Organic agriculture: sustainability, markets and policies : [OECD Workshop on Organic Agriculture, held on 23 - 26 September 2002 in Washington, DC]

The economic performance of organic farms is mixed, with considerable variation in the yields achieved and the premiums received for products within and across OECD countries. This publication reveals that organic agriculture is disadvantaged by current agricultural support policies, and the proliferation of standards and labels has sometimes confused consumers and impeded trade. A key policy challenge is to ensure that both the positive and negative externalities of different agricultural production systems are taken into account. Read more...

Organic agriculture is one of the most rapidly developing market segments in OECD countries. Policy measures have been introduced in many of these countries to encourage and promote organic farming. But what is the contribution of organic agriculture to sustainable development? What issues should be addressed by policies? And what are governments doing and how effective have their actions been?

This book examines these issues. Based on papers presented at an OECD workshop held in September 2002, in Washington DC, it shows that organic agriculture is less stressful on the environment, but that its economic performance is mixed. The book also concludes that organic agriculture is disadvantaged by current support policies and that the proliferation of standards and labels may confuse consumers and inhibit trade. This book contains papers by the leading experts in the field and covers the key issues facing organic agriculture today. Anyone with an interest in organic agriculture will find this a fascinating and valuable book.

This paper provides an introduction the OECD Workshop on Organic Agriculture, being held as part of the work programme on agriculture and environment under the auspices of the Joint Working Party on Agriculture and Environment.