

The general objective of the project is to provide an assessment of the impact of CAP-reform and possible policy developments on organic farming and thus contribute to a better understanding of the effects that current EU policies have on this sub sector. This implies the objective of improving the understanding of the consequences future policy development might have on organic farming and on the contribution organic farming might be able to make to EU policy goals. In detail, the project will focus on the economic performance of organic farms and on marketing conditions in the organic sector with respect to all EU member states plus Switzerland, Norway and the Czech Republic. Environmental consequences of organic farming will also be considered. In addition, the work will assess ex post the impact on organic farming of the mainstream and additional CAP Reform measures, as well as regulations defining and controlling trade in organic products and other relevant policies; and to assess the contribution of organic farming to current agricultural and environmental policy objectives. Several computer simulation programmes will be used to assess the further development of organic farming. This will lead to recommendations for policies to influence the rate of conversion, including an evaluation of their effects and of institutional prerequisites for an efficient implementation.

Prof. Dr. Stephan Dabbert, University of Hohenheim, the University of Wales, Aberystwyth, is coordinator of the research team, which includes the University of Ancona, the South Jutland University Centre and the Federal Agricultural Research Centre Braunschweig-Völkenrode (FAL). They will establish an international research network on organic farming in 18 european countries, where the researchers will cooperate with organic farmers, marketing experts, advisors and administration officers. The project started on March, 1st 1997 and is financed by the European Commission with an amount of 1,13 Mio ECU for 40 months.

Prof. Dr. Stephan Dabbert

Universität Hohenheim
Institut für Landwirtschaftliche Betriebslehre (410A)
D-70593 Stuttgart

Phone: +49 711 459 2543
Fax: +49 711 459 2555
E-mail: dabbert@uni-hohenheim.de

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