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In North-Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), the most populated German state(18 million people), 2.6% of the agricultural area is farmed organically(as of 1.1.2002). Using data derived from the NRW statisticaloffice, the statewide extension agencies and organic farmers’ organisations,the geographical distribution of the organic farms wasinvestigated by correlating general conditions and the economicand natural environment. The organically farmed area varied widely- from 0.1 to 7.5% of total agricultural area - over the 34 administrativedistricts of NRW. The focus of this study is an analysis of theagricultural structure to understand the heterogeneous distributionof organic farms in NRW. In certain parts of NRW, highly specialisedintensive farming creates a high environmental burden. Althoughorganic agriculture clearly has a lower negative environmentalimpact, the number of organic farms in regions with specialisedintensive production is low. The inherent needs of these specialisedintensive systems restrict the options to simplify and to adoptorganic farming systems, and some products (e.g., pork, sugar beet)only have access to a very small organic market. Therefore, theopportunity for increasing the rate of transition (conversion) ofspecialised conventional farms to organic farming is very limitedwithin the current agro-political framework. The analysis of theheterogeneous spatial distribution of the organic farms illustratesthe need for a different supporting payment system for organicareas. In addition, measures supporting organic farming should notbe restricted to financial support.
