Introduction
Over the last twenty years, organic agriculture research has developed from very unconventional roots to a modern concept of research which increasingly influences the thinking of conventional researchers. The report of Els Wynen analyses this development very concisely, and I fully agree with her conclusions on how research could be supported by FAO activities.
Nevertheless, some additional information has to be given in view of the recent development in Switzerland, where organic agriculture is growing fast out of the niche.
The recent situation in Switzerland
In 1997, organic agriculture covers 7% of the agriculturally utilised area, 4500 farms have been converted or are being converted. Despite an annual growth of organic land area of 30 to 80%, the Swiss market for organic produce is larger than supplies. Whereas organic milk and milk products (cheese, yoghurt, etc.) are available everywhere, cereals, fruits and vegetables are imported from EU countries, Canada and USA (self supply of organic wheat is about 45% compared to 100% with conventional wheat). Therefore, agriculture and marketing experts forecast a further growth of organic agriculture of up to 20% within the next five years. Organic products are available in all retail shops. The two biggest supermarket chains of Switzerland (market share 65%) aim at having a full organic assortment and at increasing the yearly turnover with organic food of up to 500 million Swiss Francs each.
In addition to the optimistic signs of the market, the conversion rate is supported by annual subsidies by the Government. Organic farmers are subsidised per area of organically managed land, per ecologically diversified area on their farm (hedges, fallow land with wild flowers, extensive meadows etc.) and per livestock unit kept under appropriate conditions.
Impact of market growth on research activities
Even though the land area under full organic management and under conversion, the fast growing market for organic produce has created a much more favourable situation for research funding in Switzerland. A considerably higher amount of public funds has been made available for organic farming research. In addition, trading and processing firms as well as farmers’ associations (e.g. livestock breeding, dairy and fruit associations) have provided money for R&D projects in order to develop and assure future markets. These changes in the funding policy of public and private institutions have induced increasing numbers of conventionally thinking researchers to begin organic farming research too, in order to save their jobs. Consequently, there is a certain risk that the complex and often time consuming interdisciplinary or even holistic approach of organic agriculture gets lost in research projects. Arguments over whether genetic engineering in plant breeding and food processing complies with organic farming ideas or not are clear signs of such changes.
To avoid a significant loss of holistic thinking in organic farming research, the establishment of scientific networks, training exchanges for aspiring researchers, sabbaticals for senior researchers and peer review of papers within the fast growing community is very important. Therefore, I support the recommendations of Els Wynen to set up a scientific network within FAO. Already existing networks such as the IFOAM Scientific Conference or the Conference of the German Speaking Scientists are very important. But because the organizing teams change for every conference (and in the case of the IFOAM Conference the venue can even be on a different continent), these opportunities do not have permanent communication structures and tools.
One of the most difficult tasks of a future network is to define the framework of organic agriculture research. If we agree on the fact that organic farming, as it is practised by the experienced farmers, is a paradigm shift in agriculture (Els Wynen, 1996), research objectives and methods should conform. A more concrete definition of the term holistic approach (does it mean interdisciplinary, multidisciplinary or non scientific?) could be a beginning.
Future priorities in organic farming research
Els Wynen in her report focused accurately on the objectives and issues of the research done during the last twenty years. But she did not put enough emphasis on the future research priorities. Some of these are listed below without further explanations:
- 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; and
- echo audit systems in organic agriculture.
