The results of the study are robust and have important policy implications.
Generally speaking, it provides evidence that a considerable proportion of organic
farmers do not contribute to improve the production of public goods when compared to
conventional farmers. If that is the case it becomes difficult to find economic or ethical
reasons that may justify the allocation of specific subsidies to these farmers under the
Common Agriculture Policy. In particular, other criteria beyond certification taking into
account the use of sustainable practices by organic farmers should be considered. Also
related to the issue of policy design, although in another context, our findings also
suggest that, all else the same, using universities and other public services as one of the
major information sources is associated with a 20% higher probability of adoption of
sustainable practices by farmers. This provides further evidence that technology transfer
is not a neutral process and that public funding of R & D projects should take this into
consideration. It also shows that the privatization of rural extension and advisory
services may originate new social costs.