A new report released by the Norwegian agricultural research institute, the Norsk institutt for landbruksøkonomisk forskning (NILF), shows that organic farmers in Norway are quitting at unprecedented rates. Excessive bureaucracy and paperwork are being cited as the main reasons why organic farmers are giving up, reports Aftenposten.no.
The biggest obstacle to farming organically in Norway stems from government red tape when farmers try to register their operations. “You get the feeling you’re not being trusted,” says former organic farmer Turid Wenche Åsum.
Åsum is among the many farmers in Norway who have recently decided to return to conventional commercial farming. Although she still runs her farm as environmentally friendly as possible, Åsum is frustrated by the excessive documentation needed to receive ecological certification.
The reduction in organic farmers comes at a time when consumer demand in Norway is fast increasing. Norwegian farmers are being encouraged by the government to expand their organic operations, even setting the goal that 15 per cent of all Norwegian commercial agriculture should be ecological by 2015.
Despite this call, the organic farming industry is waning. Maiken Pollestad Sele of the farmers’ organic trade association Oikos, says “the government needs to look more closely at the problems the farmers face if they really intend to achieve their production goals.”
Oh this is sad news indeed. We have a similar problem in North America however we’re much further behind and the typical consumer only wants it cheap so they would just as quickly buy organic from very far away if it is cheaper. This defeats the purpose as buying local is the other part of eco consumerism.
We’re asking the wrong people to help us go green. Governments try to balance their talking points between what the people ask and what the real power that is big business want and pay for. Big business always wins overall and the ethical market remains niche and only for the truly dedicated.