|
Country |
Research Institutions |
Research Fields |
Research Needs |
Advisory Service |
Transfer |
|
Austria[11] |
- Ludwig-Boltzmann-Institut = independent institute, financed
by the city of Vienna
- University of Agricultural Sciences in Vienna (BOKU): professorship
in organic agriculture at the Institute
of Organic Farming
- Various research activities at a number of other institutes of the
university (see address list)
- Institute of Animal Husbandry and Protection of Animal Welfare,
University for Veterinary Medicine
- Various research activities by NGOs
- Institute of Interdisciplinary Research and Continuing Education
of the Universities of Innsbruck, Klagenfurt, Vienna
- Some research by Federal Agencies (Bundesamt für Agrarbiologie;
Bundesanstalt für alpenländische Landwirtschaft)
Coordination of Research by the Forschungsinititative Biologischer
Landbau
Research funded by various ministries at a federal level
|
- Seed quality and multiplication of seeds, legal aspects of seed trade
- Genetic Engineering and its possible influence and risks to organic
farming
- Development of material flows and of yields after a regional or national
conversion to organic farming;
- Renewable resources in Organic Farming (hemp, flax, dyeplants)
- Development and evaluation of animal housing systems respecting animal
welfare and behaviour
- Techniques and engineering in organic farming
- Alternative energy (solar- and wind energy, biogas,...)
- Treatment of manure to reduce losses of nutrients
- Economical aspects of organic farming at farm and community level
- Development of the animal needs index (TGI)
- Product quality of organic products
|
- Nutrient recycling for farms and entire regions
- Energy efficiency in plant production and livestock husbandry
- Renewable resources for energy and industry
- Maintenance and enhancement of fertility
- Disease prevention in livestock husbandry
- Integration of livestock husbandry and plant production
- Economic, social and policy prerequisites to promote the development
of organic farming
- Horticulture
- Wine production
- Quality assessment
|
- Organic Producer organizations offer an advisory service to their
members
- Regional agricultural authorities in various districts offer advice
to (organic) farmers in their district.
- Agricultural schools which converted to organic farming offer curricula,
courses and in some cases advisory service
- Federal Ministry for Agriculture offers a curricula in organic farming
for agricultural teachers and agricultural advisers.
|
Some farmers and organic producers organizations turn to the
agricultural university with their questions, but many of the farmers questions
(>80 percent) are, however, related to advisory service or literature review
and not to scientific research.
Scientists from Austria, Switzerland and Germany are
frequently invited to courses for organic farmers organized by organic producer
organizations in wintertime or to curricula in organic farming for advisers
organized by the Ministry for Agriculture.
Several research projects were developed in close
collaboration between scientists and organic producer organizations. |
|
Belgium[12] |
Some regional agricultural authorities carry out some
research |
- Wheat varieties
- Plant protection and varieties in organic horticulture
|
|
- No advisory service
- Two demonstration projects under EC-Regulation 2078/92
|
|
|
Denmark[13] |
Research in organic agriculture is mainly coordinated by the
Danish Research Centre for Organic Farming. The following universities
and research institutes are associated: Danish Institute of Agricultural
Sciences - Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University - Riso National
Laboratory - National Environmental Research Institute - South Jutland
University - Roskilde University - The Technical University of Denmark - Alborg
University - Institute of Agricultural Economics - Technical College, Slagelse -
Danish Pest Infestation Laboratory - Biotechnological Institute, Kolding - The
Danish School of Pharmacy - Aarhus University - University of
Copenhagen
Development projects are carried out by the Danish advisory
services and by several farmer and trade organizations Research and development
primarily state funded, for 1996-2000 100 million Danish Crowns (= 13,6 million
ECU) allocated to organic farming research |
Danish Organic Research Programme; coordinated by the Research Centre
for Organic Farming
1. Fundamental and Strategic issues
- Farm manure and compost; nitrogen fixation, recycling, leaching;
soil fertility and treatment
- Organic
Crop rotations for grain production
- Plant health, effects of cultivation techniques
- Market and consumer surveys
- Impact of various strategies in the development and expansion of
organic agriculture on society and the environment.
2. Applied research/development
- Black currants and strawberries
- Vegetables
- Potato quality
- Use of legumes for feeding
- Weed control
- Egg and pork production
- Effect of organic farming on domestic animals
|
In 1996 the Danish Ministry of Agriculture initiated 33 research projects
in organic agriculture. Most of the projects expire in 1999/2000. In discussions
on the continuation of research in organic agriculture, the following
themes have been suggested:
- Development of plant production systems with focus on regulation
- Weeds and pests, accumulation of humus and utilization of nutrients,
as well as product quality
- Production of green house vegetables
- Milk and meat production
- Health and welfare in animal husbandry
- Environmental issues
- Nutrition, quality and health issues
- Issues concerning society in general
|
In Denmark a two level advisory service exists:
- Local advisers who are in direct contact with the farmers, and
- The Danish agricultural advisory centre that provides information
for the local advisers on all aspects of agricultural advice, on a nation-wide
basis.
The area that causes most uncertainty among farmers are the rules for
organic production. There is a need to clarify the often very complicated
rules and to make it clear that it is a dynamic set of rules that changes
as our knowledge on the factors involved in organic production changes.
Production related issues are organic swine and poultry production. Another
challenge is to develop models for cooperation that will overcome the
problems of specialization with regards to organic production.
|
The two level advisory system allows for a fast introduction
of research results into agricultural practice and the other way around from
farmers to researchers.
In 1998 a programme called grass-root research was
introduced, under which farmers can get financial support to do semi-research on
their own. The programme was introduced because the established organic farmers
felt that on-going organic research did not fill their need for information to a
satisfactory level. |
|
Finland[14] |
- Research
Station for Ecological Agriculture Partala has a key role in research
of organic farming. It is part of Agricultural Research Centre of Finland
(ARCF). Research on organic farming also on other research stations
of ARCF. In 1997 ARCF had 27 research projects (2,7 mio. ECU= ca. 8
percent of its total budget (ANON 1997).
- Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry finances research projects in
organic agriculture with 1,5 mio. ECU. In 1998; mainly economic studies
(mostly done at Agricultural Economics Research Institute, MTTL) and
technology development projects (mostly done at Institute of Agricultural
Engineering (VAKOLA) of ARCF (TAURIAINEN 1998).
- Universities of Helsinki and Joensuu
- National
Food Expertise Centres, especially EKONEUM in Mikkeli; research
and product development projects.
- Many research and development target 5b-projects financed by regional
Employment and Economic Development Centres
|
Research of organic agriculture in Finland covers practically all aspects
of organic production, although emphasis is clearly on plant production.
Latest research programme for organic agriculture is from November 1997.
The programme includes 39 direct and 38 indirect research projects (ANON,
1997).
- Natural resources, economy and society
- Plant nutrient management
- Plant protection, environment and landscape
- Food quality
- Working methods and agricultural engineering
- Organic production of horticultural crops
- Animal husbandry in organic agriculture
- Plant breeding, seed production and selection of varieties
- Food processing, storage and distribution of food for quality and
sustainability
|
Research is split into many small projects. In the future
there should be more coordination |
Advisory service for organic farming is coordinated and
developed by the Union of Rural Advisory Centres.
Practical advisory work is run by 20 regional advisory
centres, which have about 50 advisers specialized in organic farming, usually in
plant production. About 18 of the advisers are employed full time on organic
farming. |
|
|
France[15] |
Organic Farming research takes place at a number of Institutions, like
Institute National de Recherche Agronomique, Universities, “ecoles
nationales”, research centres
|
- Cultivation Systems
- Crop Rotations Fruit, vegetable and wine cultivation (nutrients,
weed control, rotation, environmental quality)
- Conversion
- Grassland
- Grain and buckwheat cultivation
- Sheep production
- Nitrogen mineralization, farm yard manure, composting
- Nitrate leaching, water quality
- Economic aspects
- Quality
|
- No planning or prioritizing of research in ecological agriculture.
|
- Conventional Advisory Service
- Advisory Service of the organic producer organizations, and the umbrella
organization of the producers FNAB
|
|
|
Germany |
Professorial Chairs at Universities/colleges
Activities at all other agricultural universities and agricultural colleges,
also at many research stations and regional agricultural authorities Private
Research Institute
- Institute of Bio-dynamic Research
- Research at numerous other private institutions (e.g. SÖL,
several institutes involved in organic seed breeding etc.). Research
is mainly state funded.
Every two years the Scientific Conference on organic agriculture
takes place; next conference: Berlin 1999[16]
|
- Cultivation systems
- Crop production
- Vegetable production
- Fibre production
- Soil cultivation
- Nutrient supply
- Farm manure
- Green manuring
- Seed issues
- Weed control
- Plant protection
- Soil biology
- Animal husbandry
- Animal health index
- Market issues
- Homeopathic treatment of animals
- Energy flows
|
- Weed control especially in root weeds like thistles
- Potato blight control without copper agents
- Various pests and crop protection techniques
- Strategies for quality cereal production
- Plant breeding and seed variety conservation without genetic engineering
techniques
- Animal breeding according to the needs of organic farms
- Improvement of existing husbandry/stable systems
- Improvement of animal feedstuffs with special consideration of protein
plants
- Natural and homeopathic treatments in veterinary medicine
|
- State advisers, full time or part time for organic farming
- Advisers employed by the producer organizations
- Private advisory institutions (Ökoringe) are partly state funded
- Private consulting firms
Once a year the AGÖL-Beratertagung takes place = meeting of the
organic advisers.[17]
|
- Leitbetriebe = network of demonstration farms in the federal state
of Nordrhein-Westfalen
- Federal programme for the introduction of innovation into agricultural
practice (started in 1998)
- SÖL publishes the “Berater-Rundbrief”, a quarterly
bulletin for organic advisers
|
|
Greece[18] |
- Research initiatives depending on interested individuals at Research
institutions/universities
- Some producers do investigations
|
- Organic fertilizing
- Insect management with traps instead of pesticides
|
- Mediterranean agriculture (olive, vine, almond, fruit trees)
- Fertilizing under Mediterranean conditions (green manures, organic
substances)
- Weed management in annual crops
|
- 2-3 independent advisers
- Advice through companies selling inputs
- Seminars
- Exchange between farmers
|
- No organized cooperation between researchers and farmers
- Exception: Dacus fly management with traps (= research of University)
is widely known. Exact Recommendations for use
- Some books in preparation describing research results in organic
fertilizing. Pest control etc.
|
|
Iceland[19] |
- Agricultural Research Institute Keldnaholt
- Hvanneyri Agricultural
- College Reygkir Horticultural College
|
- Legumes under Icelandic conditions
- Organic Fertilizers; fishmeal
|
- Supply and utilization of organic Fertilizers for crop production,
including glasshouse growing
- Breeding and growing suitable legumes for Icelandic conditions
- Control of pests and diseases in crops and animals
- Development of suitable machinery and buildings for organic farms
|
Farmers Association of Iceland (Baendahöllin) provides
basic information about conversion to organic farming, also more specialized
information on land cultivation, grazing, livestock breeding etc. on a national
basis. Good contacts with organic farmers. |
The Organic Science Council, founded in November 1997,
links together organic farmers, advisers, researchers, teachers, officials from
the Ministry of Agriculture. Discussions on priorities in research and advisory
work. Results published in farming journals and included in meetings and
conferences on agricultural issues. Mutual exchange of ideas and solutions to
problems specific to organic farming. |
|
Ireland[20] |
- Johnstown
Castle Research Farm (a national research agency)
- Drumcolloogher Community College, Co. Limerick
- The Organic Centre (applied research) Limited government funding
|
- Organic Sheep and cattle production
- Economics of organic sheep and cattle husbandry
- Organic herb production
- Seed compost quality
|
An Organic Needs Study was published by the (general) advisory
service Teagasc in conjunction with the organic producer associations
in 1998. This may result in changes in research.
- Organic dairy production in an Irish context
- How best to address viral and other animal diseases in an organic
system
- Optimum dosing regime for sheep and cattle and acceptable parasite
level at which justification for dosing against should be permitted
(fluke and worms). Acceptable parasite levels have to be found for each
type of parasite
- Protein Sources suitable under Irish production systems
- Trials on horticulture to encourage development of horticultural
sector
|
- Currently advice is administered by approved organic Association
advisers (1 full, 2 part-time)
|
It is expected that as a result of the Organic Needs Study
monitoring farms will be established whereby data can be readily transferred by
qualified researchers/advisers to organic farmers. Currently little is done in
this area. |
|
Italy[21] |
- Research activities at various universities,e.g. the universities
of Ancona and Perugia
- CIHEAM Bari hosts
the Secretariat of the IFOAM Mediterranean Group
- Gruppo di Ricerca in Agricoltura Biologica-Italia (GRAB-IT, Network
of Researchers)
Only few activities; these are funded by sources originally meant for
integrated farming
|
- Structural evolution of organic farming in Italy
- Competitiveness of organic farming as a whole and of individual products
- Organic farming and agro-tourism
- Advisory needs of organic farmers
- Marketing strategies
- Evaluation of local, national and European legislation
An overview of on-going research is given by Centro Documentazione Agricoltura
Sostenibile, 1998
|
|
Advisory Service exists in some regions and is paid for by the
regional governments (e.g. Toscana, Emilia Romagna); in other regions some
advisers also cover organic farming. Especially in the Southern regions no
advisory service available, here it is to some degree covered by the producer
organizations. |
|
|
Liechtenstein[22] |
- |
- |
- Alternative veterinary medicine
- Farm yard manure, use on the farm
- Horticulture (weed control, fertilization, crop protection)
- Low-input-production
|
- Publications in magazines
- Conferences, seminars
- Organic advisory magazines
- Advice from research stations
|
- On-farm-trials
- Recommendations on the basis of research results
- Farms are informed on research results
|
|
Luxembourg[23] |
- |
- |
- Seed and transplant production
- Plant protection
- Animal production and husbandry
|
Up until recently no organic advisory service; the State now
subsidizes an organic advisory service for the two producer
organizations |
|
|
Netherlands[24] |
|
|
- Keeping organic agriculture free of genetic engineering
- Less developed areas in organic agriculture
- See list of IFOAM-EU-Group
|
Since 1997 the eight organic advisers have been integrated in
the regular system of advisory teams to also transmit their knowledge to the
advisers for conventional agriculture. |
In The Netherlands an intensive network exists of advisers,
who translate the results of fundamental and applied research to different
strategies of farm management, technically as well as economically. |
|
Norway[25] |
- Norwegian Centre for Ecological Agriculture. One consultant employed
at the Centre is responsible for the contact with the organic advisory
service.
More institutions with organic farming as only a part of their research
work:
- The Norwegian Crop Research Institute
- Agricultural University of Norway
- The Norwegian Agricultural Economics Research Institute
Research mainly funded through Ministry of Agriculture and Research Council
of Norway, ca. 12 million Norwegian crowns per year (ca 1,5 million ECU)
|
- Feed production
- Vegetable production
- Plant production
- Soil cultivation
- Grain and potato cultivation techniques
- Management of natural resources
- Energy efficiency
|
- Increase the sustainability in organic farming in the long term regarding
sufficient supply of nutrients, animal welfare, biodiversity, energy
use, economy and human welfare. To do this, the present farming systems
in Norwegian agriculture has to be improved. This includes:
- Recycling of nutrients in the society, improvement of fertility of
Norwegian soils
- Sustainable utilization of outlying field inhabited by wild animals
- Find strategies for how different farms can survive economically
- Decrease the costs for transport and sales
- Create production systems that prevent diseases and parasites on
domestic animals and crops and controls weeds.
It is of a crucial importance to develop/improve systems to combine
the principles for organic agriculture and practical, timesaving ways
of working. It is also important to find parameters for suitable/not suitable
conditions for organic agriculture. In other words, to find nature’s
own limits for this way of food production.
|
Every farmer is free to become a member in the nearest
advisory and extension circle. The board, which is elected by the
members, is responsible for employment of one or more advisers, according to the
amount of work and economic situation. To find a good basis for advice to the
farmers, it is necessary to make plot experiments. The questions for these are
declared in a coop between farmers, advisers and researchers. The experiment
work is run by the adviser/s. In this way they get first-hand knowledge of the
material. |
Information is transferred through the organic advisory circles and gatherings
with the farmers (16 throughout the country). Procedure:
1. Farmer needs answers to questions
2. Adviser helps the farmer to formulate the questions
3. Adviser hands over the questions to the research system. Sometimes
the system has its own questions.
4. Questions are put together in local experiments; the local circles
perform these experiments.
5. Results are recorded and returned to the research system. They make
calculations etc.
6. Researchers make reports, produce papers for local meetings, courses
etc.
7. New answers produce new questions. Some response is also given back
to the researchers through direct response from the farmers to the advisers
and researchers, through farm studies, and in that farmers and advisers
are members of the same boards of various research projects. However,
the communication is somewhat arbitrary and could be better developed.
|
|
Portugal[26] |
No institutions working specifically for organic agriculture
- UTAD (Universidade de Tras-os-Montes e Alto Douro) in North Portugal,
two researchers, receives technical support from Wageningen (it was
built with grants from the Dutch and American governments
- University of Algarve, one researcher
- Organic farming benefits mainly from the research in the domain of
integrated protection, which is much better accepted at the technical
and academic level.
|
- Comparison of conventionally and organically produced strawberries
(Cooperation of a of an organic input firm and the Ministry of Agriculture
in Algarve - Patacao in South Portugal)
|
- Change of mentality and attitude towards organic farming from the
sides of the researchers, acceptance of the academics not there yet
|
- Organic Advisory Service is almost non-existent. Agrobio (producer
association) has no advisers. One independent consultant + one input
producer give advice
- No state activities
|
- Not much cooperation.
- The existing demonstration fields could achieve this goal, but they
are essentially visited by schools of the secondary level.
|
|
Spain[27] |
- No research institutions working specifically for organic agriculture
- Private initiatives of scientists, universities, organic associations
- Scientific congresses on organic agriculture are organized by Vida
Sana, the Spanish Society of Organic Agriculture and the
University of Cordoba
|
|
|
- Several private advisory firms
- Some producer associations employ advisers
- ATAB (Asociaciòn de Técnicos para la Agricultura
Biologica) coordinates the organic advisers
|
|
|
Sweden[28] |
|
- Plant Nutrient Flows
- Effects of ley as preceding crop
- Farm yard manure and soil fertility
- Biodynamic Agriculture
- Agriculture, environment and landscape
Agriculture and rural society
|
- At present a research programme with priorities for research is written
|
|
|
|
Switzerland[29] |
- FiBL (Research Institute
of Organic Agriculture) is partly funded by the state, 40 researchers
- Various activities at the Eidgenoessische Technische Hochschule (ETH)
in Zurich (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology)
- Activities at the federal research stations
Most research is state funded, some funding through private sources,
farmers’ associations, supermarkets
|
FiBL Research on
- Soil cultivation
- Soil fertility,
- Plant health, predators
- Animal husbandry
- Landscape ecology
FiBL research is to
a high degree applied research
|
- Holistic approach to animal health (integrating breeding/selection,
housing/ethology, feeding and alternative veterinary medicine)
- technical progress in horticultural crops
- development of low input and minimum tillage systems in arable crops
- plant breeding without genetic engineering
- ecological and socio-economic implications of regional conversion
- filling the gap of knowledge on product quality
- processing methods of organic food
- ecoaudit systems in organic agriculture
|
Ca. 40 organic advisers, employed either by FiBL,
by the producer organizations or the state, plus part time private advisers.
3-4 meetings per year. FiBL
now specializes in training for advisers
- Organic advisers are organized in the “Bio-Berater-Vereinigung”.
- Magazine: “Bio-Berater-Bulletin”
|
Close cooperation of advisers and researchers, as they are all employed
or coordinated by FiBL/Bio-Berater-Vereinigung
|
|
United
Kingdom[30] |
Private Research Institutes (Government and EU support for research projects)
Research Activities at the Universities
- SAC Organic Farming Centre with three research farms
- Aberystwyth,
Aberdeen: Organic Agriculture Research Centre, Reading
Most research funded by the British Ministry of agriculture; 1997: 1,17
million pounds (1,7 million ECU), but also by producers and supermarkets
|
- Agricultural weed control
- Horticultural weed control
- Plant propagation
- Perennial weed control
- Parasites in livestock
- Nutrient transfer: manure-plants
- Seedborne and seedling diseases
- Nutrients from permanent fertilizers: supply and availability
- At SAC: Nutrient dynamics across the rotation, maintenance of crop
health
- Conversion process: set-aside and organic rotation, economics of stockless
systems, economics of organic poultry production
Many research projects in cooperation with environmental organizations
|
|
No state advisory service
Organic Advisory Service, run by EFRC since 1985
Organic Conversion Information Service, funded by MAFF since
1996: Soil Association
offers a telephone helpline; EFRC offers free advise
SAC offers advisory/consultancy and education
|
Clients of ERFC’s advisory service receive Elm Farm
Research Bulletin and have access to Elm Farms’ research
results |
