Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-jkksz Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-23T14:36:25.496Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Organic viticulture in West Germany

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 October 2009

Stephan Dabbert
Affiliation:
Research and Teaching Associates with the Department of Agricultural Economics (410A), University of Hohenheim, Postfach 70 05 62, 7000 Stuttgart 70, West Germany.
Jürgen Oberhofer
Affiliation:
Research and Teaching Associates with the Department of Agricultural Economics (410A), University of Hohenheim, Postfach 70 05 62, 7000 Stuttgart 70, West Germany.
Get access

Abstract

We present results from a survey of organic grape operations in the three most important grape-producing areas in West Germany. Data on expenses for fertilizers, pesticides, machinery and buildings, on labor requirements, on the quantity and quality of yields, and on marketing channels and price premiums are compared to data on conventional grape operations from statistical sources. Based on these data, multi-period linear programming models were constructed to assess the economic implications of a transition to organic grape growing for different types of operations. Model results indicate that the grape production quota implemented in West Germany in 1989-90 favors organic methods. However, with direct marketing of wine, the effect of the quota depends on the effect that the expected rise in the price of conventional wine has on the price of organic wine. Premium prices for organically produced wine currently can be achieved only by farms that sell their wine directly to the consumer, which means that direct marketing is necessary for a profitable organic grape operation under current market conditions.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1990

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1.Binder, G., and Maul, D.. 1988. Vollerntereinsatz zur Rotweinlese (Mechanized harvest of red grapes). In Weinwirtschaft-Technik 1988, Heft Nr. 9, 133149.Google Scholar
2.Bundesregierung. 3 various years. Agarbericht (Yearly Governmental Report on the Status of the Agricultural Sector of the Federal Republic of Germany).Google Scholar
3.Dabbert, S. 1990. Zur optimalen Organisation alternativer land-wirtschaftlicher Betriebe. Untersucht am Beispiel organisch-biologischer Haupterwerbsbetriebe in Baden-Württemberg. (The Optimum Organization of Organic Farms: The Example of Full-Time Organic Farms in Baden-Württemberg). Agarwirtschaft Sonderheft 124. Frankfurt am Main.Google Scholar
4.Das Weinjahr, . Various years. Namen, Daten, Fakten. (The Wine Year: Names, Dates, Facts). Verlag Meininger, Neustadt an der Weinstrasse.Google Scholar
5.Hamm, U. 1987. Der alternative Landbau - ein interessantes Betätigungsfeld für Agrarökonomen und Agrarpolitiker. (Organic agriculture - an interesting area for agricultural economists and politicians). Agrarwirtschaft Jahrgang 36, Nr. 7/8, 255–260.Google Scholar
6.Hoffmann, D. 1986. Wirtschaftliche Aspekte eines integrierten, ökologischen Weinbaus. (Economic aspects of integrated, ecological wine production). In Qualitätsbewusster und ökologisch orientierter Weinbau, KTBL-Schrift 310, Darmstadt, pp. 129135.Google Scholar
7.Hoffmann, D. 1988. Personal communication, Fachhochschule Geisenheim.Google Scholar
8.Kiefer, K. 1986. Durchführung des ökologischen Weinbaus - Ergebnisse einer Betriebsbe-fragung in der Bundesrepublik Deutschland. (Experiences with Organic Viticulture - Results of a Survey in the Federal Republic of Germany). Diplomarbeit Geisenheim.Google Scholar
9.KTBL. 1986. Datensammlung für Weinbau und Kellerwirtschaft. (Data Collection for Viticulture and Cellar Management). Landwirtschaftsverlag Münster-Hiltrup.Google Scholar
10.Lauenstein, M. 1969. Parameter-Restriktionen in der empirischen Nachfrageanalyse. (Parameter restrictions in the empirical analysis of demand). Statistische Hefte Heft 3.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
11.LLFA Neustadt an der Weinstrasse. 1988. Farm accounts, different years: Special analysis of farm accounts of only vine producing operations.Google Scholar
12.Oberhofer, J. 1989. Betriebswirtschaftlicher Vergleich konventionell und ökologisch wirtschaftender Weinbaubetriebe in den Anbaugebieten Rheinhessen, Rheinpfalz und Baden unter besonderer Berücksichtigung der Hektarhöchstertrag-Regelung. (Economic comparison of conventional and organic viticulture in the regions Rheinhessen, Rheinpfalz and Baden with special reference to the new wine quota). Dissertation Universität Hohenheim.Google Scholar
13.Statistics Department of Rheinland-Pfalz - Bad Ems. 1989. Personal communication.Google Scholar
14.Stiftung Ökologischer Landbau. 1985. Rahmenrichtlinien zur Erzeugung von Trauben, Saft und Wein aus ökologischem Anbau. (Guidelines for organic grape, juice and wine production). IFOAM 54:1921.Google Scholar
15.Stiftung Ökologischer Landbau. 1986. Rahmenrichtlinien für die Erzeugung von landwirtschaftlichen Produkten aus ökologischem Landbau in der Bundesrepublik Deutschland. (Guidelines for Organic Agricultural Production in West Germany). IFOAM 59:510.Google Scholar