ORGANIC FARMING AND SUSTAINABILITY

The Slovenian case study

Barbara Lampič

University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Arts, Department of Geography

Aškerčeva 2, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia

Abstract

In the paper key factors influencing the development dynamics of organic farming in Slovenia are presented together with crucial characteristics of organic farms and their role in the domestic organic food production. We evaluated the acknowledged contribution of organic farming to protection of the environment and sustainable development. The case of Slovenia makes clear that inadequate early planning of organic farming can have long-term consequences that are difficult to fix later. Growing of organic sector is not a guarantee for sustainable development. Both, the structure of production itself as well as the adequate spatial representation of organic farms in vulnerable areas and high value protected areas are of great importance for sustainable spatial development and positive environmental impact of organic farm practices.

Introduction

The purpose of the paper is to present the key factors influencing the development dynamics of organic farming in Slovenia and characteristics of organic farms with a special emphasis on the role of the domestic organic production and related demand. Furthermore we focused our research also in valorisation of organic farming contribution to the sustainable development from the geographical aspect – spatial distribution of organic farms.

Regarding conditions for agriculture, Slovenia is characterized as a country with unfavorable conditions for agriculture. 74% of farmland is classified as less favorite areas (LFA) for agriculture. Here traditional self-sufficient farming is prevailing (mostly orientated in livestock breeding). The conversion to organic farming practices is much easier and quicker in these areas. On the other hand intensive and high productive agriculture is mainly concentrated in fertile gravel plainswith important drinking water supplies.

The “Action Plan for the Development of Organic Farming in Slovenia until 2015” (2005) sets the ambitious aim to reach 15% share of organic utilized agricultural areas and a 10% share of domestic organic produce in the total food expenses until 2015. It is obviously now that we will not reach this ambitious aims. Theimportant reason is that we did not recognizeall multiple effects of organic farming on different segments of environment and sustainable development.

Development dynamics of organic farming

The promotion of organic agriculture has been intensively introduced by the EU Rural Development Programme with special subsidies for organic food producers (organic farmers). Since 1999 the subsidies were crucial for developing of organic sector in Slovenia and also many other EU countries.

With 6.4% of organic farmlandin 2010 Slovenia is ranking at the EU-27 average; only the few EU member states Slovenia (together with Czech Republic and Estonia) is forming the group that has been able to develop organic farming, adapt agricultural legislation and introduce rural development programs already in the accession period (Lampič et al., 2010). Actually we argue that Slovenia has not been able to recognize its natural advantages and develop them into widely recognizable sustainable model of agriculture at the “right” time (Klemenčič, Lampič, Potočnik Slavič, 2008) therefore the organic production is still rather sporadic and “not” market orientated.

In 2010 there were 2.218 farms included in organic control system (representing modest 2.7% of all farms in Slovenia) with 30,735 ha of organic farmland. Out of this figure, 1.897 farms have already received organic certificate. The increase of organic producers (farms) and the extent of organic agriculture land in Slovenia were extremely high right after the introduction of environmental subsidies for organic farming but since 2007 the growth is more stable.

Source: MAFFa, 2011

Figure 1: Numerical growth of organic farms and organic farmland (ha) in Slovenia (in the period between 2000 and 2010)

Comparing the organic farmland structure of Slovenia and other EU countries; Slovenia has above average percentage of permanent grassland (around 90%) and rather insignificant percentage of arable land. The structure of organic farmland generates the farm specialization where organic stock-breeding farms prevail. In 2010 almost 60% of organic farms were orientated in livestock breeding, around 15% to permanent crops and horticulture and 10% to field crops farming (Slabe et al., 2010).

Source: MAFFa, 2011

Figure 2: The comparison of farm size structure; organic and all farms in Slovenia

The average organic farm size is in comparison to the average Slovenian farm relatively big that means 14.5 ha in the year 2010. From the size structure of Slovenian farms (see figure 2) we see the important difference between organic and conventional agriculture sector. Small agricultural holdings (less than 5 ha of farmland) are prevailing with almost 60% but in organic sector farms from 10 to 50 ha prevailing.

Organic food market in Slovenia

The fact that organic farming has been an economic activity with the positive development trend for the last 15 years in the EU is encouraging. Also consumption in two biggest worlds markets, Europe and North America is growing close to 20% annually (Halberg et al., 2006), in some European countries even to 30% (Slabe et al., 2010). It is important that organic agriculture is one of the most rapidly developed market segments in the countries all over the world, even in developing countries (Halberg et al., 2006).

In the last few years the production of organic food and also interest of Slovenian consumers for organic products have increased scientifically. Market supplies have been enlarged and dispersed from specialized shops and organic food markets to shopping malls (Lampič, et al., 2010). But despite the growth of the organic food demand on the large EU markets, the organic sector does not represent more than 1% of total food expenses in Slovenia (estimation in 2009) (Slabe et al., 2010). Also very low is per capita expenditure for organic food and beverages which amounts to 17 EUR. If we compare this with per capita expenditure in some other developed EU countries for example with Austria (104 EUR) or Denmark (139 EUR) it is obviously that our organic market is still developing.

Although the market for organic food in Slovenia is still relatively small, it has been growing fast (10 to 15% per year) and the level of consumers’ preference for domestic products is high. That was proved with our field research (Field survey, 2010), where 57% of consumers (433 included in survey) pointed out the preference for domestic Slovenian organic food and just 13% of them do not care about origin of the organic products.This presents a notable market opportunity for domestic producers, for direct selling and even more for larger producers to supply retail and processors.

Can organic farming contribute to sustainable development?

In the context of geographical research and valuation of the role of organic farming as an activity which can contribute significantly towards sustainable development (primarily through positive environmental impacts), we studied the expansion of organic farming in areas with a high environmental value (protected areas, Natura 2000 areas), in less favoured areas (LFA) for farming, and in highly sensitive water protection areas. In keeping with legislation and policies as part of the Rural Development Programme, organic farming should be given priority in the development of areas which have the highest natural value, and which for reasons of natural resource protection (drinking water) are strategically important.

Figure 3: Distribution of organic farms in Slovenia

The importance of the distribution of organic farms and the associated environmental contribution of organic farming to the sustainable development of Slovenia (particularly in preserving the quality of drinking water and good quality farmland) is all the greater if we consider the fact that in Slovenia, which has predominantly mountainous and karstic topography, farmland represents only a bit more than 30% of the territory. The modest extent of farmland, in which grassland predominates, has been under intense pressure from a number of special interests in the last decade, leading to a further decrease in the extent of farmland in use. At the same time, the issue of agricultural self-sufficiency has come to the fore recently as a crucial development problem, and the value of quality agricultural land in Slovenia has risen.

The Action Plan for the Development of Organic Farming in Slovenia until 2015 anticipates that 15% of farmland in Slovenia will be organically farmed by 2015. While this goal is unrealistic, a corresponding environmental effect could be achieved through the appropriate spatial representation (and specialization) of organic farms.

Using data on the location of organic farms, we estimated the representation of organically farmed land and organic farms in areas which are critically important for Slovenia from the standpoint of environmental protection and sustainable development.

Sensitive areas / Utilized agriculture land (ha) / Share of utilized agriculture land (%) / Area in organic control (ha) / Share of area in organic control (%) / No. of organic farms / Share of organic farms
Protected areas / 66,293 / 10.69 / 1,487.2 / 4.98 / 124 / 6.0
Areas of Natura 2000 / 142,067 / 22.91 / 6,820.2 / 22.86 / 369 / 17.9
Less favoured areas (LFA) / 449,000 / 72.39 / 28,197.5 / 94.51 / 1,922 / 93.0
Water protection areas / 95,768 / 15.44 / 4,913.3 / 16.47 / 263 / 12.7

Source: MAFFb, 2011

Table 1: Representation of organic farming in environmentally valuable and sensitive areas in Slovenia

Since Slovenia is characterized by poor conditions for farming, the share of farmland located in less favoured areas (LFA) is almost 75%. In Slovenia LFAs are defined based on EU regulations and confirmed in the Rural Development Programme 2007-2013 (RDP). With respect to the criteria which are used for the definition of these areas, they are divided into three groups: mountain areas, other LFAs (low productivity), and areas with specific handicaps (flood-prone areas, areas subject to high winds, and similar). Taking into account the spatial distribution of organic farms, it turned out that as much as 94.5% of organically farmed land and 93% of all organic farms are located in areas where conditions for cultivation are difficult and the yield is correspondingly lower. Thus we can also understand why the greatest share of organic farms in Slovenia specializes in livestock husbandry. Such a distribution indicates that organic farming in Slovenia is given priority by farms where conditions for cultivation are poor, and farming practices are extensive and directed mainly towards self-sufficiency. In this way we also arrive at the answer as to why Slovenian farmers are far from adapting to the demands of the Slovenian market and the growing demand for organically produced food.

From the standpoint of sustainable development, a somewhat more favourable picture is shown by the representation of organic farms in Natura 2000 areas. This is a network of special protected areas determined by the member states of the EU. Its principal aim is to preserve biotic diversity.The EU created the Natura 2000 network as an important part of implementing the Habitats Directive and the Birds Directive. These two directives support sustainable development, which is defined as meeting the needs of current generations while preserving the environment so that the needs of future generations may also be met. Nearly 36% of the whole of Slovenia’s territory is included in the Natura 2000 network, and 23% of its farmland (MAFFb, 2011). The spatial representation of organic farming indicates that 18% of organic farms are located in Natura 2000 areas, and almost 23% of farmland there is cultivated using organic methods. Agricultural policy is designed to encourage the development of sustainable forms of agriculture in areas with high natural value, but nevertheless our assessment is that more incentives to stimulate the spread of organic farming in areas with high biodiversity are needed.

Protected areas are nationally recognized high-value areas.Slovenia as one of the countries with the highest degree of biodiversity in the EU has 12% of its territory protected under various conservation categories, but only 11% of farmland lies in protected areas. Since particular protected areas exclude some settled areas (for example, Triglav National Park), the representation of organic farms in these areas is very meagre. It is a fact that protected areas in their development strategies often do not recognize the multi-functionality of organic farming and its contribution to integrated sustainable development.In general, practically all agricultural production in protected areas, which are often directed towards sustainable forms of tourism development, should be organic.

The gap between the achievement of sustainable development and the representation of organic farming can also be seen in water protection areas. These areas are one of the most important forms of protection of water bodies which are important for drinking water supply. Water protection areas and management regimes are established by means of special regulations. Within a water protection area, there are different degrees of protection, depending on the natural features and degree to which aquifers and surface water are threatened. The regulations define three levels or categories of water protection areas: VVO I (the narrowest zone), in which a very strict regime of protection is applied (banned or restricted use of mineral fertilizers, manure, and slurry as well as phytopharmaceutical substances), VVO II (narrower zone), and VVO III (wider zone) (MAFFb, 2011).

Slovenia is rich in water resources, and the area of water protection areas amounts to 345,127 ha, or 17% of the country’s total area. 15.5%of farmland is located in water protection areasbut it should be pointed out that for the most part this is high quality fertile land in gravel plains farmed using intensive methods. The goal of many policies as well as agricultural environmental measures is to protect strategic natural resources (drinking water). The high environmental sensitivity of water protection areas should require the strictest protective measures, in particular from the negative impacts of settlement and intensive agricultural practices. Agriculture in water protection areas should be specialized in organic farming in its entirety, yet it is precisely here that the greatest ineffectiveness of all existing regulations is seen: only 13% of organic farms are located in water protection areas, and only 16% of the farmland there is organically cultivated.

Conclusions

The case of Slovenia makes clear that inadequate early planning and guidance of the development of organic farming can have long-term consequences that are difficult to fix later, both in the structure of production itself (fartoo little specialization in the production of field crops and garden produce) as well as in the inadequate spatial representation of organic farms (in vulnerable areas of drinking water supply and high value protected areas).

Due to the numerous natural limitations, conditions for agriculture in Slovenia are difficult in many places, but the environmental and climatic diversity makes possible very heterogeneous cultivation. Despite this, Slovenia did not recognize the importance of growing and processing its own food soon enough. In the last decade the dependence on food imports has increased substantially, consumption habits have changed, and we have neglected our own production and processing in many segments. Currently Slovenia has a low level of self-sufficiency (around 40%), and in particular a very low level of self-sufficiency in organically produced food. Despite the rapid growth of the organic sector after 2000, Slovenian organic producers are characterized by their “passive” approach—production is low in both extent and heterogeneity, and there is consequently very little market orientation.

We evaluated the acknowledged contribution of organic farming to protection of the environment and sustainable development in the case of the current situation in Slovenia. The connection between the role of organic farming and sustainable can be summarized as follows:

  • The growth of the organic sector (the number of organic farms and organically farmed holdings) was fairly rapid in Slovenia up until 2008 but more recently has slowed. However, the actual area involved does not reach the target values which we defined in 2005 in the Action Plan for the Development of Organic Farming in Slovenia.
  • The gap between the demand for and supply of organic food is even more significant. The current supply of Slovenian farmers is inadequate in both volume and type of food produced (livestock husbandry strongly predominates) and lags behind demand (vegetables, fruits, grains). We lag well behind other European countries in the segment of domestic production for the market and we are far from reaching the targets set in the Action Plan for the Development of Organic Farming (2005).
  • From the standpoint of sustainable development the existing distribution of organic farms is also inadequate: mainly it is farms in mountain areas that use organic cultivation practices, while far too few farms adopt organic farming methods in protected areas and in low-lying areas with groundwater, where Slovenia has strategic reserves of drinking water.
  • Despite the gaps mentioned between the actual state and the goals of organic farming in the light of sustainable development, the growth in consumption of organic food is strongly positive. Particularly important is the growing demand for Slovenian organic products.

A number of activities are currently under way at the level of national policies for increasing self-sufficiency, better quality, and greater variety of domestic production. The role of traditional self-sufficient farming is growing once again; judging by current global aspirations, for a number of economically weaker countries in particular, the timely awareness of the importance of one’s own agricultural production and especially rapid action will be of crucial importance.

Bibliography

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Halberg, N., Alroe, H., Knudsen, M. T. & Kristensen, E. S. eds., (2006). Global development of organic agriculture: Challenges and promises. CABI Publishing.

Kilcher, L., Willer, H., Huber, B., Frieden, C., Schmutz, R. & Schmid, O. (2011): The Organic Market in Europe: 3rd edition May 2011, SIPPO, Zurich and FiBL,Frick, 184.

Klemečič M. M., Lampič B., PotočnikSlavičI. (2008). Življenjska (ne)moč obrobnih podeželskih območij v Sloveniji. GeograFF 3. Ljubljana, 149.