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Conventionalization of Organic Farms in Germany: An Empirical Investigation Based on a Composite Indicator Approach

Author

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  • Claudia Seidel

    (Institute for Food and Resource Economics, University of Bonn, Nussallee 21, D-53115 Bonn, Germany)

  • Thomas Heckelei

    (Institute for Food and Resource Economics, University of Bonn, Nussallee 21, D-53115 Bonn, Germany)

  • Sebastian Lakner

    (Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development, University of Göttingen, Platz der Göttinger Sieben 5, D-37073 Göttingen, Germany)

Abstract

The term “conventionalization” of organic agriculture was created to depict the controversially discussed phenomenon that organic agriculture departs from the core organic principles on which it is based. We present an empirical, index-based approach to investigate developments of organic farming practices towards conventionalization. An index of conventionalization can be used as a monitoring tool to support policymakers to further develop agricultural regulations. We calculate composite indicators for three farm types: farms specialized on crop production, farms specialized on animal husbandry, and mixed farms. Principal component analysis serves to derive objective weights based on the correlations between indicators which then allow a linear aggregation to the composite indicator. Results show that developments towards conventionalization of the whole organic farming sector cannot be detected for German farms between 2000 and 2009. Therefore, we do not see the necessity for changes in regulation of the organic sector with regard to conventionalization.

Suggested Citation

  • Claudia Seidel & Thomas Heckelei & Sebastian Lakner, 2019. "Conventionalization of Organic Farms in Germany: An Empirical Investigation Based on a Composite Indicator Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-16, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:10:p:2934-:d:233621
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Timo Sipiläinen & Anni Huhtala, 2013. "Opportunity costs of providing crop diversity in organic and conventional farming: would targeted environmental policies make economic sense?," European Review of Agricultural Economics, Oxford University Press and the European Agricultural and Applied Economics Publications Foundation, vol. 40(3), pages 441-462, July.
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    Cited by:

    1. Andreas Aigner & Robert Wilken & Sylvie Geisendorf, 2019. "The Effectiveness of Promotional Cues for Organic Products in the German Retail Market," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(24), pages 1-15, December.
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    3. José A. Gómez-Limón & Manuel Arriaza & M. Dolores Guerrero-Baena, 2020. "Building a Composite Indicator to Measure Environmental Sustainability Using Alternative Weighting Methods," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-17, May.
    4. Meiling Wu, 2024. "Conventionalization of Alternative Agriculture and the Intervention of External Investors: Case Sharing Community-Supported Agriculture Farm, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(12), pages 1-11, June.

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