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Abstract
In North-Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), the most populated German state
(18 million people), 2.6% of the agricultural area is farmed organically
(as of 1.1.2002). Using data derived from the NRW statistical
office, the statewide extension agencies and organic farmers’ organisations,
the geographical distribution of the organic farms was
investigated by correlating general conditions and the economic
and natural environment. The organically farmed area varied widely
- from 0.1 to 7.5% of total agricultural area - over the 34 administrative
districts of NRW. The focus of this study is an analysis of the
agricultural structure to understand the heterogeneous distribution
of organic farms in NRW. In certain parts of NRW, highly specialised
intensive farming creates a high environmental burden. Although
organic agriculture clearly has a lower negative environmental
impact, the number of organic farms in regions with specialised
intensive production is low. The inherent needs of these specialised
intensive systems restrict the options to simplify and to adopt
organic farming systems, and some products (e.g., pork, sugar beet)
only have access to a very small organic market. Therefore, the
opportunity for increasing the rate of transition (conversion) of
specialised conventional farms to organic farming is very limited
within the current agro-political framework. The analysis of the
heterogeneous spatial distribution of the organic farms illustrates
the need for a different supporting payment system for organic
areas. In addition, measures supporting organic farming should not
be restricted to financial support.