Epsilon Archive for Student Projects

Abstract

There are divided opinions about which production system, conventional or organic, is the solution of the future. Conventional farming gives the population cheaper and more amount of food, while organic farming has been proven to promote ecosystem services and good soil health. Regardless, the European Union have a goal of increasing the organic arable land with 25% in each member states till 2030. Sweden has its own goal with 30% organic arable land till year 2030. But today the organic arable land in Sweden is decreasing, and the goal is seen to be harder to reach. This study’s purpose is to explore what external and internal factors affect a farmers decision-making process of choosing to adopt a conventional or organic farming method. The methodology is based on semi-structured interviews with a total of nine farmers, five organic farmers and four conventional farmers. The conceptual framework is based on prominent factors from previous research. Factors that have an influence on a farmers decision-making process. This conceptual framework made a basis for analysing and discussion of the result. In summary, both organic and conventional farmers had the market as a significant influential external factor for adopting their respective production methods. The internal factors influencing conventional farmers were economic values and working conditions in form of less workload. While organic farmers internal factors were environmental values and working conditions in form of less work with chemical inputs. The results indicates that the market must have a potential for the farmer to choose either production method, but internal values differed and were a stronger influence.