4.4 Values related to the principle of fairness
4.4.5 Conflicts between the principle of fairness and other organic values
This was the most important area in which value conflicts were discussed across all groups and countries. In Austria, financial necessities and the great number of
regulations were seen as an area of value conflict, especially in relation to animal husbandry. Producers from smallholdings were concerned about the future of their livelihoods in organic farming. Recently converted farmers addressed conflicts between economic survival and diversity, and between globalisation and fair prices for organic products. Another perceived value conflict involved the expectation that organic products should be available for all consumers, which was seen as
threatening the survival of smallholders.
Italian producers were concerned about low remuneration of organic farmers and tried to identify reasons for this; many producers saw this as a problem for the whole agricultural sector.
I always thought that organic farming was the only choice to escape from a
situation where everybody earns but the producer. It was a hope. Now I really
doubt it (IT, Cm).
Another commonly made point was the lack of marketing structure in the organic sector, which provides less access to supply the big distribution chains. However, there was no specific reference to organic sector values contrasting with livelihood or fairness to producers.
In Switzerland, the main discussion focused on a potential conflict between financial pressure and different dimensions of sustainability. Staff of the organic organisation pointed out that internalisation of external costs in agriculture would create a more level playing field for organic farming.
Agriculture should principally have all external costs internalised. Organic
farming represents the future ideal farming system when the real macro-economic
costs, such as environment costs and transport costs, should be reflected in the
product cost. This is the logical consequence of organic farming (CH, Om).
Another value conflict identified was between diversification and the farm workload. Researchers were concerned about communicating the costs of potential social standards and other new standards in organic farming, which could lead to even higher prices for the consumer.
In the UK, focus groups perceived conflicts between profitability and values. Established organic producers saw the need for political lobbying for the organic farming sector, which they thought should take a stand against agri-business and in favour of the environment and nature. Shareholders’ desire to make a profit was seen as being in conflict with a more sustainable development process. UK producers in general were concerned that making a profit should not be allowed to have a negative impact on other organic values, especially food quality, but they expected the principle of fairness to apply to their own incomes. Both the focus groups of experienced organic producers saw the supermarkets’ policy of low prices as conflicting directly with their own need for livelihood and profitability. The current financial climate of agriculture was seen as conflicting with a value-driven approach like organic farming.
However, in the group of researchers, it was pointed out that it was not so much that values were in conflict with each other (e.g. sustainability and fair trade) but
that conflicts or difficulties would be encountered in achieving both sets of values. The researchers saw the fair price as a way to enable producers to meet many of the other organic agriculture values. Mainly the smaller producers saw a conflict between diversity and profitability. The costs of complying with current regulations (such as food hygiene) limit the number of enterprises that a farm can have and so create a driver towards greater specialisation, especially for smaller farms.
4.4.6 Summary of values related to the fairness principle
In summary, maintaining their income was of concern to all the participatingproducers, and the concern was shared by other stakeholders, such as policy makers in Italy. Financial sustainability was seen as difficult to achieve in agriculture, but farmers saw opportunities to improve incomes on organic farms through direct payments, direct sales initiatives, and higher consumer price premiums for organic products. Although farmers’ work is hard, most participants considered that organic farming can represent a good working opportunity, especially for young generations, and can be satisfying as it brings more people back to the land.
Participants in some countries worried that farm support payments might be “unfair”, but they were recognised as an incentive to farm organically. Many producers stated clearly that despite their desire to maintain a fair income, they did not want to sacrifice all other values for profitability. Converting farmers were especially explicit that they were farming to make a living. However, with the possible exception of distribution problems in Italy, financial problems with food production were not considered as especially organic issues.
The issue of a fair price was approached from two angles. Some groups discussed the value of keeping organic products affordable to a wide range of consumers. However, established organic producers felt that the growing involvement of multiple retailers, with its resulting downward pressure on prices, could endanger their
livelihoods in the long term, and many of them, especially vegetable producers, talked about developing alternative marketing outlets.
Producers expressed the belief that farming organically gave them greater flexibility and independence, especially from the agro-business sector. Overall, producers were proud to be able to make a living whilst practising what they considered a more environmentally benign approach, but they saw this as conflicting with external societal values.
Most farmers were aiming for long-term sustainability in their systems and talked about the value of being able to pass on the family farm to future generations. Generating employment through organic farming was discussed; the emphasis among the farmers was on the difficulty of managing higher workloads, but researchers and policymakers saw a more general value in creating more work. Conflicts between livelihood and other values were discussed in all groups; the increasing economic pressure to produce cheaper food was seen as conflicting with high quality and organic production. In particular, there were seen to be conflicts involving diversification, labour requirements, and economies of scale.