Support us

Feed the Soil Appeal

For one week only (18th – 25th April), have your donation DOUBLED amd help raise funds for our Feed the Soil Project.

ORC is taking part in the Big Give Green Match Fund campaign again this year. This time to raise £100,000 in just one week for our Feed the Soil project. Donations given to the Feed the Soil appeal in the campaign week, 18 – 25 April, will be matched by The Mark Leonard Trust and The Reed Foundation. This means any donation you make will be doubled! 

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The Organic Research Centre is the UK’s leading independent research centre focusing on agroecological solutions to food, farming and environmental issues. 

We aim to change agricultural practice and expand nature friendly farming across the UK by working in collaboration with over 200 organisations from the farming sector to research and develop practical, sustainable land management and food production systems. 

With your support we can: help more people transition to naturally healthy and resilient farming systems; boosting food security, help to encourage wildlife to flourish in our countryside and take positive action in the climate crisis.

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Past Successes Leading to a Brighter Future:

pioneering research into population breeding

Our research and development of population breeding in wheat has changed EU law on the sale of organic seeds. The legal recognition of genetically diverse seeds in organic agriculture, that farmers can adapt to their growing conditions, makes the organic cultivation of these crops much more viable. 

After a decade of research ORC is leading a project to design future agroforestry options under the Government’s future Environmental Land Management Scheme. Where deforestation contributes to climate change, agroforestry redresses the balance.

Our in depth knowledge and evidence based research enabled us to provide DEFRA with guidance and all the financial payment calculations for Countryside Stewardship schemes.

increase dairy yields

We’ve established leading organic marketing businesses in the UK, including the Organic Milk Suppliers Cooperative (OMSCO), Organic Arable and Organic Seed Producers, giving farmers control over their markets.

These are just some examples of how we have helped to change the landscape of sustainable farming in the UK.  Work that will greatly benefit the environment in all manner of ways.  With your support we can achieve even more.

Helen Chesshire (Support)

"We have worked with the ORC to disseminate evidence and advocate the benefits of agroforestry within UK agriculture. As the interest in agroforestry from land managers grows, the ability or ORC to provide answers which are relatable to practical solutions is valuable and supports the work of the Woodland Trust's 'Trees for your Farm' scheme."

Helen Chesshire, Lead Farming Advocate, Woodland Trust

David Wilson (Support)

"The Organic Research Centre gave us the confidence to farm in a new way without chemicals that was way ahead of its time and we have continued to look to them to guide our direction of travel and challenge our thinking."

David Wilson, Farm Manager, Duchy Home Farm

Sophie Alexander (Support)

"The ORC plays a vital role for farmers and growers - a valuable repository of information on low-input farming, sharing research and innovations in anything from weeding styles to wheat varieties, soil fertility and disease protocols. It’s a barometer of sanity and research-based solutions for organic farmers like me, and I’m very happy to support it."

Sophie Alexander, Organic Farmer, Hemsworth Farm

Thank you for your support. It is much appreciated.

If you’re working for a charitable trust, you’d like to talk to us about leaving a gift in your will, or for any other fundraising queries, please call the fundraising team on 01488 658 298 or email supporters@organicresearchcentre.com.