Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-4rdpn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-19T15:38:14.783Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Organic farmers and conventional distribution systems: The recent expansion of the organic food market in Denmark

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 October 2009

Johannes Michelsen
Johannes Michelsen
Affiliation:
Senior Lecturer, Department of Cooperative and Agricultural Research, South Jutland University Center, Niels Bohrs Vej 9, DK-6700 Esbjerg, Denmark.
Get access

Abstract

In 1993, a breakthrough occurred for sales of organic food products in conventional supermarkets in Denmark. Since then, sales have increased markedly and consumers now have a choice between organic and conventional food products in nearly all supermarkets. This success owes much to the intense efforts of three main groups since the mid-1980s. First, organic farmers have increased production and successfully managed economic and organizational problems. Second, the Danish State has supported sales of organic products and farmers' conversion to organic farming by supporting marketing and product innovation and by organizing producers. Third, the largest Danish supermarket chain has contributed by its steady demand for organic products since 1981. Today, all major supermarkets in Denmark are supplied by conventional distributors that handle the products of small organic producer organizations. For nearly two years the system has kept up the positive effects of a market expansion process that was initiated by a major advertising campaign and a modest drop in consumer prices.

Keywords

organic agriculturesupermarketsmarketing cooperativesconversion programssustainable agriculture
Type
Articles
Information
American Journal of Alternative Agriculture , Volume 11 , Issue 1 , March 1996 , pp. 18 - 24
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1996

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1.Bager, T., and Søgaard, V.. 1994. Landmanden og miljøet. (The farmer and the environment). South Jutland University Centre, Esbjerg, Denmark.Google Scholar
2.Bech Jensen, G., and Michelsen, J.. 1990. Samarbejde om afsætning af Økologiske og biodynamiske grøntsager. (Collaboration on sales of organic vegetables). Notat 19/90, Institute of Social and Industrial Development, Cooperative Research, South Jutland University Centre, Esbjerg, Denmark.Google Scholar
3.Beus, C.E., and Dunlap, R.E.. 1991. Assessing alternative vs. conventional agricultural paradigms: A proposed scale. Rural Sociology 56:432–460.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
4.Beus, C.E., and Dunlap, R.E.. 1993. Agricultural policy debates: Examining the alternative and conventional perspectives. Amer. J. Alternative Agric. 8:98–106.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
5.Bjerke, F. 1992. Forbrugernes interesse for Økologiske produkter. (Consumer interest in organic products). National Economics and Planning, Roskilde University Centre, Denmark.Google Scholar
6.Danish Ministry of Agriculture. 1986. Redegørelse om Økologisk jordbrug. (Memorandum on organic farming). Copenhagen.Google Scholar
7.Danish Ministry of Agriculture. 1992. Evaluering af lov nr. 363 af 10. juni 1987 om Økologisk jordbrugsproduktion. (Evaluation of the act on organic farming). Copenhagen.Google Scholar
8.Danish Ministry of Agriculture. 1993. Lovforslag L 190. (Bill L 190). Copenhagen.Google Scholar
9.Garrido, F., and Moyano, E.. 1994. EC and National Regulations on Environment and Agriculture in Denmark, the Netherlands and Spain. Report 1. South Jutland University Centre, Esbjerg, Denmark.Google Scholar
10.Hecq, W., and Vaessen, A. (eds). 1994. Le Marche des Produits de l'Agriculture Biologique dans l'Union Européenne. Les actes du colloque. Association Universitaire pour l'Environnement, and Coopération, Recherche et Animation du Brabannt Wallon de l'Est, Brussels and Jodoigne, Belgium.Google Scholar
11.Jensen, E. 1992. Økologiske jordbrugere og afsaetningen af deres produkter—en Spørgeskemaundersøgelse. (Organic farmers and the sales of their products—a survey). Notat 28/92, Institute of Social and Industrial Development, Cooperative Research, South Jutland University Centre, Esbjerg, Denmark.Google Scholar
12.Kirkeby Hansen, J., and Sørensen, H. C.. 1993. The importance of price for the sale of ecological products. MAPP Working Paper No. 13. Aarhus School of Business, Aarhus, Denmark.Google Scholar
13.Kotler, P. 1991. Marketing Management. Analysis, Planning, Implementation, and Control. 7th ed.Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs, N.J.Google Scholar
14.Kristensen, K., and Grunert, S.. 1992. Den danske forbruger og Økologiske fødevarer. (The Danish Consumer and Organic Products). Series H nr. 62. Institute for Information Processing, Aarhus School of Business, Aarhus, Denmark.Google Scholar
15.Lampkin, N.H., and Padel, S. (eds). 1994. The Economics of Organic Farming: An International Perspective. CAB International, Wallingford, England.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
16.Mejeristatistik 1992/1993. (Dairy Statistics). Federation of Danish Dairies, Aarhus, Denmark.Google Scholar
17.Michelsen, J. 1994. De Økologiske jordbrugere og afsætningen. (Organic farmers and sales). Tidsskrift for Landøkonomi (J. Agric. Economics) 181:193–207. Denmark.Google Scholar
18.Økologisk Jordbrug (Journal of organic farming), (various years). Landsforeningen Økologisk Jordbrug, Aarhus, Denmark.Google Scholar
19.Økologisk Landscenter. 1993. Økoguide. Aarhus, Denmark.Google Scholar
20.Plantedirektoratet. 1992. Rapport 1991, om autorisation og produktion på Økologiske jordbrug. (Report on certification and production on organic holdings in 1991). Copenhagen.Google Scholar
21.Plantedirektoratet. 1993. Rapport 1992, om autorisation og produktion på Økologiske jordbrug. (Report on certification and production on organic holdings in 1992). Copenhagen.Google Scholar
22.Plantedirektoratet. 1995. Autorisation og produktion på Økologiske jordbrug 1993 og 1994. (Certification and production on organic holdings in 1993 and 1994). Copenhagen.Google Scholar