?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Adc&rft.title=FA++European+Information+System+for+Organic+Markets&rft.creator=Richter%2C++Toralf&rft.creator=Kovacs%2C+Annamaria&rft.subject=+Markt+und+Handel&rft.description=State+of+the+Art%3A%0D%0AEU-research+projects+like+OFCAP+(FAIR3-CT96-1794)+and+OMIaRD+(QLK5-2000-01124)+have+shown+that+in+many+countries+regional+or+national+data+gathering+takes+place.+Often%2C+only+very+basic+data+such+as+certified+organic+holdings%2C+land+areas+and+livestock+numbers+are+reported.+Important+market+data%2C+e.g.+the+amount+of+production%2C+consumption%2C+international+trade+or+producer+and+consumer+prices%2C+do+not+exist+in+most+European+countries.+Often%2C+there+are+only+rough+estimates+of+the+levels+of+production+and+consumption+in+some+European+countries.+Standardization+is+missing+and+data+are+seldom+comparable.+Furthermore%2C+detailed+information+on+specific+commodities+is+missing.+Hence%2C+investment+decisions+are+taken+under+conditions+of+great+uncertainty.+Another+problem+resulting+from+the+absence+of+hard+market+data+is+that%2C+if+politicians+want+to+support+organic+agriculture%2C+they+do+not+know+whether+it+will+be+better+to+support+production%2C+consumption+or+to+solve+problems+in+the+supply+chain.%0D%0ADefinition+of+the+problem%3A%0D%0AEuropean+markets+for+organic+products+are+developing+fast.+In+Europe+and+other+parts+of+the+world%2C+more+and+more+farming+land+is+converted+to+organic+production.+In+order+to+adjust+production+and+consumption+levels%2C+detailed+market+information+is+needed%3B+especially+for+decisions+on+converting+specific+land+or+livestock+enterprises+requiring+high+investments+into+glasshouses%2C+housing%2C+processing+facilities+etc.+with+a+long-term+impact+are+taken.+Since+public+subsidies+(regional+%2F+national+%2F+European)+are+heavily+involved+in+these+investments%2C+valid%2C+accurate+and+up-to-date+data+information+is+essential+not+only+for+farmers+or+gardeners%2C+but+also+for+policy-makers%2C+consultants%2C+processing+industry+etc.+%0D%0AProject+aims+including+target+group%3A%0D%0AThe+aim+of+this+Concerted+Action+(CA)+is+to+build+up+a+framework+for+reporting+valid+and+reliable+data+for+relevant+production+and+market+data+about+the+European+organic+sector+in+order+to+meet+the+needs+of+policy+makers%2C+farmers%2C+processors%2C+wholesalers+and+other+actors+involved+in+organic+markets.+This+network+will+closely+co-operate+with+regional%2C+national+and+European+statistical+offices+as+well+as+market+partners+on+all+levels%2C+using+existing+structures+for+collecting+and+processing+data+on+the+organic+market+as+well+as+stimulating+the+development+of+new+ones+by+adapting+existing+models.%0D%0AThis+will+be+achieved+through+the+following+specific+objectives%3A%0D%0A1.2.1%09review+existing+systems+of+data+collection+and+processing+for+organic+as+well+as+conventional+markets+in+order+to+understand+their+characteristics+and+identify+opportunities+for+development+and+improvement+(WP+1%2C2%2C3)%0D%0A1.2.2%09develop+proposals+for+harmonizing+existing+data+collection+and+processing+methods%2C+assess+measures+for+improving+data+quality+and+provide+tools+for+the+development+of+new+data+collection+systems+at+various+levels+within+national+frameworks%2Finstitutional+circumstances+(WP4)%0D%0A1.2.3%09co-ordinate+and+evaluate+pilot+data+collection+and+processing+systems+(WP5)%0D%0A1.2.4%09stimulate+further+development+of+data+collection+and+processing+by+integrating+with+national+and+international+statistical+affairs+offices+and+preparing+a+framework+for+the+development+of+a+European+wide+database+for+organic+markets+(WP6)%3B%0D%0A1.2.5%09provide+relevant+recommendations+to+the+EU+in+order+to+better+coordinate+and+support+data+collection+on+organic+production%2C+processing+and+imports+as+well+as+prices+(WP6%2C+WP7).%0D%0AMethodology%3A%0D%0A1.3.1%09An+up-to-date%2C+systematic+review+of+existing+data+collection+systems+for+organic+markets%2C+with+particular+attention+to+production%2C+processing%2C+trade+(imports+and+exports)%2C+prices+and+links+between+them.+A+report+on+existing+data+collection+systems+for+organic+markets+and+their+characteristics++will+be+produced%2C+which+will+include+a+description+of+existing+data+collection+and+processing+systems+for+conventional+markets+in+order+to+develop+reference+models+or+identify+possibilities+to+merge+systems.+This+report+will+cover+all+15+EU+countries%2C+all+candidate%2Fapplicant+states+and+4+EEA+countries.%0D%0A1.3.2%09Proposals+to+improve+data+quality+and+data+collection+systems+for+organic+markets+with+particular+attention+to+overcoming+barriers+which+hinder+the+establishment+of+national+data+collection+systems.+Recommendations+on+the+establishment+and+development+of+data+collection+systems+for+organic+markets+will+be+produced%2C+taking+into+consideration+the+widely+varying+structures+across+Europe%2C+and+the+need+to+establish+systems+from+scratch+in+some+countries.%0D%0A1.3.3%09Recommendations+for+future+development+and+co-ordination+of+data+collection+systems+in+32+European+countries+(EU+15+%2B+13+accession+%2B+4+non-EU+countries).+A+framework+for+the+long-term+establishment+of+a+European+database+on+organic+markets+containing+recommendations+for+Eurostat+(D5)+will+be+published.+These+recommendations+will+also+include+proposals+on+the+integration+of+conventional+and+organic+data+collection+and+processing+systems+in+Europe.+%0D%0A1.3.4%09Circulation+of+information+to+farmers%2C+processors%2C+wholesalers%2C+policy+makers%2C+public+institutions%2C+market+research+institutes+and+other+firms+and+institutions+in+order+to+stimulate+willingness+to+participate+in+future+data+collection%3B%0D%0A1.3.5%09A+prototype+database+and+web+site+(D10)+containing%3A%0D%0A-results+of+partners%C3%A2%C2%80%C2%99+current+research+activities%3B%0D%0A-standards+to+ensure+quality+of+data+collection+and+processing%3B%0D%0A-recommendations+for+establishing+data+collection+and+processing+systems+for+organic+markets%3B%0D%0A-documents+produced+during+the+concerted+action.%0D%0AResults%2C+conclusion%2C+state+of+the+art%3A%0D%0AThe+analysis+of+methodological+issues+shows+that+quality+assurance+concepts+are+a+key+issue+for+improving+the+quality+of+data+collection%2C+processing+and+dissemination.+In+many+statistical+institutions+like+Eurostat%2C+quality+assurance+concepts+are+used+to+improve+the+overall+quality+of+services+they+provide.+TQM+and+EFQMs+and+other+concepts+are+an+integral+part+of+quality+management.+The+experiences+of+Statistics+Denmark+show+that+easy+and+robust+quality+controls+can+be+used+to+get+reliable+and+accurate+data.+The+key+question%2C+however%2C+will+be+to+decide+on+which+level+data+quality+assurance+should+be+implemented+in+the+national+statistical+institutions.+An+easy+to+implement+quality+system+with+low+cost+should+be+the+basis+to+be+developed+to+a+complete+TQM+concept+with+a+standard+above+the+minimum+standard.+This+will+be+an+important+part+to+build-up+a+harmonised+system+in+an+enlarged+Europe%2C+with+Eurostat+as+the+central+statistical+unit.+%0D%0ABasis+of+a+quality+management+concept+should+be+the+recommendations+of+the+leadership+group+on+quality+in+the+European+Statistical+System+(ESS).+They+have+developed+a+framework+for+a+quality+management+system+based+on+a+quality+definition+and+a+list+of+dimensions+of+quality.+The+implementation+of+the+quality+management+system+is+mainly+based+on+the+EFQM+approach.+For+development+and+implementation+of+an+international+harmonised+quality+management+system+for+the+European+Information+System+for+Organic+Markets%2C+a+special+leadership+group+similar+to+the+leadership+group+on+quality+in+the+ESS+should+be+established.+This+group+should+be+in+contact+with+the+leadership+group+of+the+European+Statistical+System+to+keep+up-to-date+with+the+development+and+implementation+of+quality+management+sytems.+National+and+international+experts+related+to+the+EISfOM+project+should+be+incorporated+so+that+in+future+market+actors+and+policy+makers+could+decide+on+the+basis+of+data+with+a+high+quality.+%0D%0AResults+of+the+interviews+with+experts+and+stakeholders+show+that+ex-post+harmonisation+will+be+an+adequate+strategy+for+most+data+collecting+and+processing+systems.+Other+strategies+like+input+harmonisation+will+be+too+ambitious+at+the+moment+but+might+be+a+strategy+in+the+long+run.+In+this+context+IT+should+be+an+integral+part+to+improve+and+speed+up+all+steps+from+data+collection+to+dissemination.+%0D%0AMost+of+the+experts+agreed+that+certification+bodies+should+be+obliged+to+collect+and+process+their+data+but+should+be+supported+by+fundings+for+their+extra+workload.+A+voluntary+system+will+not+lead+to+a+harmonised+system+with+a+minimum+standard+of+data+quality.+It+was+agreed+that+a+EU-Commission+leadership+for+implementation+is+needed.%0D%0AThe+positive+experience+of+some+countries+like+Denmark+with+common+operator+identification+numbers+should+be+a+basis+for+discussion+in+the+other+countries+to+develop+similar+systems.+It+was+further+proposed+that+meeting+and+working+groups+have+to+be+established+where+all+related+national+and+international+experts+should+be+integrated+to+discuss+possible+solutions+to+develop+and+harmonise+data+collection%2C+processing+and+dissemination.+For+all+levels+it+was+suggested+that+an+easy+and+timely+access+to+data+especially+an+online+access+is+important+which+is+in+accordance+to+the+new+dissemination+practice+of+Eurostat+to+allow+free+access+to+data.++%0D%0AFinally%2C+it+became+clear+that+much+effort+has+to+be+made+to+convince+the+key+persons+at+the+Commission%2C+DG+Agri%2C+Eurostat+and+in+the+institutions+of+the+European+countries+that+organic+farming+should+get+a+high+priority+making+additional+resources+available+so+that+organic+farming+statistics+can+be+developed+to+a+system+needed+by+policy+makers+and+market+actors.+From+most+of+the+experts+it+was+highlighted+that+the+next+steps+should+not+be+too+ambitious+so+that+the+aims+can+be+reached.%0D%0AProposals+on+the+different+actor+levels+indicate+that+on+the+production%2C+processor+and+wholesaler+level%2C+certification+bodies+should+be+obliged+to+collect+data+on+these+levels.+This+should+be+supported+by+the+development+of+electronic+data+collection+tools%2C+for+quality+assurance+and+reduced+workload+of+data+collectors+and+operators+as+well+as+for+the+development+of+a+harmonised+system+for+dissemination+of+(electronic)+reports.+Inspection+bodies+have+to+be+funded+for+extra+workload.+Besides%2C+the+introduction+of+an+identification+system%2C+which+gives+one+identification+number+to+all+market+actors+in+every+country+of+the+EU%2C+can+help+to+simplify+administrative+problems.+%0D%0AOn+the+trade+level%2C+discussion+shows+that+the+existing+data+collection+on+the+Intra-+and+Extra-EU-Trade+level+can+be+extended+to+a+differentiation+between+organic+and+conventional+data.+This+will+lead+to+an+organic+market+data+basis%2C+which+market+actors+and+policy+makers+are+looking+for.%0D%0AThe+situation+on+the+retailer+and+consumer+level+is+much+more+difficult+than+on+the+other+levels.+As+there+is+no+official+system+and+as+the+main+data+collectors+are+private+companies+competing+in+the+market%2C+the+only+solution+seems+to+be+to+develop+data+collection+and+processing+systems+parallel+to+the+existing+systems+for+total+data.+As+everywhere+in+the+public+administration%2C+budgets+have+been+lowered+over+the+last+few+years.+Therefore%2C+policy+makers+and+responsible+statisticians+must+discuss+the+question+of+introducing+and+implementing+new+information+systems+on+organic+markets.%0D%0A&rft.publisher=Stiftung+%C3%83%C2%96kologie+und+Landbau&rft.contributor=Richter%2C++Toralf&rft.contributor=Kovacs%2C+Annamaria&rft.date=2005&rft.type=Projektbeschreibung+mit+Link+zur+Projekthomepage&rft.type=NonPeerReviewed&rft.format=application%2Fpdf&rft.identifier=http%3A%2F%2Forgprints.org%2F6220%2F1%2Ffibl-projekt-soziooekonomie-statistik-EISfOM.pdf&rft.identifier=%7BProjekt%7D+EU-EISfOM%3A+FA+European+Information+System+for+Organic+Markets.+Laufzeit%3A+2003+-+2006.+Projekt+Projektleiter%2Fin%3A+Richter%2C+Toralf%2C+Research+Institute+of+Organic+Agriculture+(FiBL)%2C+CH-5070+Frick.+Weitere+Informationen+online+unter%3A+%3Chttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.eisfom.org%2F+%3Chttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.eisfom.org%2F%3E%3E.&rft.relation=http%3A%2F%2Forgprints.org%2F6220%2F