creators_name: Padel, Susanne
creators_id: 348
editors_name: Darnhofer, Ika
editors_name: Schermer, Markus
type: journalp
datestamp: 2006-09-16
lastmod: 2009-08-20 14:34:00
metadata_visibility: show
title: Values of organic producers converting at different times: Results of a focus group study in five European countries
ispublished: inpress
subjects: regulation
subjects: 6values
subjects: 4social
full_text_status: public
keywords: conventionalisation, adoption/diffusion, conversion process
abstract: The paper presents the results of a focus group study of the values of organic producers entering the sector at different times in Austria, Italy, the Netherlands, the UK and Switzerland. As well as expressing values widely associated with organic farming, such as food quality, health and environmental protection, established and converting producers also mentioned professional challenge, fairness in the food chain, and maintaining farm income as important values. The reviewed literature includes examples of a theory of conventionalisation which implies that later converting producers are less committed to core organic values than the previously established organic producers. The conclusions of this paper do not support this idea. In interpreting the observed differences between the values of established and converting producers, it is argued that these are consistent with some aspects of adoption diffusion model, but changes in external circumstances and the learning experience that conversion represents must also be considered. 
date: 2008
date_type: published
publication: International Journal of Agricultural Resources, Governance and Ecology (IJARGE)
volume: 7
number: 1
publisher: INDERSCIENCE PUBLISHERS
pagerange: 63-77
refereed: yes
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citation: Padel, Susanne (2008) Values of organic producers converting at different times: Results of a focus group study in five European countries. International Journal of Agricultural Resources, Governance and Ecology (IJARGE), 7 (1), pp. 63-77. [ In Press , 2008]
document_url: http://orgprints.org/9258/1/Padel_Values_IJARGE_08.pdf