Nature and Nature Values in Organic Agriculture. An Analysis of Contested Concepts and Values Among Different Actors in Organic Farming |
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Authors: | Lene Hansen Egon Noe Katrine Højring |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Agroecology, Danish Institute of Agricultural Sciences Research Centre Foulum, P.O. Box 50, DK-8830 Tjele, Denmark |
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Abstract: | The relationship between agriculture and nature is a central issue in the current agricultural debate. Organic Farming has
ambitions and a special potential in relation to nature. Consideration for nature is part of the guiding principals of organic
farming and many organic farmers are committed to protecting natural qualities. However, the issue of nature, landscape, and
land use is not straightforward. Nature is an ambiguous concept that involves multiple interests and actors reaching far beyond
farmers. The Danish research project Nature Quality in Organic Farming has investigated the relationship between nature and organic farming. This article will focus on an expert workshop held
in connection with the project that investigates the way different actors conceptualize nature. Farmers, scientists, and non-governmental
organizations came together to discuss their experiences of nature and expectations of organic agriculture. From this interaction,
it was clear that nature is a contested notion. Different understandings of nature exist within the three groups and there
is disagreement as to whether emphasis should be given to biological qualities, production values, or experiential and aesthetic
perspectives. This complexity provides a challenge to organic farming as well as to the implementation of nature considerations
in general. It illustrates an underlying battle for the right to define nature and nature quality and essentially decide what
organic farmers should work towards. We argue that successful implementation requires organic farmers to carefully consider
what expectations they wish to meet. Optimally it is dependent on a dialog between stakeholder interest groups that allows
for multivocality and pluralism. |
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Keywords: | actors discourse implementation multivocality nature nature quality organic farming values |
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