Small wins for big challenges: role of organic agriculture governance in driving food system transformation

The organic agriculture governance system is increasingly seen as a platform for developing, adopting, and regulating a wide range of sustainable agricultural initiatives, making it a promising pathway for advancing food system transformation toward greater sustainability and resilience. This study examines, through the lens of farmers’ capabilities, how the efficiency of the organic agriculture governance system can be improved. A mixed-methods approach was used, including semi-structured interviews with key informants in the agri-food sector ( n = 10), (ii) organic and non-organic farmers of medicinal and aromatic plants ( n = 37), and (iii) key informants—farmers ( n = 12), enabling an in-depth and holistic exploration of emerging themes in developing countries. The results reveal that the root causes of key barriers lie at the micro level, particularly in farmers’ capability to reimagine the relationship between society and business, which in turn shapes the transformative capacity of the organic agriculture governance system. The hostile socioeconomic environment in developing countries drives farmers toward profit-oriented behaviour, despite their strong concerns for the environment and quality of life. Limited capacity to cooperate, learn, exchange new ideas, and improve performance through innovation reduces farmers’ ability to move beyond past practices, pushing the entire system toward path dependence shaped by weak institutions, rigid structures, and fragmented public and development initiatives. To unlock the transformative potential of organic agriculture, it is first necessary to strengthen the existing governance system, redefine the role of civil society, and implement innovative public policies that position farmers as key agents of change. This would ensure that the food system operates with greater agility and flexibility, rather than focusing solely on increasing production.