Le territoire : partenaire du développement de l'agriculture biologique en Rhône-Alpes

The objective of this paper is to analyse the driving forces of the development of organic farming. More precisely what are the contributions of market, of policies and of territory ? This study was requested by the regional organic association (CORABIO) to ISARA and supported in the framework of regional policy, the PIDA Agriculture Biologique (Programme Integre de Developpement Agricole). The analysis was carried out in three areas of the Rhone Alpes Region. Surveys showed that market demand is not enough to explain the development of organic farming in an area. It is also necessary to find farmers, who are convinced by that production. Then the territory plays an important role in facilitating the development of organic projects : logistic facilities, partnerships (between producers, between producers and industries, between producers and consumers), institutional and financial support.