Technological standardization in agriculture: forms, origins and perspectives based on the french case

Abstract

This paper analyzes the forms and origin of technological standardization in agriculture, the processes involved and its future prospects, with particular emphasis on products and processes. The paper examines how and why technological standardization has arisen in agriculture (technical reasons, economics, role of training, downstream requirements, regulations, etc.) and the particular case of quality standards which correspond to a diversification. At the present time, the technical model of agriculture is in crisis; in the future, there may be a more diversified and flexible model and a plural and multifunctional agriculture. The dynamics of relations between standardization, diversification and innovation, which have some distinctive features in agriculture are also discussed and the duality of standardization is stressed.