Consumer preferences for farmers’ varieties

Our food value chain is characterized by an ongoing concentration and standardization on all levels and a concomitant loss in diversity. Putting the breeding and multiplication of seeds back into the hands of farmers is one strategy to counteract this concentration process and embed diversity in the food value chain. In this project we investigated consumers’ preferences for so-called farmers’ varieties, using vegetables as an example

More than wheat - the market potential of currently underutilised cereal crops

Diversity in arable production across Europe has been on the decline, with only a few varieties of common wheat, maize and barley accounting formore than85% of the cereals produced in the EU-28in 2015. The focus on only a few crops has shown to increase the risk of production loss due to pests and diseases.We conducted case studies of regional market initiatives in fourcountries to understand the success factors as well as challenges faced by initiatives aiming to increase cereal diversity and promote minor cereal crops. The four initiatives studied were involved with the production and trade of rye, oats, spelt, emmer and einkorn. The major success factors for these initiatives was the niche marketing approach used combined withthe skills and expertise of those involved as well as the knowledge and a network of external actors. These assets allowedthe initiatives to organise a niche market and buildup long lasting relationships all the actors, invest inareliable market planning and focus on consumer trends and needs. The major limitations for the development of the supply chains included the lack ofadapted processing technologyand infrastructure as well as restricted accessto seeds. The examples described here help to increase the diversity ofEuropeancereal production

Creating value(s) by integrating local and extra-local resources in cereal production in the Swiss Alps

This paper explores the long-term prospect of alternative, local food initiatives, taking a particular interest in the development of the embedded local values, understood as economic as well as cultural values. Analysing the case of a cooperative of mountain cereal farmers in Switzerland, we show that sustaining local values-based quality is a dynamic process of linking local and extra-local resources. Our results first show the importance of both proximity and place in constructing the ‘local’ by the cooperative. Second, product flow, knowledge and information exchange, quality control, and innovation are governed by both horizontal and vertical relationships between local and extra-local resources, and these multiple relationships build trust in the network and beyond. This, thirdly, enables the cooperative to continuously reproduce its values by weaving them into a cycle of quality creation. We conclude that we need to understand the characteristic values-based quality of the cooperative’s products as the result of a recurring cycle of local and extra-local knowledge creation and resource exchange

Environmental, Social, and Economic Impacts of Sustainability Certification in the Agricultural Sector – The Current State of Empirical Research

Various stakeholders involved with sustainability certification are interested in knowing whether certification really fulfills its promises. Business managers who have to determine what type of products to source, consumers who are concerned about making appropriate buying decisions for themselves and their families, producers who think about obtaining certification, and sustainability standard initiatives that themselves need arguments to support their certification programs. A recent study conducted by FiBL (Niggli et al 2011) reviewed the current state of empirical research on environmental, social, and economic impacts of sustainability certification in the agricultural sector. One result of the study was that a disproportionate number of research papers are on the impacts of organic standards in comparison to the other labels under investigation (Fairtrade, Sustainable Agriculture Standard certified by the Rainforest Alliance, UTZ Certified, Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil, and Roundtable on Responsible Soy)

Embedding Diversity: Communication and Label Concept for Underutilized Crops – Checklist for your First Evaluation

There are some very successful cases of marketing of underutilized crops in European countries. Examples are the marketing of rare varieties in Austrian and Swiss supermarkets. Other examples are market initiatives in Spain, France, or Italy, selling local produces and processed foods in specialised shops, at farmers markets, or directly at the farm. A consumer survey was conducted in 2017 in France, Italy, Spain, and Switzerland during DIVERSIFOOD project in order to gain additional data on such examples; and Rossi et al. (2016)1 developed the DIVERSIFOOD Case Study Framework. Among others an objective of these studies was to identify some best-case examples for the use of a trademark, label or logo and the related communication strategies. Then a flagship approach to communicate the benefits of underutilized crops by means of a label should be developed. The studies identified many individual approaches of the various marketing initiatives, each based on slightly different secrets of success. Within the DIVERSIFOOD consortium it was concluded that there’s no sense in defining a single best-label flagship approach; instead, a concept should give an idea of the possibilities to communicate the value of agrobiodiversity to consumers. This concept is the resulting outcome. It provides a structured approach for networks an market initiatives to evaluate whether a label for underutilized crops is feasible, and wheter it is in line with theire values and aims or not, and what the premises for the communication strategy are for those underutilized crops. This concept provides a general idea about topics that should be considered. The result could be the introduction of a label or the abandonment of introducing a label. In the beginning of such an evaluation there are most likely existing underutilized crops, that is, genetic resources, such as old, locally, and newly bred underutilized varieties, as well as some products or product ideas derived from these crops. The main target groups of this concept are farmers involved in participatory breeding, seed savers, seed networks and communities, foundations, and breeders of underutilized crops, as well as partners of such genetic resources. Moreover, the concept could be interesting for initiatives and organizations that consider the integration of underutilized crops in their existing label; however there is no specific treatment of this topic in the concept. The concept should be considered as the first step in the evaluation of a new label. The treated topics might also hint on further considerations when developing a successful marketing initiative. However, the concept focuses mainly on two points: 1. Introduction of a label2, a logo, a trademark or similar and some implications 2. Communication tools and communication contents for products of underutilized crop

Alternatives for the substitution of synthetic vitamin B2 or vitamin B2 produced from GMOs

Today in conventional food and feed production added vitamin B2 is produced almost exclusively from a GMO,1 namely the genetically modified Bacillus subtilis. Vitamin B2 applied in certified organic food and feed productions is an exception, as it is still synthesized conventionally. In fall 2007 and also recently, there has been a lack of non-GMO derived vitamin B2 on the European market, which has caused temporary supply problems for organic producers. This event triggered the political will to conduct new research in order to find alternative solutions for the substitution of synthetic vitamin B2 in organic agriculture

Veaux laitiers à engraisser en bio

Le sevrage dans la ferme de naissance et l’engraissement de boeufs de races laitières sont maintenant soutenus

Koexistenz? Es gibt kein Recht auf Verunreinigung

Bis 2017 gilt in der Schweiz das Gentechmoratorium: Der kommerzielle Anbau von getechnisch veränderten Pflanzen (GVO) ist verboten. Offenbar wollen nun der Bundesrat und die Bundesbehörden die Weichen stellen – für den GVO-Anbau nach 2017. Die Regierung legt einen Entwurf für ein neues Gentechnikgesetzes samt Koexistenzverordnung vor

Es gibt viel zu tun

Die Landwirtschaft ist Täter und Opfer des Klimawandels. Im Bio-Landbau stecken große Potenziale, um die Herausforderungen gut zu meistern

Vitelli di razze da latte per ingrasso bio

Per lo svezzamento nell’azienda di nascita e l’ingrasso di buoi di razze da latte i contadini ricevono ora un aiuto