Clearly this relationship between greater regulation and the diverse motivations
and practices of organic farmers poses a dilemma for the organic movement. If
consumers are to be certain that the products they buy are genuinely organic, and
are to be able to ®nd out exactly what this means, then unless they know the pro-
ducer directly, greater standardisation seems inevitable. There appear therefore to be
contradictory pressures on the organic movement, from outside and within. Some
producers wish to retain small, local organic markets where ``food miles'' are mini-
mised, while others look to greater national and international co-ordination of
standards and production methods.
As organic standards become established in an increasing number of countries,
and as these standards become more co-ordinated and integrated, the degree to
which the organic producer and organic consumer may be geographically separated
grows. Furthermore, the trade in organic farm inputs may also grow, with organic
producers having the option of buying in mulch or organic fertilisers from distant
sources. There may be doubts regarding the sustainability of the systems which have
generated these purchased inputs. In addition, organic producers may be sceptical of
such developments because they farm in this way to escape from many aspects of the
global trade in foodstus, and aim to produce for local markets because of concern
regarding the energy eciency implications of such a trade in organic products.