I wish to acknowledge the financial support from the FAO Regional Office for Europe (REU) and the SREN Trust Fund which made the expert roundtable discussion and the preparation and publication of the proceedings possible. I would also like to thank the organisers of the meeting, N. El Bassam and E. Show of the Institut für Pflanzenbau, Bundesforschungsanstalt für Landwirtschaft, Braunschweig-Völkenrode (FAL).
I express my explicit appreciation to the author of the main report, Els Wynen and those who not only contributed to the roundtable discussion but also sent their written comments and suggestions: V. Lund, U. Niggli, J. Tyburski, R. Zanoli and K. Zimmermann. In addition, I thank those who made available their time and capacities for the reviewing of E. Wynen's report and coming together for the brainstorming session in Braunschweig: M. Arnoux, A. Bozzini, J. Chataigner, N. El Bassam, B. Geier, F. Höpner, S. Kyritsis, B. Müller-Haye, H. Nieberg, M. Reuss, P. Weiland and M. Zjalic, which resulted in the recommendations and the formation of the SREN Working Group on "Research Methodologies in Organic Farming". My thanks also go to Adrianna Gabrielli for editing the English and bringing everything into its final format.
