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Beef Cattle Farms’ Conversion to the Organic System. Recommendations for Success in the Face of Future Changes in a Global Context

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  • Alfredo J. Escribano

    (Independent Researcher and Consultant, C/Rafael Alberti 24, Cáceres 10005, Spain)

Abstract

Dehesa is a remarkable agroforestry system, which needs the implementation of sustainable production systems in order to reduce its deterioration. Moreover, its livestock farms need to adapt to a new global market context. As a response, the organic livestock sector has expanded not only globally but also in the region in search for increased overall sustainability. However, conversions to the organic system have been commonly carried out without analyzing farms’ feasibility to do so. This analysis is necessary before implementing any new production system in order to reduce both the diversity of externalities that the variety of contexts leads to and the vulnerability of the DDehesa ecosystem to small management changes. Within this context and in the face of this gap in knowledge, the present paper analyzes the ease of such conversions and the farms’ chances of success after conversion in the face of global changes (market and politics). Different aspects (“areas of action”) were studied and integrated within the Global Conversion Index (GCI), and the legal requirement for European organic farming, organic principles, future challenges for ruminants’ production systems, as well as the lines of action for the post-2013 CAP (Common Agricultural Policy) and their impacts on the beef cattle sector were taken into account. Results revealed that farms must introduce significant changes before initiating the conversion process, since they had very low scores on the GCI (42.74%), especially with regard to health and agro-ecosystem management (principle of Ecology). Regarding rearing and animal welfare (principle of justice/fairness), farms were close to the organic system. From the social point of view, active participation in manufacturing and marketing of products should be increased.

Suggested Citation

  • Alfredo J. Escribano, 2016. "Beef Cattle Farms’ Conversion to the Organic System. Recommendations for Success in the Face of Future Changes in a Global Context," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(6), pages 1-23, June.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:8:y:2016:i:6:p:572-:d:72278
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Franco, Juan Agustín & Gaspar, Paula & Mesias, Francisco Javier, 2012. "Economic analysis of scenarios for the sustainability of extensive livestock farming in Spain under the CAP," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 74(C), pages 120-129.
    2. Kerselaers, Eva & De Cock, Lieve & Lauwers, Ludwig & Van Huylenbroeck, Guido, 2007. "Modelling farm-level economic potential for conversion to organic farming," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 94(3), pages 671-682, June.
    3. Terry Marsden & Jo Banks & Gillian Bristow, 2002. "The Social Management of Rural Nature: Understanding Agrarian-Based Rural Development," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 34(5), pages 809-825, May.
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    1. Cipriano Díaz-Gaona & Manuel Sánchez-Rodríguez & Thais Rucabado-Palomar & Vicente Rodríguez-Estévez, 2019. "A Typological Characterization of Organic Livestock Farms in the Natural Park Sierra de Grazalema Based on Technical and Economic Variables," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(21), pages 1-18, October.
    2. Cipriano Díaz-Gaona & Manuel Sánchez-Rodríguez & Vicente Rodríguez-Estévez, 2021. "Assessment of the Sustainability of Extensive Livestock Farms on the Common Grasslands of the Natural Park Sierra de Grazalema," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-19, February.
    3. José Nahed Toral & Zenón Gerardo López Tecpoyotl & José Roberto Aguilar Jiménez & Daniel Grande Cano & Claudia Delgadillo Puga, 2021. "Compliance of Goat Farming under Extensive Grazing with the Organic Standards and Its Contribution to Sustainability in Puebla, Mexico," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-25, June.

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