From production to the consumer: What German Technical Cooperation offers to establish a successful organic farming business

Abstract Under commission of the German Government, German Technical Cooperation (GTZ) has been actively supporting organic production and market development in Southeast Asia, including Thailand. Services included training of farmers, trainers and consultants within certification schemes, introduction of eco-efficiency in production and processing, implementation of new biological approaches to pest control and fertilization, organic value chain promotion, market development, feasibility studies and policy advice. Emphasis has been placed on strengthening the supply side through environmentally friendly production, organic certification and market development in view of domestic as well as export markets. Keywords : Introduction There is a long tradition of support of organic agriculture by GTZ. For more than 10 years GTZ has been an active pioneer in this field in developing countries. Initially, the emphasis was on exporting to a niche market in Europe. Today organic agriculture has become part of the mainstream, with all the attendant consequences of a growing market. As the market for organic products in the European Union (EU) expanded fast and steadily, the plethora of private standards and labels created growing uncertainty for consumers. EU Regulation 2092/91 on organic production was introduced to address this issue