Farm Woodland Forum 2021 annual meeting: Agroforestry in Brexit landscapes
20th Apr 2021
In the light of the UK government's ambitious tree planting targets - what is the role for agroforestry? Draft agenda: Role of agroforestry and hedges in UK climate targetsDefra’s agroforestry vision, response to tree strategy…
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Making hedgerows pay their way: the economics of harvesting field boundary hedges for bioenergy
20th Apr 2021
A new paper on our hedgerow work as part of the SustainFARM project has been accepted for publication in Agroforestry Systems and is now online: http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10457-021-00631-9 Smith J, Westaway S, Mullender S. et al. (2021) Making…
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ORFC in the Field @ Wakelyns
13th Apr 2021
ORFC are teaming up with Wakelyns at their inspiring location in the heart of the Suffolk countryside between 8-9 September for another ORFC in the Field event. Save the date now - they'll be releasing…
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Open FiBL Day 2021
13th Apr 2021
Join the first virtual Open FiBL Day on Thursday, 27 May 2021 and explore the diverse and excellent work the FiBL Group performs on both national and international levels. Discover your opportunities to engage with…
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The organic route to a resilient future
9th Apr 2021
An article by ORC's Head of Research Will Simonson has been included in the March/April edition of e-law, published by UKELA (United Kingdom Environmental Law Association) as part of an issue focusing on the Agriculture…
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New paper on managing understoreys in agroforestry to promote natural enemies
31st Mar 2021
A new open access paper 'Management to Promote Flowering Understoreys Benefits Natural Enemy Diversity, Aphid Suppression and Income in an Agroforestry System,' co-authored by Jo Smith (now ex ORC) with the University of Reading and…
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NOCC21: OF&G's National Organic Combinable Crops
30th Mar 2021
John and Alice Pawsey and family will be welcoming guests to their mixed organic arable and sheep farm at Shimpling park Farm in Suffolk on 6 July 2021. This annual on-farm conference, organised by OF&G…
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Ten minutes with Colin Tosh
29th Mar 2021
Would you like to get to know the ORC staff, learn more about what they are working on at the moment and find out what inspired them to pursue a career in organic research? To…
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Our response to the Defra public consultation on Genome editing
25th Mar 2021
ORC submitted responses to Defra's Consultation on future of gene editing both as part of the English Organic Forum and as an organisation. As a member of the English Organic Forum (EOF), the Organic Research…
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Mark Measures is retiring from ORC
24th Mar 2021
Mark Measures ponders some wheat 1995 Mark Measures has been at the forefront of organic farming in the UK for nearly 40 years and has been involved with Elm Farm/Organic Research Centre for most of…
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Exploring the potential for videos and podcasts as knowledge exchange tools in the future ELM schemes
23rd Mar 2021
The Environmental Land Management (ELM) schemes represent a significant shift in agri-environment scheme delivery in England. Currently, it is envisaged that land managers will construct their own land management plans, possibly with some advisory support…
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Measuring the Economic Performance of Small Ruminant Farms Using Balanced Scorecard and Importance-Performance Analysis: A European Case Study
18th Mar 2021
A new paper arising from the EU Horizon 2020-funded iSAGE project, co-authored by ORC's Stefano Orsini has been published in Sustainability Abstract Given the increasing complexity of the agro-food sector, the analysis of financial performance…
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European Organic Congress 2021
16th Mar 2021
The annual European Organic Congress will take place from 16-18 June 2021, organised by IFOAM Organics Europe and AGROBIO. More information will be available soon.
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Anglian Agroforestry Farms Open Weekend 2021
15th Mar 2021
Celebrating the growing community of agroforestry farms in East Anglia. Fellows Farm, Fobbing Farm, Shimpling Park Farm, Maple Farm Kelsale, Wakelyns and Whitehall Farm will be welcoming pre-booked visitors (you must email ahead to book…
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European Consumers’ Willingness to Pay for Red Meat Labelling Attributes
23rd Feb 2021
New paper co-authored by ORC's Stefano Orsini is published in Animals. Given the decrease in red meat consumption in the last decade, it is crucial for red meat producers to understand consumer preferences. This international…
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New ORC podcast to celebrate 40 years of organic research
22nd Feb 2021
For forty years the ORC has been pushing the boundaries of research and development of practical and sustainable organic farming methods in the UK. Last month we announced a dedicated 40th anniversary page had been…
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Farmers and researchers are teaming up in the first ever farmer-led study into the benefits of agroforestry
22nd Feb 2021
Farmers in the UK, for the first time, are getting the chance to co-design research to determine the benefits of integrating more trees on their farms. A farmer-led agroforestry project launching this month will spend…
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Agroforestry in organic horticulture
22nd Feb 2021
Are you interested in incorporating trees into your farm design? Agroforestry presents lots of opportunities for the organic grower: to grow new fruit and nut crops to sell; to produce wood and wood chip to…
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UK Farmers Assembly on New GM
22nd Feb 2021
The UK Government wants to deregulate genetically modified (GM) crops and animals. Genetic modification (originally known as genetic engineering and now rebranded as ‘gene editing’) is being promoted as an essential tool in the farmer’s…
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Showcasing farmer-led research
22nd Feb 2021
Are you interested in alternatives to on-farm plastic, drought resilient pastures, or techniques to boost deeper burrowing earthworms? Innovative Farmers has created a series of interactive pages to showcase some of the latest farmer-led research.…
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Intercropping to boost agroecology in European Agriculture
19th Feb 2021
This event is a joint effort of the ReMIX and DIVERSify projects to boost the adoption of intercropping and delivery of its ecosystem services in Europe. The event is a perfect opportunity to discuss how…
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We call on supermarkets to show leadership on GMOs
10th Feb 2021
A joint letter signed by ORC asks retailers to refuse to stock products made from untested and unregulated genetically engineered plants and animals produced using a new technique called ‘gene editing’. Leaders from food, farming,…
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Why organic – contributing productively to future farming and food policy
10th Feb 2021
New English Organic Forum (EOF) report presents a clear, consolidated and compelling case for organic farming. Produced as an organic industry-wide blueprint, Why organic – contributing productively to future farming and food policy sets out…
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