Trends in the development of organic farming: points for discussion

At a time when the French government, following the Grenelle Environment Forum, has just announced a target to increase the area under organic farming from the current 2 per cent to 6 per cent by 2012 and 20 per cent by 2020, the question of the dynamics of organic farming’s development is, of course, crucial. Which development dynamics, in France or elsewhere, are proving effective? Why and how are certain supply chains and sectors far more advanced than others? How can we scale up and sustain conversions, and how can we ensure that organic farming becomes a form of agriculture on a par with others across all organisations and is regarded as a standard component of agricultural development, training and research? Session 3, ‘Development dynamics of organic farming’, comprised seven presentations and eleven posters, which were quite diverse in their origins (research, technical institutes, development, education) and which we organised into three themes: • 1/ History and dynamics of organic farming • 2/ Organic farming across sectors and regions • 3/ Development mechanisms and tools