Modelling conventional and organic farming: a literature review

Literature shows a significant development of organic farming in Europe but with considerable differences between countries. These depend on general agricultural policy (the set of regulations and laws), specific policy incentives, and also on differences in consumer behaviour. This paper reviews scientific literature on the evaluation of the technical, economic and environmental aspects of conversion from conventional towards organic production. The methods and results of empirical and normative modelling studies at the farm level, with special regard to farm management and policy, are analysed. Empirical modelling studies show the importance of incentives and agricultural policy, and the usefulness of integrated modelling for determining the effects of different policies on farm management. Normative modelling shows the effects of new policy instruments and technology, and allows the high level of detail needed for what-if analysis. Normative models of conversion to organic farming confirm the importance of incentives and the agricultural policy context.