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In the development of successful organic sectors, a number of actions can be identified. Sometimes planned strategically by one or several stakeholders, but sometimes they were pushed by external factors.
Case Studies From IFOAM's Building Sustainable Organic Sectors
Sector organization
A well-organized and highly motivated sector, with common goals and a common analysis of the current situation, obstacles, and opportunities, and formulating strategies with a division of roles and functions, is a strong force on all levels. Stakeholder involvement is crucial for the relevance of the decisions in all these areas (e.g. Southeast Brazil). With the opposite situation of an unorganized organic sector that lacks common strategic coordination and planning, development is slow (e.g. Serbia).
Alliances
Cooperation between the organic sector and other environmental, conservation, sustainable agriculture and consumer organizations provides good opportunities for involvement in agriculture policy, extension, research, and education programs and a high capacity to communicate in the market. Dialogue and cooperation with conventional farmers’ organizations has been an important step towards a general acceptance of organic farming in some countries. It can mitigate the hostility between organic and conventional farmers and lead to stronger public support and market development (e.g. Sweden). It is important to remember that the conventional farmers of today will be the organic farmers of tomorrow.
Farmers’ involvement
Cooperation among farmers and between farmers/farmers’ organizations and NGOs has a special importance in organic development. In developed countries, farmers’ organizations played an important role from the start. The organic farmers were the ones who developed organic practices and to a great extent the markets in the early stages. They have been actively pushing social issues affecting farmers and rural populations, and they formulated policies for development and lobbying. Farmers’ constant practical efforts to manage organic agriculture according to the commonly held goals are a major reason for consumers’ trust in organic products.
A common standard and logo
National unification of the certification system with a common standard and logo is considered a key factor to increase consumers’ trust in and identification of organic products. It has been a successful tool to promote market development. It also has given the organic movement a common ground and a voice in the overall development process. Farmer involvement in the early stage of standard development was of major importance (Italy, the Philippines,
Southeast Brazil, Sweden, United States). Media and consumer awareness
The media have played an important role as a source of information and inspiration to consumers and policymakers. Clear communication on the organic standards and concept is crucial for efficient consumer communication. The opposite is mentioned in a few of the cases(the United States, Thailand), where inability or lack of interest to distinguish organic farming from other agricultural concepts hampers consumers’ understanding of organics.
Supermarket engagement
An important step in the USA was when the food cooperative movement showed an early interest in organic. A similar experience is the strong early expansion of organic agriculture in Sweden spearheaded by the cooperative food chain. The strategy of the organic farmers’ associations was to organize their production and distribution for the mainstream market with the aim of making organic food available to all people in their ordinary food stores. These market actors have contributed greatly in spreading positive messages about the benefits of organic, with eye-appealing products, displays, and packages, and in the efforts to increase organic product quality.
International events
For many countries an IFOAM event in their country/region or visiting an IFOAM event somewhere in the world meant the actual introduction of the organic concept and a start or a strong boost for the sector. One example is the IFOAM trade conference on ‘Mainstreaming Organic Trade’, held in Bangkok at the end of 2003, which encouraged the emerging organic sector in Thailand. Another example is the first international conference on Organic Agriculture in the Mediterranean Countries AgriBioMediterraneo in Italy in 1990, which gave birth to regional coordination within IFOAM. In recent years events organized by international organizations such as FAO and UNCTAD also have played an increasing role in building awareness.
Case Studies From IFOAM's Building Sustainable Organic Sectors
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