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.

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. 

Research at the Department of Crop Science is undertaken in all fields of crop science and also forms the backbone of graduate training in the Department. A number of staff members are leading research and training projects in the various discipline of crop science. “Towards sustainable cassava and sweet potato production in eastern Africa” is one of the major projects of the Department.

The Faculty of Agricultural Sciences has seven academic departments, covering a breadth of agricultural issues.  The University is a collaborating centre with ICROFS and researchers in the Faculty have partnered with ICROFS to study various organic issues.  Recent organic research undertaken by the Faculty has included comparison studies of dairy products produced under organic and non-organic systems, selective livestock breeding, methods of plant pest protection and levels of greenhouse gas emissions from organic soils under different agricultural management schemes. 

The aim of the Faculty is to impart knowledge of sustainable agriculture with regard to different agro-ecological and economical conditions.  The Faculty’s main focal areas are in crop sciences, animal sciences, socio-economic and food sciences.  Within each focal area, there are multiple departments that focus on areas such as, but not limited to, agricultural engineering, crop production, animal nutrition, ecological plant protection, farm management, grassland science and renewable plant resources, marketing, and food quality and culture.   

DITSL aims to foster sustainable rural development in the Third World and countries in the process of industrialization.  The Institute conducts research in adaptive capacity to climate change, diversification of agro-ecosystems, urban food, and community based management of livestock.  DITSL is a non-profit company and is located within the Faculty of Organic Agriculture at the University of Kassel.

IBERS has long been involved with research on the socio-economic and policy aspects of organic systems.  Research topics in organic farming include the development of policy support, rural development, standards, farm income, costs of production, marketing and conversion to organic farming. Current work is aimed at measuring the environmental, social and cultural benefits that derive from farming remote upland and hilly areas across Europe, including the conservation of biodiversity and economic opportunities from agritourism. IBERS has previously conducted robust research on the marketing of organic foods in Europe.  In addition to socio-economic and policy research on organics, IBERS has a division dedicated to finding practical solutions to the mitigation of climate change including the development of high yielding energy crops. 

MAIB is a Centre for post-graduate training, applied scientific research and promoter of in-loco partnership actions in the framework of the international cooperation programmes, it works in four thematic areas: “Land and water resources management”, “Integrated pest management of Mediterranean fruit tree crops”, “Mediterranean organic farming” and “Sustainable agriculture and rural development”.

The Rainman Landcare Foundation demonstrates and teaches ecologically sound agricultural production methods and effective management and use of Africa’s scarce water resources. It supports the organisation of organic farmers into effective groups, helps them to develop markets, and has assisted in the establishment of independent organic certification agencies. It encourages young people to become organic farmers.

FiBL is committed to the international development of organic agriculture through research and knowledge transfer.  Based in Switzerland, FiBL has international offices in Germany and Austria and partners with organizations around the world.  The Institute has eight research divisions: Horticultural Sciences, Entomology, Animal Health, Animal Husbandry, Food Quality and Safety, Plant Protection and Biodiversity, Socio-economics and Soil Sciences.