A Cooperative model appears to assist the majority of organic producers in developed and emerging economies. Advantages of establishing a legal producer’s cooperative include the improvement of supply and an enhanced capability to negotiate with wholesale agents. Cooperatives are ideal for smaller organic producers who can benefit from distributing some of the expense involved in hiring staff, training, equipment, marketing and promotion. Every now and then, I encounter lending agents who continue to distrust proposals associated with an ‘organic cooperative’. The seventies were, unfortunately, a decade of badly conceived agricultural ventures. While most participants were well meaning and earnest in pursuit of their philosophy,...

Occasionally, I’m asked to explain the important factors which convince me to believe that organic agriculture will ultimately succeed against the major investment and technologies which have structured contemporary models of food production. While my response is based on evidence obtained from practical studies, it also appeals to the intuitive wisdom of agricultural traditions throughout history. There’s an old saying which suggests “..you won’t get more out of any field than the amount you’re prepared to put in..” Putting philosophy on hold for a moment, every farmer knows that a field requires work to maximise productivity. When there is no long-term strategy for soil replenishment, sooner or later the...

Online surveys by professional market researchers like the AC Nielsen group provide only approximate insight into those factors influencing consumer behaviour in the market for organic goods and services. Experience shows that rapidly shifting views about health, environmental issues, and food safety can also precipitate abrupt shifts in consumer behaviour. In many such instances the most immediate economic effects are delivered prior to the distribution of relevant statistical data. AC Nielsen’s most recent survey on organic consumer trends identified price and lack of credibility as two of the significant barriers against the purchase of foods promoting specific health benefits. From a large sample distributed across Europe, Asia Pacific,...

There are several popular arguments for reducing meat consumption and selecting alternative protein sources in the modern diet. The first of these is based on a body of research indicating adverse health consequences arising from excessive meat consumption. The second category encompasses all of the philosophical beliefs and convictions in favour of vegetarianism and the promotion of animal welfare. The third argument in favour of reduced meat consumption is based on the environmental impacts of intensive livestock production. The majority of individuals in developed countries consume greater quantities of animal based protein than currently recommended by the World Health Organisation. This is clearly evident from the average daily intake for...

A brief column published in The Independent last month has captured my attention. Philip Hensher sums up the lack of any respect afforded to food items which can now be purchased for such minimal expense and effort. He uses the example of a supermarket chicken which is purchased for about quarter the price that would be required for any producer to ensure good quality. Assuming the reasonably common scenario of a single person household, the chicken gets roasted and one portion of thigh and breast is eaten. The following day the consumer is faced with the cold chicken carcass and a decision. Fashion the remainder into another meal or discard it completely and start fresh with another incredibly cheap purchase from the local supermarket? We’ve...