Microorganisms - ENVIS Centre

Latruffe, Laure, Nauges, Céline, Desjeux, Yann

INRA , Rennes (France). UMR 1302 Structures et Marchés Agricoles, Ressources et Territoires.

Abstract

Using original survey data from France we study the importance of technical efficiency as a potential determinant of farm conversion to organic farming in the dairy sector. We run a two-stage analysis. In the first stage we calculate technical efficiency of farms when they were conventional (including organic farms before they convert) as well as technical efficiency change indices, using Data Envelopment Analysis and correcting for sample bias with Simar and Wilson’s bootstrapping procedure. In the second stage, we estimate a Probit model to explain the decision of farmers to convert to organic farming. The model is estimated on a sample of 209 farmers. We find that farmers who switched to organic farming were more technically efficient (before conversion) than farmers who remained conventional, but they had experienced a slowdown in technical efficiency (also before conversion).

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microorganims,envis,environment information system centre, microorganisms and environment management, environment management, microorganisms, microbes

Environment Information System Centre - microorganims,envis,environment management, microorganisms, microbes, pollution control, toxic chemicals, central and offshore ecology, environmentally sound and appropriate technology, bio-degradation of wastes.