Article
Conventionalization of Organic Agriculture: A Multiple Case Study Analysis in Brazil and Italy
Registration in:
ROVER, O. J.; PUGAS, A. S.; DE GENNARO, B. C.; VITTORI, F.; ROSELLI, L. Conventionalization of Organic Agriculture:A Multiple Case Study Analysis in Brazil and Italy. Sustainability. v. 12, n. 16, 2020.
2071-1050
Author
Rover, Oscar José
Pugas, Adevan da Silva
De Gennaro, Bernardo Corrado
Vittori, Francesco
Roselli, Luigi
Institutions
Abstract
The conventionalization of organic agriculture has been described as a process in which
organic agriculture increasingly adopts the features of conventional modes of production based
on industrial farming methods. The increasing supply of organic products to the large retailers is
considered the main driver of conventionalization. This process has negative implications for the
agrobiodiversity of organic farming systems. The present study aims to investigate and analyze the
impact of retailing strategies on the agrobiodiversity of organic farms. A survey of farms located
in rural areas near large urban centers (three metropolitan regions in Southern Brazil and four
Italian regions) was undertaken. Data was collected through face-to-face interviews based on a
semi-structured questionnaire. The analysis indicates that the farms surveyed maintained a high
level of agrobiodiversity and active participation in alternative food networks. Our findings point out
that there was a significant and positive correlation between the crop richness index and the share of
farm sales through alternative food networks. We conclude that adopting various forms of direct sale
is the key factor in stimulating farms’ agrobiodiversity, but proximity to densely populated areas is a
necessary precondition for the development of the short food supply chains needed to stimulate the
diversification of organic agriculture.