For society, organic and other “low input” farming systems
provide an effective means of responding to the increasing
consumer pressure to omit or reduce agricultural inputs (in
particular pesticides, mineral fertilisers, veterinary medicines
and growth promoters). However, in order to ensure that the
European societies benefit optimally from this mechanism, it is
necessary to address the actual and perceived problems or
benefits which are of particular importance for low-input
farming systems. Lower production costs and coupling of lower
production costs with improved quality and safety and consumer
perceptions of higher quality and safety will enable low-input
farmers to provide higher value-added food that maximises
benefits to consumers and producers alike. It is particularly
important to ensure that consumers will be able to make their
choices based on defined knowledge of the value provided by
different types of products, and that these values may be
reflected in more accurate and realistic business pla