If Organic and Agroecological Farming are the Answer, Why Isn’t Change Happening Faster?

With Dr Shadi Hashem from Aberdeen University, Scotland and Andreia Arbenz, policy researcher at Agroscope, Switzerland (short biographies below).

We know from previous webinars that there is a sizable body of research demonstrating how organic and agroecological farming increase biodiversity and help farmers find resilient solutions to ever-more frequent periods of drought and deluge.

We also know that on the ground, there is still inertia and resistance to change. This webinar explores why.

We take a deep dive into two current studies, looking at 

1. the mechanics and practicalities needed to make conversion to organic farming appealing and achievable
2. farmers’ motivations and intentions when looking at how to make changes to their farm systems

The presentations

1. Shadi Hashem asks why uptake to organic conversion remains achingly slow, despite featuring in various policy agendas like the EU’s Farm to Fork strategy. Where and what are the pressures and knotty interconnections that influence whether a decision to convert to organic is made or shelved?

In depth interviews across the sector in Denmark, Germany, Scotland and Spain have identified how broader systems (supply chains, policy, business models etc) influence, on top of decisions made on farm.

Shining a light on this ‘viciously complex’ landscape of interdependencies and feedback loops, Shadi argues for the need for a profound re-configuration of the whole agri-food system; and in this space, potential levers for expansion are revealed.

2. Andreia Arbenz tells us about a study exploring the different reasons why grassland farmers in the Swiss Alps intend (or not) to adopt agroecological practices. The study focusses on key elements – diversity, synergies, efficiency, recycling – and looks at the why some farmers intend to make changes and others don’t, and of those who did, what the most common changes were.

Unsurprisingly, the results show that farming – and farm businesses – are complex and multifaceted, with many moving parts. Andreia highlights how demographics and behaviour affect decision-making at farm level, and points out that using a one-size-fits-all approach to scaling up agroecology may not be an effective strategy.

This webinar is of interest to

• Farmers, for insights into agroecological practices and their adoption across Europe.
• Researchers exploring the adoption of agroecology and its climate impact.
• Policy makers and agroecological organisations/influencers interested in behavioural factors that can help to shape effective policies to scale-up agroecology, for the benefit of sustainable agriculture and climate adaptation.

By the end of the webinar, you will know more about:

• the wider complexities that affect decisions made by farm businesses
• the need for a consistent infrastructure and framework that will enable change and iron out the current blocks
• why this is important for farms, agri-food businesses, citizens and landscapes across Europe

About our speakers

Dr. Shadi Hashem is a social scientist at the University of Aberdeen, specialising in sustainability transitions, with a focus on promoting sustainable production, supply chains, and consumption. His current research within the VISIONARY project aims to enhance the sustainability of agri-food systems by generating in-depth insights into the drivers and barriers influencing the transition towards more sustainable food provisioning systems.

Andreia Arbenz is an agricultural scientist and PhD researcher at Agroscope, Switzerland, and the University of Bonn, Germany. As part of the Agroecology-TRANSECT project, she explores how Swiss grassland farmers make decisions in the transition to agroecology, examining their current agroecological performance, intentions to enhance it, and the influence of social norms in scaling out agroecology. 

This webinar is jointly held by us, Agroecology-TRANSECT, and VISIONARY, an EU project networking scientists, NGOs and practitioners across Europe with an interest in steering Europe’s food system toward a more sustainable future.