Betriebs- und regionalwirtschaftliche Aspekte einer großflächigen ...

9 Summary
Organic agriculture is considered the most environmentally-friendly method of farming
that meets the requirements of sustainable development to a great extent. An increase
of the number of organic farms is therefore highly desireable. A widespread adoption of
organic farming raises the question of potential economic effects arising for the agricultural
sector and the whole economy as well. Therefore, the objective of the research
project presented is to evaluate a widespread regional adoption of organic
farming in the NUTS III-region Mostviertel, Lower Austria from a holistic economic point
of view.
We adapt and employ the methodological framework “hierarchic analysis of economic
efficiency”, which comprises the steps farm management evaluation, regional economic
evaluation and evaluation of external effects, wheras the latter is carried out by
KALISKI (2003). Within the study presented the following methodology is chosen: Farm
types are defined by cluster analysis. Based on those farm types, Linear Programming
(LP) Models for 16 farm types are drawn up. The results of these show differences
regarding different farm management indicators (production value, subsidies, variable
costs, marginal income, marginal income less additional costs caused by conversion to
organic farming like investments, inspection fee etc., labour requirement) between
different farm types and organic and conventional farming respectively. Moreover,
results are calculated for two different price scenarios, assuming that organic farms get
premium prices for their produce on the one hand or just conventional prices on the
other hand. The results for the single farm models are aggregated to the regional level
according to the actual relative weight of the models.
Under the condition of premium prices paid for organic produce the results of the farm
management evaluation show a positive development of the marginal income and
marginal income less additional costs for most farm models. In the absence of premium
prices the results for most farm models turn to be worse. Concerning different
farm types, the arable farms seem to be the most profitable whereas especially in intensive
livestock farms (pig, fat stock beef) farm mangement results depend heavily on
market condition and prices.
In the same way, regional economic results show a high dependence on price assumptions.
If farmers are able to obtain premium prices in the case of a widespread
adoption of organic farming, agricultural employment, agricultural spending for inputs
and investments, the production value as well as the regional aggregated marginal
income would raise. Without premium prices, all indicators (except agricultural employment)
would fall below the value estimated for conventional farming conditions.
Taking into account that organic farming has the potential to reduce external costs
caused by greenhousegas emissions (KALISKI 2003), a widespread adoption of organic
farming in the region Mostviertel-Eisenwurzen should be supported from a farm
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