Constraints on the conversion to sustainable production: the case of the Dutch potato chain

The question of how to make agriculture more sustainable is a timely topic. This paper examines the Dutch potato supply chain in the context of its surrounding network. Based on the chain network approach it identifies constraints on conversion to organic potato production from a business administration and a public administration perspective. Two obvious constraints are the demand for ecologically produced products and the problem of cultivating potatoes. However, the potential for conversion is also affected by the way the market and the supply chain are structured, by the coordination of activities, efficiency‐driven actors, relations and interdependencies between actors and by the asymmetrical distribution of power. Furthermore, conversion is constrained by the limited influence of network parties such as NGOs and current government policies. Based on the analysis, the paper questions whether the ecological approach (organic farming) will be more effective than strengthening a more generic approach stimulating the sustainability of the sector. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.