Table 1 The six steps of institutional development and indicators with which they can be assessed
Characteristics of the completed step | Indicators used to assess the characteristic |
|---|---|
Step 1: Establishment of an organic community | |
a) The organic community has a strong identity | 1: Introduction of first standard (date) |
2: Number of national producers’ associations | |
4: Private standard can still be used | |
b) Producers’ associations have the power to     influence other parts of society | 3: Power of producers’ association |
5: Proportion of organic farmers that are members of     an association (%) | |
Step 2: Establishment of political recognition | |
a) Regulatory support exists | 6: Introduction of first national regulation (date) |
| Â | 7: Introduction of current regulation (date) |
b) Financial support is high | 10: Introduction of area payment (date) |
11: Area payment (euro/ha) | |
12: % of agri-environmental scheme devoted to      organic farming | |
13: Total amount devoted to OF (millions of euro) | |
15: Loans available for improvement of organic farms | |
16: Lower taxes for organic farmers | |
17: Certification/inspection costs reimbursement | |
18: Research support (million euros/year) | |
c) Strategic support is high | 20: Action plan for organic farming |
21: OF incorporation in strategic plan of government | |
22: Quantitative target for proportion cultivated      organically (%) | |
Step 3: Establishment of financial support | |
a) Financial support has been introduced | 10: Introduction of area payment (date) |
b) Area payments are high enough to off-set the    cost incurred by conversion and lower productivity | 11: Area payment (euro/ha) |
13: Total amount devoted to organic farming      (millions of euro/year) | |
14: % uptake of area support | |
c) Research program is well-funded and complete | 18: Research support (million euro/year) |
19: Estimate % of agricultural research funding to      organic farming | |
25: Range of research program | |
d) There are financial schemes to help organic      farmers | 15: Loans available for improvement of organic farms |
16: Lower taxes for organic farmers | |
17: Certification/inspection costs reimbursement | |
18: Research support (million euro/year) | |
Step 4: Development of non-competitive relationships | |
a) Partnership | 8: Partnerships strength |
b) Integration of organic farming in state institutions | 23: Specific office in agricultural ministry |
24: Degree of integration of OF in training establishments | |
26: Degree of integration of OF in advisory services | |
c) Discussion arena existence | 9: Discussion arena existence |
d) Strength of the organic community identity | 1: Introduction of first standard (date) |
2: Number of national producers’ associations | |
4: Private standard can still be used | |
e) The power a producers’ associations has | 3: Power of producers’ association |
5: Proportion of organic farmers that are members of an     association (%) | |
Step 5: Establishment of organic food market | |
a) A complete supply chain exist | 27: Number of certified processing facilities (2004) |
28: Promotion by large retailers | |
29: Distribution of sales channels | |
b) Other structural conditions are favourable | 34: Perception of the quality of certification and control       system |
c) The behaviour of the general consumers     is favourable | 31: Proportion of consumer that can correctly define       organic farming (%) |
32: Acceptable price premium by 50% of the population | |
33: % of the population that buy OP > once a week/>once       a month/< once a month | |
d) The market share of organic farming is large | 30: Market share of organic products (%) |
Step 6: Development of a committed institutional setting | |
a) An inclusive discussion arena exists | 9: Discussion arena existence |
b) An inclusive coordination arena exist | 20: Action plan for organic farming |