Agricultural History Review, Volume 57 Part 2 (2009), p. 297

Despite its title, Organic farming: an international history is not a book that conforms to the conventions of history writing. Instead, this is a book of essays penned by key figures within the organic agriculture movement. In their highly-variable essays the authors discuss, first, how organic farming developed during the twentieth century and, second, how best to describe the current state of the organic sector. Essentially, Organic farming is an attempt by the organic movement to explain its own history and, thereby, to ‘take stock’.

Of course, official histories and histories written by ‘insiders’ bring with them a host of problems, and in this respect Organic farming is no exception. Unsurprisingly, much of the book has a campaigning tone, with the authors assuming that readers naturally share their hope that organic food production and consumption will continue to increase, as it has done in many parts of Europe and North America over the last twenty years or so. However, the difficulties that arise from the ‘insider’ status of the authors are minor when compared to the richness of the fodder they provide historians seeking to improve their understanding of the nature of the organic movement and the reasons for its growing strength during the final years of the twentieth century.

The first few chapters of Organic farming attempt to chart the origins and values of the organic movement, as it emerged in Europe, particularly in German-speaking Europe and Britain. While some readers may disagree with a few of G.Vogt’s more sweeping statements about the historical roots of organic farming, he is right to emphasize the differences between the way organic agriculture developed in Germany, Austria and Switzerland and its development in Britain. There were always links and co-operation between the two, but the German and English organic movements were nevertheless quite different beasts, and they remain so.

U.Niggli’s chapter on ‘The evolution of organic practice’ offers valuable insight into the way organic farming techniques have changed over time, as the initial belief in ‘the self-regulation of nature’ gave way to a less idealistic approach and a more practical commitment to developing effective methods for the control of pests and diseases. Meanwhile, O.Schmid’s chapter on the way in which organic farming standards were developed is an important introduction to an aspect of the movement that has, inevitably at times, become a battleground. Certainly, the decision to develop detailed standards for organic production in the UK was a controversial one, with pioneers such as Lady Eve Balfour initially opposed to such a move.

Throughout the book there is acknowledgement of the role played by religion and/or spirituality in the organic movement, as well as a useful overview by D.H.Stinner on the influence of dissident agricultural science on organic agriculture.

Growth in the organic food and farming sector has taken place, within the EU at least, thanks to ‘official’ support and financial assistance. One of Organic farming’s greatest strengths is the comparative picture it paints of how organic policy and financial support has developed in different nations. S.Padel and N.Lampkin’s chapter on governmental support for organic production and marketing within Europe not only describes the often contradictory impacts of the financial assistance offered by the EU, but it also serves to highlight how different – not to mention much less comprehensive – the UK government’s strategy to bolster the fortunes of the organic sector has been, compared to the strategies adopted by Denmark, Sweden, Germany and other European states.

In addition to brief organizational histories of key bodies, including the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements and a history of the UK’s own Soil Association (written by Philip Conford and current Soil Association director Patrick Holden), there are also summaries focusing on the development and current state of organic agriculture in the USA, Argentina, Australia, Switzerland and Sweden.

It must be acknowledged that Organic farming is, by and large, not a beautifully written book. Nor does it offer a complete or coherent international history of organic agriculture. And it is too expensive. At £75 how many libraries, let alone individuals, will buy it? Yet these shortcomings do not nullify the book’s strengths, which are its rich detail, its comparative approach, and its discussion of several long-standing, internal disputes that have beset the organic movement. All of these make Organic farming a highly-interesting read for historians of twentieth-century agriculture.