?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Adc&rft.title=Organic+Farming+in+Austria&rft.creator=Vogl%2C+C.+R.&rft.creator=He%C3%83%C2%9F%2C+J.&rft.subject=Austria&rft.subject=+Farming+Systems&rft.subject=+Values%2C+standards+and+certification&rft.description=During+the+present+decade%2C+Austria+has+experienced+a+dramatic+increase+in+organic+farming+among+those+countries+that+comprise+the+European+Union+(EU).+For+example%2C+in+1992%2C+approximately+2%2C000+farms+were+practicing+organic%2C+ecological%2C+or+biodynamic+farming+methodes.+By+1997+the+number+of+certified+organic+farms+plus+those+in+transition+from+conventional+farming+had+increased+10-fold+to+some+20%2C000+farms.+This+represents+almost+9%25+of+the+total+farms+in+Austria+and+an+area+of+345%2C375+ha%2C+or+10%25+of+the+total+cultivated+farmland.+The+largest+concentration+of+organic+farms+is+in+regions+with+a+high+proportion+of+alpine+grassland+or+pastures.+Approximately+50%25+of+the+organic+farms+range+in+size+from+5+to+15+ha.+The+strong+organic+movement+in+Austria+can+be+attributed+to+a)+government+subsidies+which+provide+incentives+to+organic+farmers+and+b)+widepread+acceptance+of+organic+products+and+their+brand+names+by+large+food+chains+and+supermarkets.+More+than+60%25+of+organic+farmers+are+affiliated+with+associations+and+organizations+that+provide+advisory+and+support+services+in+marketing+activities.+Certification+of+organic+farms+and+food+processors+is+conducted+by+seven+monitoring+bodies+according+to+EU+regulations+No.+2092%2F91%2C+which+guarantees+legally-binding+standards+of+food+saftey+and+quality+to+EU+consumers%2C+and+according+to+the+Austian+Alimentari+Codex.+Since+January+1998%2C+all+monitoring%2Fcertifying+bodies+in+Austria+must+verify+accreditation+according+to+rgulation+European+Norm+45011.+The+major+supermarket+chain+offers+a+variety+of+organic+dairy+and+meat+products%2C+as+well+as+organic+ice+cream%2C+pizza%2C+vegetables%2C+fruits%2C+baby+foods%2C+and+bread.+The+current+domestic+wholesale+value+of+organic+products+arketed+from+Austria+farms+is+approximately+170+million+US%24+annually.+Unfortunately%2C+funding+for+support+of+scientific+research+and+extension+to+enhance+organic+farming+and+marketing+has+not+kept+pace+with+the+increasing+number+of+organic+farms+and+farmers.+Additional+funding+is+essential+to+ensure+the+sustainable+development+of+the+organic+movement+and+the+organic+market.+&rft.date=1999&rft.type=Journal+paper&rft.type=NonPeerReviewed&rft.format=application%2Fpdf&rft.identifier=http%3A%2F%2Forgprints.org%2F7059%2F1%2FCV_AJAA_1999_14_3_137_143_Vogl.pdf&rft.identifier=Vogl%2C+C.+R.+and+He%C3%83%C2%9F%2C+J.+(1999)+Organic+Farming+in+Austria.+American+Journal+of+Alternative+Agriculture%2C+14+(3)%2C+pp.+137-143.&rft.relation=http%3A%2F%2Forgprints.org%2F7059%2F