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AbstractUnderstanding how the market influences the development of organic food networks is relevant as the consumption of organics grows in many parts of the world. This article investigates how market relations influence the decision‐making of farmers. We explore the different strategies employed by organic farmers for building trust, ensuring consistency in food quality and at the farm level. By analysing 14 qualitative interviews conducted withDanish organic farmers we identify four marketagencements– assemblages of actors endowed with agency. The four agencements are: (1) A standardising market agencement, (2) a personalising market agencement, (3) a specialising market agencement and (4) an aestheticising market agencement. Each of the four market agencements supports a different approach to producing and selling organics. Hence, theDanish organic market is diversified in terms of the qualities that are transferred, the relations of trust underpinning the market, and the production strategies of the farmers. Moreover, developments in the market have enabled some producers to develop large‐scale organic production, while enabling other farmers to develop niches emphasising new product qualities and consumer relations. Consequently, we argue that organic farmers do not only produce goods for pre‐existing, predefined markets, but that they also cultivate new market relations.

AbstractAlternative Food Networks (AFNs) are often mentioned as a way to reconfigure the link between producers and consumers and build trust in the food system. This article explores the function, configuration and generation of trust in AFNs. The structure is twofold. First we discuss the theoretical underpinnings of trust, in both recent AFN literature and in sociology, and develop a conceptual framework for analysing trust in AFNs. Second, we explore the function, configuration and generation of trust in the Food Communities of Copenhagen and Aarhus (in Danish: 'Fødevarefællesskaberne'). The Food Communities are a network of urban consumers sourcing organic products from regional producers. Empirically, the article demonstrates how trust functions as a mechanism that creates coherency and which facilitates co‐operation in the food network. Furthermore, the Food Communities are characterised by high levels of systemic and personal trust. Several mechanisms, such as managing expectations, establishing trustworthiness, and developing a common normative basis, are employed and contribute to the generation and maintenance of trust.

Dansk landbrug og de danske landdistrikter har historisk set været tæt knyttet sammen. Nok så vigtigt har udviklingen for begge områder været tæt forbundet med den finansielle sektor, der gennem långivning har sikret mulighederne for byggeri, investering, ejerskab og generationsskifter. I international sammenligning har danske kreditforeninger således spillet en unik rolle i udvikling af både bolig- og landbrugsområdet. I de senere årtier er der imidlertid sket en række forandringer af relationen mellem landbrugserhvervet og landdistrikterne på den ene side og det finansielle system på den anden side, der grundlæggende har ændret betingelserne for økonomisk aktivitet. I denne artikel dykker vi nærmere ned i disse forandringer og forsøger at belyse konsekvenserne.

Under the Water Framework Directive, public participation was identified as a key part of water planning. This caused a paradigm shift in Danish water planning. Water councils in River Basin Districts were established to provide public input on how to improve the physical conditions in streams. A study of the water councils found that Denmark has complied with the requirements of making background information available to the public and ensuring consultation. The facilitation of the councils' processes has worked well. However, while they are presented as the 'new governance option' in Danish water planning, this does not accord with reality. The water council processes are limited in scope and controlled by the central government. Their process can be better characterized as expanded stakeholder consultation, officially part of the policy process but involving very little active public involvement. The article concludes by indicating the consequences for participation and collaborative innovation.

The TOOLS2SEA synthesis project identified major weaknesses in implementation of measures, policy instruments and governance institutions for achieving the goals agreed to in the Baltic Sea Action Plan (BSAP) by the nine signatory countries to the Helsinki Convention. In this perspective article we provide recommendations for strengthening the policy framework for protecting the Baltic Sea from agricultural nutrient pollution. The most striking weakness is the lax implementation of prescribed abatement measures, particularly concerning manure management, in most countries. Institutions of the EU should also be leveraged for achieving BSAP goals. In contrast to the Convention, the European Union has economic, political and legal mandates to further implementation and compliance. Equally important, is the need for strengthening of local institutions, particularly Water Boards and independent agricultural advisory services in the eastern Baltic Sea Region countries. There is also an urgent need for implementation of voluntary land-use measures where EU funding available to farmers is more broadly and effectively used by providing it on the basis of estimated abatement performance, which can be realized through modelling. The enormous potential for funding performance-based schemes, manure management infrastructure and advisory services through the EU's Common Agricultural Policy are currently underutilized.

In this perspective article, we provide recommendations for strengthening the policy framework for protecting the Baltic Sea from agricultural nutrient pollution. The most striking weakness is the lax implementation of prescribed abatement measures, particularly concerning manure management, in most countries. Institutions of the EU should also be leveraged for achieving Baltic Sea Action Plan (BSAP) goals. In contrast to the Helsinki Convention, the European Union has economic, political and legal mandates to further implementation and compliance. Equally important is the need for strengthening of local institutions, particularly Water Boards and independent agricultural advisory services in the eastern Baltic Sea Region countries. There is also an urgent need for implementation of voluntary land-use measures where EU funding available to farmers is more broadly and effectively used by providing it on the basis of estimated abatement performance, which can be realized through modelling. The enormous potential for funding performance-based schemes, manure management infrastructure and advisory services through the EU's Common Agricultural Policy are currently underutilized. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: he online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13280-021-01573-3.

AbstractThis article discusses the problem of implementing scientific knowledge in practice. The discussion is based on a case study of barriers to implementing research‐based principles of sustainable organic arable farming. The current literature tends to see this problem either as a dissemination issue (the linear approach) or as a failure of science to address real‐world problems (the co‐constructive approach). We argue that Luhmann's theory of social systems offers a way to understand the shortcomings of existing approaches and enables us to identify knowledge gaps that have often been overlooked so far. This theoretical claim is substantiated by an empirical analysis based on 10 in‐depth interviews with owners of organic arable farms. The farmers were interviewed about barriers to the implementation of research‐based knowledge in practice. The analysis points to the operational closure and the observational blindness of both research systems and farming systems as the keys to understanding knowledge gaps and suggests new ways of dealing with the problems of implementing research knowledge in practice.

Following decades of international collaboration to restore the Baltic Sea, we provide an assessment of the domestic implementation of measures agreed to limit diffuse agricultural pollution and the patterns of policy instruments applied. Despite the Helsinki Convention being unusually specific in detailing what measures countries should introduce, we find many shortcomings. These are most pronounced in the larger countries (Poland, Germany and Russia), while smaller countries perform better, notably Sweden and Estonia. The patterns of policy instruments applied differ, influenced by domestic politics. The limited use of complementary policy instruments suggests that other priorities overrule full and effective implementation, with engagement mirroring the advantages that a restored Baltic Sea can bring to countries. Using the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development to support farmers in managing nutrients, particularly advisory services and investments in modern manure management technologies, represents a significant opportunity for reducing agricultural pollution in most countries.

Following decades of international collaboration to restore the Baltic Sea, we provide an assessment of the domestic implementation of measures agreed to limit diffuse agricultural pollution and the patterns of policy instruments applied. Despite the Helsinki Convention being unusually specific in detailing what measures countries should introduce, we find many shortcomings. These are most pronounced in the larger countries (Poland, Germany and Russia), while smaller countries perform better, notably Sweden and Estonia. The patterns of policy instruments applied differ, influenced by domestic politics. The limited use of complementary policy instruments suggests that other priorities overrule full and effective implementation, with engagement mirroring the advantages that a restored Baltic Sea can bring to countries. Using the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development to support farmers in managing nutrients, particularly advisory services and investments in modern manure management technologies, represents a significant opportunity for reducing agricultural pollution in most countries. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13280-021-01549-3.

Following decades of international collaboration to restore the Baltic Sea, we provide an assessment of the domestic implementation of measures agreed to limit diffuse agricultural pollution and the patterns of policy instruments applied. Despite the Helsinki Convention being unusually specific in detailing what measures countries should introduce, we find many shortcomings. These are most pronounced in the larger countries (Poland, Germany and Russia), while smaller countries perform better, notably Sweden and Estonia. The patterns of policy instruments applied differ, influenced by domestic politics. The limited use of complementary policy instruments suggests that other priorities overrule full and effective implementation, with engagement mirroring the advantages that a restored Baltic Sea can bring to countries. Using the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development to support farmers in managing nutrients, particularly advisory services and investments in modern manure management technologies, represents a significant opportunity for reducing agricultural pollution in most countries.

National policy styles and path‐dependencies are inflicting on the abilities of Baltic Sea countries to deliver on their commitments under the Helsinki Convention. We here synthesize evidence and insights from studies relating to the provisions on agricultural nutrient management, a main source of marine pollution. We contend that governments that are strongly concentrated vertically, while fragmented horizontally, are lacking capacity, including with respect to informal institutions that can leverage implementation. As a stocktaking of institutional impediments to a sustainable development, the analysis has relevance to other international agreements where Baltic Sea countries are involved as key players.

Forholdet mellem udviklingen i landdistriktskommunerne og bykommunerne – mellem centre og periferi – får stigende opmærksomhed i den offentlige debat og på de politiske dagsordner. Det har således også været et centralt tema i debatten op til det seneste folketingsvalg.