ORCA Centres

Once fully developed, ORCA will consist of some eleven research networks, or centres, that pool their intellectual and financial resources to work on common research objectives.

All eleven Centres are linked together, forming a global network of networks for organic knowledge generation and sharing. Each ORCA Centre will be coordinated by a consortium of key organic institutions entrusted to ensure the active participation of farmers and the cooperation of relevant institutions. Coordination between Centres will be carried by an ORCA Secretariat hosted by FAO.

Five of the ORCA Centres will focus on specific agro-ecosystems: 

• Coastal and small islands;
• Hilly and mountains;
• Arid and semi-arid;
• Humid and sub-humid; 
• Temperate and irrigated.

Further six ORCA Centres will focus on cross-sectoral topics that merit special attention:

• Climate change;
• Urban and periurban agro-ecosystems;
• Nutrition, quality and health;
• Economics, markets and trade;
• Post-harvest handling and food safety;
• Seeds and breeds.

Each of the Centres will both undertake inter-disciplinary and participatory research and develop a virtual library where all information on two key topics will be maintained and regularly updated. ORCA Centres will grow from existing institutions, which synergies will create excellence centres on specific themes. The ultimate outcome of ORCA is that multifaceted benefits accruing from the organic sector are shared worldwide.