Danish research in organic farming

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1 Danish research in organic farming Agriculture is faced with a range of challenges. There is a widespread disapproval of a number of technological and structural developments in agriculture and the consequences for the environment, animal welfare, human health, etc. Based on a holistic view of agriculture and food production, organic farming has emerged and grown as an alternative to the general development. Concerns for soil fertility, rural culture, environment and nature, livestock welfare, and food quality are essential elements of the philosophy behind organic agriculture. Since organic production addresses many of the difficulties faced in current agricultural practices, research in this area can be expected to gain considerable benefits for agriculture and society in general. In this context, Denmark has undertaken major initiatives aiming at developing organic farming. The initiatives include comprehensive action plans and large research programmes. This has greatly advanced the development of organic farming, and the initiated research has provided new knowledge on the possibilities for establishing productive and sustainable production systems. Danish Research Centre for Organic Farming (DARCOF)

2 DARCOF Throughout the 1990s a continuing transition from conventional to organic farming occurred in Denmark. In 1990 organic farming accounted for less than 1 percent of the cultivated land, whereas in 2002 this proportion will approach about 7 percent. The conversion has primarily occurred on relatively large farms. For example, organic milk amounts to app. 10 percent of the total milk production in Denmark. In accordance with its policy to promote protection of the environment and to produce a sustainable development in agriculture, the Danish government has provided considerable support for transition, regulation and control, advisory service, education, and research relating to organic farming. This development has been planned through the preparation of national policies (action plans). As a direct result of the first action plan for organic farming in Denmark the Danish Research Centre for Organic Farming (DARCOF) was founded in 1995 with the objective to provide the overall framework for Danish research on organic farming. The remit of DAR- COF is thus to coordinate Danish research and development (R&D) for organic farming, with a view to achieving optimum benefit from the allocated resources. Its aim is to elucidate the ideas and problems faced in organic farming through the promotion of high quality research of international standard. This research is intended to ease the transition from conventional to organic farming, while encouraging a sustainable development of the economic, ecological and social aspects of agriculture. According to an international, scientific evaluation of DARCOF in 1999, the co-ordination and organisation of the Organic Research Sites research has proved to be an effective tool in developing Danish research in organic farming. The activities has resulted in effective developments of the Danish research methodology in organic farming, a productive dialogue between discipline oriented agricultural research and more holistic organic farming research, and a favourable promotion of the interaction between users and researchers.

3 Organisation DARCOF is a "centre without walls", which is to say that the researchers remain in their own research environment but collaborate across institutes. This type of collaboration currently implicates about 140 research scientists working at 20 different institutes. A board of directors consisting of research leaders from the central research institutes leads DARCOF. To ensure the relevance of its R&D activities, including contact with the various user groups, a user committee has been appointed with representatives from farmers associations and NGOs within organic farming. Institutes in DARCOF BOARD Danish Bacon and Meat Council Danish Forest and Landscape Institute Danish Institute of Agricultural and Fisheries Economics Danish Institute of Agricultural Sciences Danish Meat Research Institute Danish Pest Infestation Laboratory Danish Veterinary and Food Administration Danish Veterinary Institute DLF-trifolium GfK Denmark Institute of Local Government Studies National Environmental Research Institute of Denmark National History Museum Risø National Laboratory Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University Technical University of Denmark The Agricultural Advisory Board University of Aarhus University of Aalborg University of Copenhagen SYNERGY ACTIVITIES CO-ORDINATION OF RESEARCH SYNTHESIS OF KNOWLEDGE RESEARCH METHO- DOLOGY AND VALUE INQUIRY EDUCATION COMMUNICATION AND MEDIATION INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION CENTRE MANAGEMENT RESEARCH PROJECTS USER COMMITTEE RESEARCH FACILITIES RESEARCH STATIONS CROP ROTATION TRIALS ORGANIC WORKSHOP SITES FARM STUDIES

4 Synergy activities As the co-ordinating organ for Danish research in organic farming, DARCOF must first and foremost ensure that the research system focuses on the most relevant challenges, that the projects are undertaken in the most appropriate manner, and that the various target groups are regularly informed of the findings. In relation to these objectives, the assignments are: Co-ordination The main responsibility of the centre management is to co-ordinate, evaluate and manage ongoing research projects in accordance with the overall objectives of DARCOF. Synthesis of knowledge The collaboration in DARCOF offers a unique opportunity to synthesise information in order to analyse different aspects of the transition from conventional to organic farming, to identify areas where new research is most needed, and to clarify complex problems. Research methodology and value inquiry The organic movement is based on explicit principles and goals, and certain values are entailed in these principles and goals. Therefore value inquiry and awareness of the interplay of values and facts are significant elements of systems research in organic farming. Education An important aim of DARCOF is to contribute to the postgraduate education of researchers in the disciplines and research areas of greatest relevance to organic farming. In collaboration with the Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University a research school for organic farming has been established. Communication and mediation Activities of DARCOF are conducted in dialogue with producers, advisors, consumers and various research institutes. National and international communication is thus an integrated part of the activities. International cooperation DARCOF seeks to contribute to the international development of research in organic farming. Among others, this is done by supporting the exchange of research results, by improving knowledge on EU-research programmes, and by international evaluation of research projects. Research facilities In DARCOF a series of unique research facilities are set up to provide opportunity for conducting different projects simultaneously, using the same research fields, herds, etc. This allows close cooperation between different research environments, with a high degree of interdisciplinary collaboration, synergy, and complementary research. The main facilities are: Organic research stations At Rugballegaard near Bygholm Research Centre a research station has been established to investigate organic animal production and the interactions between animal husbandry and crops on a large area of land. Furthermore, one of the research farms, Bakkegaarden, at the Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, is dedicated to organic farming. Crop rotation trials Long-term organic crop rotation trials are performed on four locations: Jyndevad, Foulum, Flakkebjerg and Holeby. The aim is to investigate how the type of rotation affects yields, nutrient balances, weed and disease problems, and soil fertility on different soil types and with different levels of manure. Organic workshop sites Organic workshop sites for research are set up at Aarslev, Flakkebjerg and Foulum research centres and at Jyndevad and Askov research stations. At these sites it is possible to conduct analytical studies that require different soil types and climatic conditions. Farm studies Agreements have been drawn up with private organic farmers who make their farms available for research. The systematic monitoring and the collaboration of the farmers provide in-depth information about the individual farms. In this way a sound basis is acquired for analysing and interpreting farm results in relation to different management strategies, this providing a solid foundation for the further development of organic production.

5 Current research From 1996 to research projects at a total cost of app. 15 million EURO were carried out within the framework of DARCOF. The research provided new knowledge on the possibilities for establishing sustainable and productive organic production systems. Following the conclusion of the second Danish Action plan for organic farming Action Plan II Development in organic farming in 1999 a new major research initiative DARCOF II was initiated. The remit of DARCOF II is, in accordance with the conclusions of the action plan, To produce knowledge that can be used to promote increased production and a closer relationship between the inherent and organic qualities of organic foods. The objectives are to provide information on: 1. Effective and rational organic production methods 2. Inherent quality, including: Nutritional value Food safety The standard of manufacture and other traditional parameters of quality 3. Organic quality, including: Reduced environmental pressures Higher quality of nature Higher levels of animal welfare Other organic principles The initiative, which last from 2000 to 2005, has a total value of app. 28 million EURO. It consist of 42 major research projects described under six main areas: I Crop production, environment and food quality Organic production of cucumber and tomato Sustainable production systems for apples Nitrogen dynamics, crop production and biodiversity in organic crop rotations Enhanced bread wheat production Production of grain legumes and cereals for animal feed Cultivation in ridges and mixed cropping Soil quality in organic farming Management of perennial weed species in organic farming Band heating for intra-row weed control Organic vegetable cultivation methods and use of catch crops Cultivation of organic clover and grass seed Preventing mycotoxin problems Dinitrogen fixation and nitrous oxide losses in grass-clover pastures Control of scab in organic apple growing Nitrate leaching from dairy farming Regional groundwater protection by optimised organic farming systems II Animal husbandry, health and food quality Organic dairy production systems Production of organic milk of high quality considering the future demands for use of organically produced feed and natural vitamins Production of steers and use of bioactive forages Health and welfare for organic calves Use of antimicrobials and occurrence of resistance in organic cattle herds Research in poultry production systems Improved pig feed and feeding strategies Health management in organic pig production New systems in organic pig production Bacterial infection risk associated with outdoor organic pig production with special reference to Salmonella and Campylobacter infection Production of raw milk cheese from organic milk

6 Product quality and consumer perception of organic beef and pork in relation to grazing system and feeding with bioactive crops III Agriculture and society Consumer demand for organic foods Analyses of the future development of organic farming Closing the rural-urban nutrient cycle Organic food and health a multigenerational animal experiment Nature quality in organic farming Future supply and marketing strategies in the Danish organic food-sector Further information A comprehensive website including descriptions on the individual research projects, their findings and publications can be found at Distribution channels for organic foods and consumer trust Organic agriculture in social entirety principles versus practices IVResearch facilities Experimental units for research in organic farming systems Communication with basis in experimental units for organic farming V Coordination and synergy Management of the entire programme, including research coordination, systems research methodology, knowledge syntheses, international collaboration, communication and mediation Electronic newsletter In 2002 DARCOF has established an international, electronic newsletter on research in organic farming. You can join the newsletter at our website or you can send a mail to darcof@agrsci.dk stating that you wish to join. The newsletter is free of charge. VISeed production and improvement Healthy seed for organic production of cereals and legumes Characteristics of spring barley varieties for organic farming Tools for protection against contamination by GMO Grain legumes for organic farming - improved disease resistance, weed competitive ability and feed quality Vegetable and forage seed development of an organic, GMO-free seed production Publications & biennial reports Most research results are published in international scientific journals, but DARCOF issues a number of proceedings, reviews, etc. together with biennial reports on its research activities. The reports can all be downloaded from You are also welcome to contact the secretariat: Photos: Hans Jørgen Lysholm Lay-out: Enggaardens Tegnestue Print: Arco Grafisk A/S Danish Research Centre for Organic Farming (DARCOF) Foulum P.O. Box 50 DK-8830 Tjele Tel: Fax: Internet: darcof@agrsci.dk