Produktionsketten, Absatzsysteme und grenzüberschreitende Verflechtungen von Sonderkulturbetrieben des niederrheinischen Tieflandes
The starting point of this study is the noticeable diversification of the agricultural economy in Germany. On the one hand there are decreasing profits and farm closings in several sectors of agriculture, on the other hand there are sectors with strong developmental dynamics. Concerning these phenomena, considerable regional differences can be observed. The northern part of the Lower Rhine Area, including both the Wesel and especially the Kleve district, and the adjacent northern part of the Dutch province of Limburg are areas which stand out concerning strong developmental dynamics regarding the specialised cultivation of vegetables and ornamental plants. The study looks into the reasons for this development which is influenced by specific spatial interconnections. In particular, this study is integrated into the economic geographical approach of the “economic relations from a spatial perspective“ by Bathelt and Glückler. Following this approach the basis of this study is the use of qualitative methods, i.e. interviews with farmers, institutions and managers of companies being involved in agribusiness. We could trace an evolutionary development of the analysed sector following specific historical paths. Present entrepreneurial decisions have been influenced by those patterns. The main focus is on the factors which influence the economic relations, i.e. innovation, interaction, organization and evolution. All factors are interrelated in a socioeconomic context. Thus, including certain general conditions, they can offer information about the development of the region. Concerning innovation, the Teaching and Research Institute of the Rhineland Agricultural Chamber plays an important role. Organization as a factor is especially conspicuous concerning economic activity. This is proven e.g. by the sophisticated network of the marketing organizations. It was an important goal of the study to trace the interactions and the reciprocal dependencies of companies, farms and organizations. The study takes a close look into the interconnections between producing companies and marketing organizations. The organizational structure of the producing farms mostly depends on the size of their enterprise. But since these farms are only one part of the production chain the relationship between the companies involved with each step of production is very important, too. Organizational structures definitely influence innovative and interactive processes. Because of the introduction of early vegetable cultivation innovations and the adoption of Dutch marketing systems structures developed in the Lower Rhine Area which did not exist in Germany at the beginning of the 20th century. These structures were a consequence of both positive and negative conditions. The climate and the vicinity to the fast developing Rhine Ruhr Area and the major cities of the Rhineland can be taken into account as positive conditions. Poor soils and the small size of the farms whose owners had no experience in cultivating vegetables have to be seen as negative ones. But some of the negative conditions have encouraged innovations again and again: first the specialization in small vegetables and the cultivation of asparagus in particular locations, later the increased cultivation of vegetables in greenhouses and finally, in the 1950s, the shift of some producers from vegetables to ornamental plants. Ornamental plants became more and more important. The sector showed strong developmental dynamics over the last ten years. At the same time, agribusiness became involved in vegetable production, and added to the dynamics of this sector. As an example, several farms are analysed concerning this typical structure and development. The opening of borders for unrestricted commodity trade within the EU has shifted the region’s position from a marginal one in Germany to the centre of the common European market. This new position regarding ornamental plants is strengthened by the connections with the Dutch production regions and marketing organizations being leading in the world. Today, the Lower Rhine and the Dutch areas form a common economic region concerning cultivation and marketing of ornamental plants. Cross-border interactions, innovations, appropriate marketing structures and some general conditions have been essential for the development of the region. Marketing and production are exerting a mutual influence. The marketing structures in the region and in the Netherlands are a precondition of the developmental dynamics. Similar path-dependent development of the North-Limburgian and the Lower Rhine horticulture could be observed. The development of this sector has not yet finished.
info:eu-repo/classification/ddc/330, Niederrhein-Gebiet, Agrarstruktur, Sonderkultur, Vertragsanbau, Vertikales Marketing, Agrobusiness, Wirtschaft
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