| News
ORC investigates how organic
ideas can help make UK farming a
world leader
The Organic Research Centre (ORC) – the UK’s leading research charity in this field, has been awarded two new
research projects by Defra to gather robust evidence on organic farming. Both projects aim to identify how organic
food production techniques can help the UK build on its position as a world-leading food and farming nation.
he first project will look at how
a selection of organic farming
practices can deliver wider
sustainability benefits for
conventional farming systems.
The second project will help
provide an evidence base for future policy
direction of organic agriculture in the UK
following EU exit as well as exploring the issues
surrounding the potential implications of
introducing an independent organic labelling
system.
Dr Susanne Padel from the Organic
Research Centre said, “This a fantastic
opportunity to see how some of the well-proven
farming techniques developed by the organic
sector can provide the impetus for mainstream
farmers to become more sustainable. Although
organic farming accounts for a relatively small
proportion of UK food production the sector
has emerged as hugely innovative, employing
novel solutions to reduce reliance on inputs
while maintaining production but with limited
resources.”
As well as considering what can be learnt
from organic systems, the first project will also
assess opportunities, practicalities and barriers
for translating best practice management
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08 | Farming Monthly | March 2018
techniques from organic to conventional farms
including examining potential impacts on farm
incomes, productivity and risks.
The research will also review what is already
adopted within conventional systems, or is
actively promoted through bespoke initiatives
such as Agricology, Integrated Farm
Management and LEAF Marque.
The ORC will collaborate with the GWCT’s
Allerton Project, the Soil Association, Organic
Farmers and Growers and LEAF (Linking
Environment and Farming). During the course
of the research the project will identify and
actively involve the farming community and
relevant industry stakeholders. A key element is
to develop future actions to promote
sustainable farming practices across all
agricultural systems. Results from this research
will be widely shared with all interested farmers
via a project ‘hub’ on the Agricology website
and promoted using social media and events
(www.agricology.co.uk).
With our imminent exit from the EU, the
second project provides information from which
to review our national organic regulations for
England and Wales following EU exit.
The project will review regulatory
approaches controlling organic production and
provisions for trade in other countries and
summarise their strengths and opportunities.
In addition, the project is tasked with
exploring the organic labelling used by other
countries such as those in USA and Norway.
To undertake this project ORC leads an
international consortium of organisations
including Organic Services (based in
Germany), EcoS Consultancy (UK) and the
Swiss Research Institute for Organic Agriculture
(FIBL). All the members of the consortium have
longstanding and complementary experience
with organic regulations and the organic sector
in the UK, Europe and globally.
Dr Padel said, “We are delighted to be
leading these two significant research projects,
which will help to create an evidence base for
future policy development. Many conventional
farmers in the UK are doing a fantastic job by
providing high quality food and contribute to
the environment, but there is always something
new to learn or improve to create a robust and
profitable agricultural industry in the UK. It is
also framed by the Defra strategy to provide a
cleaner and healthier environment benefiting
the economy.”
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