A Cross Country Comparison Of The Development Of The Organic Sector In Denmark, Germany, United Kingdom And The Netherlands

The aim of this article is to test the thesis “commitment of retail chains as well as favourable policy conditions are the main drivers of the steady market growth of organic agriculture in Europe.” (Yussefi and Willer, 2003). Therefore, the role of government policy and of retail chains in four European countries – Denmark, Germany, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands – are analysed. It seems that the collaboration between government, chain participants and NGOs is of considerable importance, in which active stimulation and the provision of guidance to the channel from the retail chains, in combination with an active and stimulating government policy, can cause an impulse in growth. It should be noted that other factors must also be present in order for market players to convert; likewise, consumer demand should be well developed.