The CAR is a multi-commodity research centre with focused research to provide solutions to agricultural problems. The centre’s research is geared towards sustainable agricultural systems and environmental conservation. The Centre for Agricultural Research currently has seven Research Thrusts (including Organic Agricultural Systems) with potentials for future expansion.

This Centre does multi-disciplinary research on problems that affect arid areas including desertification, drought and soil degration, and crop and livestock issues.  It includes work on ecology, hydrology, geomorphology, climatology, rural development, human and animal health, and socio-economical problems.  Specific research topics include soil and moisture changes in relation to land use patterns, over-cultivation and grazing leading to desertification, rehabilitation of degraded lands, and prevention of livestock diseases.

The Centre aims to predict the impacts of climate change on agro-ecosystems and provide solutions for mitigation and adaptation through renewable bioenergy crops and sustainable management strategies.  Research topics include integrating cell, organism, community, and ecosystem processes as a method of predicting the impact of climate change; microbial oxidation of methane; increasing yield and quality of biomass crops; and the impacts of land use change associated with adoption of energy crops. 

CDE’s mission is to contribute to sustainable development in countries in the North, South and East by focusing on management of natural resources, integrated regional development and interventions that mitigate syndromes of global change.  CDE works to combine research and knowledge generation with outreach and policy advice.  Their work places a special emphasis on highland-lowland interactions and, as such, several of CDE’s programs are focused on mountain regions.

CETDEM is a training, research, consultancy, referral, and development organization committed to improving environmental quality through sustainable development.  Formerly, CETDEM ran an organic farm growing local vegetables for a decade.  Currently, the farm is no longer in existence and CETDEM focuses on demonstrating the viability of organic farming and promoting the need for conservation of resources.  It aims to do this by sharing its experience with farmers, trainers, and individuals.

The Centre for Mountain Studies, located in the Scottish highlands, aims to undertake and maintain high quality research on mountain environments and the people who depend on them.  To date, research conducted by the centre that is relevant to agriculture has primarily focused on forestry.

The mission of CPBR is to enhance knowledge, understanding, conservation and sustainable utilization of plant biodiversity in Australia.  The Centre aims to be a national centre of excellence in the fields of plant systematics and conservation biology, as a basis for the sustainable use and management and conservation of Australian vegetation.  Centre resources available online do not indicate a focus on organics, but, because much native vegetation is grown in the absence of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, the work of the CPBR likely covers many organically grown products. 

CSA is a policy research organization with a vision to make agriculture productive, ecologically sensitive and capable of preserving the social fabric of rural communities.  It works with farmers by promoting a non-pesticidal approach to pest management, soil fertility, disease management, and seed production.

CIRAA is an agricultural experimental center run by the Università di Pisa.  The Centre conducts mainly on-farm research at the field scale.  The Mediterranean Arable Systems Comparison Trial (MASCOT) experiment began at the Centre in 2001 with an aim of long-term comparison of organic and conventional cropping systems.  It evaluates the long-term dynamics of soil characteristics, macronutrients, weed and pest populations, system biodiversity, and economic and energetic management.

CREAR maintains a working farm with programs in education, training, and on-farm research in organic and sustainable agriculture.  The centre is divided into several focal areas including intensive horticulture, field crops, animal husbandry, soil conservation, agroforestry, and compost production.