?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Adc&rft.title=Focus+groups+of+value+concepts+of+producers%3A+National+Report+Netherlands&rft.creator=Langhout%2C+J&rft.creator=Baars%2C+T&rft.creator=Verhoog%2C+H&rft.subject=Netherlands&rft.subject=+Regulation&rft.subject=+Systems+research+and+participatory+research&rft.description=The+Organic+Revision+project+was+funded+by+the+EU+with+the+aim+of+supporting+the+further+development+of+the+EU+Regulation+2092%2F91+on+organic+production.+As+part+of+the+project+focus+groups+were+run+in+five+European+countries+on+value+concepts+of+organic+producers+and+other+stakeholders%2C+during+2004-2005.+The+project+aims+to+provide+an+overview+of+values+held+among+organic+stakeholders%2C+and+of+similarities+and+differences+among+the+various+national+and+private+organic+standards.%0D%0A%0D%0AIn+the+Netherlands+four+focus+groups+were+held%2C+one+pre-test+with+researchers%2C+and+three+groups+with+established+organic+producers+both+of+livestock+and+horticulture.+It+was+not+possible+to+recruit+any+newly+converted+producers+to+a+meeting+in+the+Netherlands.%0D%0A%0D%0AThe+following+conclusions+were+reached%3A+Summarising+the+values+in+the+words+of+the+participants+of+these+focus+groups%2C+organic+agriculture+could+be+defined+as+follows%3A%0D%0A%22Organic+agriculture+is+about+producing+endlessly%2C+with+care+and+respect+for+humans%2C+animals%2C+plants+and+soil.+Organic+farmers+produce+healthy+and+tasty+food+without+harming+the+environment+or+the+development+of+others.+Their+farms+and+agriculture+in+general+are%0D%0Ainter-connected+with+small+and+big+world+problems.%22%0D%0AOverall+there+seem+to+be+many+similarities+between+the+groups.+Values+related+to+all+principles+were+discussed+in+all+the+groups%3B+the+differences+observed+were+related+to+the+different+backgrounds.%0D%0A%0D%0AThe+researchers+spoke+about+their+own+experiences+from+work+but+also+about+their+ideas+from+a+consumer%C3%A2%C2%80%C2%99s+point+of+view.+For+the+dairy+farmers+animal+welfare+was+an+important+value+while+soil+was+more+important+to+the+arable+farmers.+Also+with+regard+to+the+values+nearness+and+proximity%2C+differences+between+arable+and+dairy+farmers+seemed+to+reflect+their+daily+practice.+Arable+farmers+are+faced+with+an+anonymous+market%2C+with+high+and+changing+quality+standards+of+the+trade%2C+and+regard+local+production+and+consumption+as+a+solution+to+their+problems.+The+other+groups+of+farmers+also+support+this+quest+for+another+economic+system.+The+researchers+mention+the+unrealistic+ideas+of+consumers+concerning+organic+agriculture+and+they+wonder+how+to+make+consumers+more+aware.+The+farmers+would+like+to+educate+the+consumer+more%2C+also+about+the+relation+of+production+in+their+country+compared+with+production+and+development+elsewhere.+The+farmers+see+the+inter-connectedness+of+agriculture+with+income+and+development+in+developing+countries+very+clearly+and+for+some+this+was+an+important+argument+to+convert.+The+farmers+have+a+great+feeling+of+responsibility+for+the+world+(ecologically+and+socially).+For+all+of+them+the+intentions+are+more+important+than+the+norms.%0D%0A%0D%0AOn+the+basis+of+the+coding%2C+it+appears+that+values+in+relation+to+three+principles+were+most+important+in+the+discussion.+These+are+the+ecology+principle%2C+holism+and+systems+approach+and+professional+pride%2C+in+order+of+importance.+The+following+values+were+mentioned+in+relation+to+the+principle+of+ecology%3A+Recycling+(the+cycle)+and+saving+energy+were+of+major+importance+and+nature+conservation+or+nature+integration+on+the+farm+was+an+important+aim+for+some+farmers.+Co-operation+between+arable+and+animal+production+is+seen+as+a+very+important+means+to+close+the+cycle.+And+in+the+Netherlands+with+far+going+specialisation+of+farms+this+is+sometimes+a+real+challenge.+Conflicts+with+the+economy+easily+arise+but+also+conflicts+with+national+legislation+restrict+the+farmers+in+their+development.+The+values+itself+are+not+experienced+as+restricting.+All+groups+except+for+the+arable+farmers+see+a+combination+and+balance+of+all+principles+as+important+in+the+future.+Arable+farmers+see+the+soil+as+most+important+and+other+values+as+complementary.+All+groups+of+experienced+farmers+were+worried+about+new+converters%2C+who+seem+to+stick+to+the+minimum+values%2C+as+a+threat+to+their+profession.+All+participants+seem+to+have+the+feeling+to+be+part+of+the+good+guys+and+are+being+recognised+by+society+in+that+way.+They+are+proud+of+their+profession+and+the+sector.+For+the+continuation+of+the+sector+a+clear+distinction+from+conventional+agriculture+is+needed%2C+but+they+are+not+afraid+that+conventional+moves+in+the+direction+of+organic.%0D%0AFor+the+future%2C+steady+development+and+growth+is+preferred+above+fast+growth.+Others+should+also+get+the+chance+and+time+to+develop+in+the+way+they+did%2C+but+the+new+converters+should+not+decrease+the+credibility+of+organic.+Therefore%2C+acceptable+minimum+rules+should+do+justice+to+the+values+held+by+the+sector+as+a+whole.&rft.date=2006-01&rft.type=Report&rft.type=NonPeerReviewed&rft.format=application%2Fpdf&rft.identifier=http%3A%2F%2Forgprints.org%2F10992%2F1%2FWP23_NL_Report1.pdf&rft.identifier=Langhout%2C+J%3B+Baars%2C+T+and+Verhoog%2C+H+(2006)+Focus+groups+of+value+concepts+of+producers%3A+National+Report+Netherlands.+EEC+2092%2F91+Organic+Revision+Internal+Project+Report)%2C+Related+to+D+2.1.&rft.relation=http%3A%2F%2Forgprints.org%2F10992%2F