Organic Agriculture in Germany. Business for the big players?

Essay from the year 2017 in the subject Agrarian Studies, grade: 2,7, University of Hohenheim (Institut für Sozialwissenschaften des Agrarbereichs), language: English, abstract: The history of organic agriculture (OA) in Germany is not only based on the lectures of its founder Rudolf Steiner. OA in its present status as a developed economic branch is far more, for example the result of ecological and political movements against globalisation and intensification in the 70s (rise of the "Greens"). Economic and environmental failure, as in the 1973 oil crisis or agricultural chemical-technical intensification led to a deepening of environmental topics and social acceptance. With these societal changes, the basis for an ecologically and socially fair production was set. New political structures and decisions in the late 80s and early 90s boosted OA in Germany. Eastern German organic farmers restructured and enforced themselves to an enhancement of German agriculture, after the Wall Fall 1989. The EU-regulation on organic farming in 1991, decisively shaped the structure and turned OA to a lucratively subsidised business. In the following years until today, OA in Germany was skyrocketing in farming and production, as well as in consumption. From a niche product in the 80s to economic importance in the new millennium, organic products entered the mainstream market. Today, Germany is Europes biggest organic consumer and its fourth biggest organic producer. The demand for organic products is exceeding national supply, therefore Germany is also the second biggest importer of organic products. Wholesaler, conventional food retailer and organic retail chains realised the market value of organic products. Thanks to conventional super markets, organic products are now obtainable everywhere. Organic retail chains, such as "Alnatura" or "Denns" are still expanding, opening new branches and increasing their assortment. Individual organic food stores and direct marketing are no