Factors affecting the regional distribution of organic farming

• Published in: Journal of rural studies 2022-05, Vol.92, p.226-236
• Main Authors: Kujala, Susanna, Hakala, Outi, Viitaharju, Leena
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agricultural land; Agriculture; Comparative analysis; Cultivated lands; Cultivation; Dairy farming; Dairy farms; Farmers; Farming; Finland; Land; Organic farming; Pathways; QCA; Qualitative analysis; Regional differences; Regional variations; Regions; Rural communities; Rural development; Statistical analysis; Statistics; Subsidies; surveys; Sustainable agriculture; Sustainable development; Sustainable food systems
• ISSN: 0743-0167; 1873-1392
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jrurstud.2022.04.001

Organic farming is recognised as a potential approach to achieve a more sustainable food system and promote rural development. Thus, many countries have set targets to increase the share of organic cultivated land. In Finland, the target was to increase the share of organic farming to 20% of the total area under cultivation by 2020. Although the share of organic agricultural land has gradually increased, there are still significant regional differences. The aim of our study is to identify the factors that affect these differences. Previous research has generally excluded factors such as subsidies from the analysis; therefore, this study explores the relevance of subsidies, as well as other key factors, within the context of the uneven regional distribution of organic farming in Finland. The data sources include research from the literature, official statistics, and a large survey of organic farmers. Using qualitative comparative analysis (QCA), we identify three different pathways that have led to higher organic shares of agricultural land in certain Finnish regions. The three regions with the highest organic shares utilise the first pathway, which includes a long organic heritage, a focus on dairy farming, and an important reliance on subsidies. We conclude that the regional variation in organic farming in Finland is due to a combination of different factors, rather than any single factor. Moreover, subsidies are a key factor that should be considered when reviewing the reasons for regional variations in organic farming. •We study the factors affecting regional variation in the share of organic farming.•Heritage, sector and subsidies together explain the three highest regional shares.•Subsidies are one of the strongest influencing factors.•QCA was found to be a useful method to study regional differences.