Name Gleirscher Norbert , Markus Schermer Title The Use of Actor Network Theory to analyze the Impact of Organic Marketing Initiatives on Regional Development

One of the key issues will be the improved knowledge of processes and dynamics for a consolidated European regional development policy in the future. Furthermore “Sustainability” has become one of the crucial terms in the public discussion on regional development. Within the agricultural agenda organic farming is perceived as one major paths for sustainable development. Therefore the paper focuses on the network relations between organic marketing initiatives and rural development. Although there are indications that there is a great potential for organic marketing initiatives to contribute to sustainable regional development, little is known of the mechanisms encouraging or hampering the convergence of the two concepts. The analysis aims to explain the contribution to the long term competitiveness of regions by reducing the disadvantages of rural areas and strengthening their potentials in a sustainable way. It depends to a large extend on the functioning or the non-functioning of rural networks and their ability (both in respect to concept and power of implementation) to involve the various stakeholders of organic and rural initiatives into a common set of interests.