This will help us identify a range of new techniques compatible with the organic principles. Better conditions for trade across borders is another solution. This will improve trade and thereby also the conversion of land. One of the classical arguments from the conventional farming society is that the organic principles leads to small scale and old fashioned production which is not in line with a modern society entering the third millennium. I do not agree with these arguments.
Organic agriculture does have the potential for a large scale and very efficient production.
The largest Danish box scheme supplies more than 15.000 Danish families - and as you are all aware Denmark isn t that big a country. In Denmark it has been proven that organic agriculture is also compatible with relatively large farms and with a very efficient production system. The resources involved in research and development in organic food and farming are still rather limited when compared to the resources involved in research and development in conventional farming methods. Unfortunately it seems that the sources funding these projects are not always evaluating the organic projects in accordance with these specific characteristics. If we are able to change this and give a higher priority to a holistic approach, research and development will be a very important contributor to the further development of organic farming.