From farm to sea: applying Michelsen’s Six Step Theory to organic farming in Lithuania and its role in reducing eutrophication in the Baltic Sea and the Curonian Lagoon

Abstract: Eutrophication in the Baltic Sea and Curonian Lagoon, mainly caused by agriculture, is creating a major burden on Lithuania. While organic agriculture reduces eutrophication, the conversion of lands under conventional agriculture to organic has been relatively slow. Based on a systematic literature review, I identified 8 case studies and analysed that overall nitrogen and phosphorous leaching from organic farming was 38% and 22% lower respectively than in the conventional counterparts. I applied Michelsen’s Six Step Theory of the institutional development of organic agriculture to 14 interviews with farmers and devising a survey of 134 consumers. I found that the first step has been accomplished, but some of the elements in the remaining five steps have not yet been fulfilled towards the development of organic farming in Lithuania. There is a need for better incentives including collaboration between all relevant stakeholders that would encourage organic farming and reduce eutrophication.