French labour-force participation in organic farming

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Aubert, Magali^a | Enjolras, Geoffroy^{b; *}

Affiliations: [a] UMR 1110 MOISA, INRA-Montpellier Supagro, 2 place Viala, 34060 Montpellier Cedex 2, France | [b] FRE 3748 CERAG, Univ. Grenoble Alpes, IAE, Domaine universitaire, 38040 Grenoble Cedex 9, France

Correspondence: [*] Corresponding author: Geoffroy Enjolras, FRE 3748 CERAG, Univ. Grenoble Alpes, IAE, Domaine universitaire, B.P. 47, 38040 Grenoble Cedex 9, France. Tel.: +33 4 76 82 81 02; Fax: +33 4 76 82 59 99; E-mail: geoffroy.enjolras@iae-grenoble.fr.

Abstract: Many farms are converting or plan to convert their production towards environmentally-friendly practices. This article analyses the essential contribution of labour force - holder, family and employees - on the adoption of organic farming. We use the 2010 exhaustive census of French farms for its accuracy. To comprehend to what extent labour force influences the decision to adopt the organic farming certification, a logit model is implemented. The results emphasize that organic farming translates into different labour patterns which highlight the participants’ involvement and their degree of qualification and experience. Their qualifications rather than the number of stakeholder groups appear essential in the development of organic farms.

Keywords: Organic farming, employment, agricultural census, France

DOI: 10.3233/HSM-171772

Journal: Human Systems Management, vol. 36, no. 2, pp. 163-172, 2017