Eddie Miller
Policy Brief- Costa Rica
Potential of Organics for growth and development
Organic agriculture is a process of land management that protects the environment, supports
farmer empowerment and brings viable income and health benefits to rural Costa Rican
families1. Instead of chemical investment, it’s a more labor-intensive process best adopted by
smallholder farmers who organize cooperatives to consolidate sales. Immediate benefits include
increased yields up to 300% from certification process, price premium of 30-80% internationally,
and human capital development in strengthening producer organizations2. It saves toxics from
being released to streams as well as avoids soil destruction, biodiversity loss and exploitation of
monocrop agriculture. As a large-scale switch, diversified organic farming can be a solution that
provides a vision for long-term viability and socioeconomic stability in Costa Rica’s rural sector.
Costa Rica has a unique advantage in this field. Nearly 50% of Costa Ricans live on farms less
than 5 hectares, with an extreme distribution in owner-cultivated land that is ideal for organic
growing. Producers could expect to see strong demand internationally for Costa Rican produce,
and in the domestic tourism industry. Costa Rica has always been a country known for good
governance and visionary conservation programs; now is a timely moment to shift domestic
agriculture to this new system. With respect to growth, development, inequality, and trade,
diversified and competitive can be a new vision for Costa Rica.
Policy Approaches
Diversified and competitive: a new vision for growth, development and trade.
A. Costa Rican department of agriculture should run a national branding campaign.
Export-oriented policy to communicate that we can meet and exceed international
standards with the best small farmers in the world, maintain productive and competitive
advantage, while maintaining Costa Rica’s natural biodiversity.
B. Finance and promote new producer cooperatives.
Promote and scale the networks for transition. Provide 3-5 year discounted credit or
direct subsidies to newly formed cooperative businesses to both encourage their
formation and help certification investment until they can achieve self-sufficiency.
C. Provide research funding for Costa Rica organic techniques, and dissemination of findings to
support small farmers.
Organic is a very process-oriented approach. It requires techniques, knowledge, and
unique regional inputs3. What works best for Costa Rica? Funding should include new
extension agents to educate farmers on the ecological and financial value of converting.
D. Nurture domestic demand for local produce.
Buying local keeps farmers in business while is safer and healthier for consumers. Costa
Rican government can start by incorporating domestic organics into government-run
schools, prison systems, and agencies, as well as promoting in tourism industries such as
hotel sector. However, export sector will remain primary target and driver of the industry.
1
E. Mendez, 2008. p.331
T. Wise, 2005. p. 18
3
Hall, 2000.
2
Policy Objectives Served:
-Long-term growth and stability of agriculture sector: In low-input systems, the organic
transition alone can provide almost 100%-300% productivity gains for small farmers. Growth
based on empowerment, understanding, and connection to more value chains.
-Increase high-wage, skill labor in the sustainable agriculture. Triple jobs in smallholder
sector to form a base for rural middle class, as well as provide a productive alternative to
plantation wage labor.
-Ensure availability of staple crops: maize, rice, coffee, beans, and meat is a basic polyculture.
-Economic viability in times of international financial crisis. System security lies in Costa
Rican self-sufficiency, reduced external reliance and solidarity of producer organizations.
-Carbon offset credits. With upcoming international climate negotiations scheduled for 2010, a
transition in agriculture to sustainable techniques can give credits for industrial growth.
Conclusion and Next Steps
You should act now to incorporate industrial organics into your development plan4. The unique
timing of the food price crisis, international demand, and the threat of losing environmental
services are too real to not push Costa Rica’s organic sector. A large-scale movement could bring
real accomplishments within the next decade.
Three things you can do right now to start the chain
 Re-brand certified organic farming for long term export-led growth.
 Focus on providing a support network for farmers that want to transition, and
 Provide research funding and extension for sector growth.
The market can lead a revolution away from old inequalities towards new growth. Costa Rica is
uniquely positioned to be an international leader in this area.
Thank you, and I would be glad to answer any questions: emiller@bu.edu.
4
For policy examples, and model recommendations, see Miller, Edward. http://eddiemill.wordpress.com/
References
“World Development Report 2008: Agriculture for Development.” World Bank Publication,
April 2008.
“State of Agriculture 2007.” United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
Quantifying Sustainable Development: The Future of Tropical Economies. Hall, Charles; Perez,
Carlos; Grégoire Leclerc. Academic Press, 2000.
Confronting the Coffee Crisis: Fair Trade, Sustainable Livelihoods, and Ecosystems in Mexico
and Central America. Méndez, Ernesto et. al. MIT Press. Cambridge, MA. 2008. Chapters 5, 11,
12, 13
The World Factbook—Costa Rica. Central Intelligence Agency. 20 November 2008
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/cs.html
Governments on the World Wide Web: Costa Rica. http://www.gksoft.com/govt/en/cr.html
Miller, Edward. “The ‘Next Big Thing’: Bioregional Organic for international community and
development.” http://eddiemill.wordpress.com/2008/11/17/idea/
Tovar et al. “Certified organic agriculture in Mexico: Market connections and certification
practices in large and small producers.” Journal of Rural Studies 21 (2005) 461-474.
Amalia González, Alma; Nigh, Ronald. “Smallholder participation and certification of organic
farm products in Mexico.” Journal of Rural Studies 21 (2005) 449–460.
Wise, Timothy and Calo, Muriel. “Revaluing Peasant Coffee Production: Organic and Fair Trade
Markets in Mexico.” Global Development and Environment Institute, Tufts University. October,
2005.