Certified and non-certified organic farming in the developing world.

Abstract

This chapter analyses the dynamics behind the growth of organic farming in the developing world. It identifies two organizational trajectories within this; a highly visible, and rapidly growing, formal certified sector and a less easily quantified, informal or agro-ecological sector. The former is clearly oriented towards global commodity chains and is intended to bring benefits to producers by offering premia for ecological production and, as such, can be viewed as a form of ecological modernization. The latter approach implies a reconceptualization of Northern perceptions about organic farming, in so much as those adopting this approach often report higher yields, incomes and net returns, leading to enhanced food and economic security. This chapter examines these reported benefits through the prisms of agronomy, economics, multifunctionality and livelihood analysis.