Public policies and demand for organic food
Policies aimed at market development can be designed in various ways. Basically, they can concentrate on creating demand among users/consumers, induce producers to supply a new product, or be a combination of both. This project analyses how various policy designs affect demand in the market for organic food sector and the political and institutional conditions under which various policies were adopted. The overall aim is to provide recommendations for organic farming policy at both the national, EU and international level.
A limited share of the policy literature on organic farming policy addresses the question of the extent to which national organic farming policies assist the creation of demand for organic produce. Further, in relation to the question of which political and institutional factors and processes facilitate the adoption of effective organic farming policies only very little research has been produced.
Thus, the two major research questions analysed are:
- Do organic farming policies make a difference in increasing demand in the market for organic food, and if so, which policy design is the most effective?
- Which political and institutional factors and processes at national, EU and international level facilitate the adoption of effective organic farming policies?
Across the EU, member states have designed their policies differently. This enables us systematically to evaluate the effects of various combinations policy measures aimed at increasing demand and identify the most effective policies. We have selected Denmark, Britain and Sweden (or Germany) as core cases in our comparison. However, one should take into consideration that public policies may have limited intended effects, if any at all. Therefore, the evaluation includes a comparison of European experiences with Australian and New Zealand experiences. These have very limited state intervention in the organic food sector.
The research project also includes the broader policy context of organic farming policies, in particular the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and WTO/GATT agreements. It is analysed whether the re-nationalisation of the CAP, which has occurred as a result of the 2003 CAP reform, has created new opportunities for national organic farming policies.
Furthermore, the research project analyses the opportunities to promote international organic food trade under current WTO rules and whether future trade rounds would allow a set of rules for organic food trade which acknowledge the principles of organic farming.
Project title
Public Policies and Demand for Organic Food: An International Comparison of Policy Effects and Policy Determinants
Project leader
Carsten Daugbjerg, Department of Political Science, University of Aarhus, DK-8000 Aarhus C. Phone (+45) 8942 1283; fax: (+45) 8613 9839. E-mail: cd@ps.au.dk
Project participants
Gert Tinggaard (Department of Political Science, University of Aarhus), Jan Holm Ingemann (Department of Economy, Politics and Public Administration, University of Aalborg).
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