creators_name: Lee, Howard
creators_name: Fowler, Susan
editors_name: Powell, Jane
editors_name: et al., 
type: conference_item
datestamp: 2006-04-28
lastmod: 2009-08-20 14:32:03
metadata_visibility: show
title: A critique of methodologies for the comparison of organic and conventional farming systems
ispublished: pub
subjects: 9research
subjects: 2farming
subjects: 2farmecon
full_text_status: public
keywords: literature review;  farming systems; farm surveys, field studies; case studies; economics; methodologies; management; Colloquium of Organic Researchers (COR)
abstract: This paper was presented at the UK Organic Research 2002 Conference of the Colloquium of Organic Researchers (COR).
A review is presented of comparative studies of organic and conventional farming systems, with a special focus upon economic criteria. The different categories of comparison methodologies are critically reviewed. Conclusions are that classic experimentation has a valuable part to play but that more qualitative assessment can also be useful and should be encouraged. Careful allowance should be made for major background differences in management when comparing financial profitability. Longer term case studies, which try to monitor organic systems in their own right, should also be encouraged.
date: 2002
date_type: published
publication: Proceedings of the UK Organic Research 2002 Conference
publisher: Organic Centre Wales, Institute of Rural Studies, University of Wales Aberystwyth
pagerange: 281-284
refereed: never
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citation: Lee, Howard and Fowler, Susan (2002) A critique of methodologies for the comparison of organic and conventional farming systems. UK Organic Research 2002 Conference of the Colloquium of Organic Researchers (COR), Aberystwyth, 26-28 March 2002. In: Powell, Jane and et al., (Eds.) Proceedings of the UK Organic Research 2002 Conference, Organic Centre Wales, Institute of Rural Studies, University of Wales Aberystwyth, pp. 281-284.
document_url: http://orgprints.org/8234/1/lee_fowler_system_comparison_methodologies.pdf