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Monitoring and management of energy and emissions in agriculture
Research Summaries
This review collates the results of research into energy use and emissions in organic farming, and provides advisers with an analysis of the results, access to the data used and a review of the benchmarking methodologies available. The review will inform those working in the development of benchmarking tools and advising farmers on practices to improve their performance.
Wildlife and biodiversity: integration and management of farming and wildlife for their mutual benefit
Research Summaries
This review looks at a wide range of research, much of it focused on the wildlife impact of organic farming and draws out key practices which can benefit both the wildlife and farm productivity.
Management and sustainability of stockless organic arable and horticultural systems
Research Summaries
Stockless organic farming involves the use of green manures and green waste compost to replace clover leys, livestock and animal manures. This review draws on the research into stockless systems and addresses the challenges of conversion planning, rotation design, maintaining soil nutrient status, weed control, pest control and economic return.
Combinable protein crop production
Research Summaries
This research topic review summarises research knowledge and observational experience of combinable protein crop production in organic farming systems for the UK. European research on peas, faba beans and lupins is included; considering their role in the rotation, nitrogen fixation, varieties, establishment, weed control, yields, problems experienced and intercropping with cereals.
Cereal variety and population selection
Research Summaries
Cereal breeding over the last half century has resulted in significant improvements in overall production. This review describes variety characteristics suitable for organic conditions, approaches to cereal breeding for organic systems, and finally the scope for the future.
Financial performance, benchmarking and management for mixed organic farming
Research Summaries
This Review of several research projects which focus on the financial performance of organic farming, demonstrates the profitability of organic farming businesses and how they compare with conventional farms. It analyses the factors which affect profitability and explores how the data can be used in benchmarking as a means of identifying the level of performance of individual farms and what changes in management can be made to improve profitability.
Nutrient budgets for organic farming
Research Summaries
This review identifies the research done on nutrient budgeting and presents the latest input and output data for use in nutrient budgeting on farm to support rotation and soil management decision making. It includes a guide to nutrient budgeting on organic farms.
Advisory tools for use in organic farming
Research Summaries
Advisory tools are an invaluable aid for advisers in providing farmers with the necessary information for analysis and planning of all aspects of the farm. The review of Advisory Tools provides access to and a comprehensive list of all the templates, calculators and analytical tools available to organic advisers, covering the environment, business, soils and animal husbandry.
Vaccination Nation
Briefings
Detailed analysis by ORC of the arguments for preventive vaccination of outdoor poultry against H5N1 avian influenza was presented at a House of Commons reception (July 19th 2006). The compelling evidence assembled by the policy team points to preventive vaccination as the only method available that enables UK outdoor poultry to live, thrive and survive if H5N1 does become endemic in wild birds here
Organic food and farming research needs in the UK:A report on a stakeholder participatory consultation process
Briefings
In 2005 Defra commissioned a study to identify and analyse issues and aspirations that organic stakeholders felt should be addressed by publicly funded organic food and farming research in the UK. A series of 12 workshops were undertaken throughout the UK, attended by nearly 300 stakeholders. These workshops used participatory approaches to identify and record the most important issues and aspirations from those attending.
Engineering Coexistence
Briefings
Commentary from Elm Farm Organic Research Centre on the Government’s proposals to allow GM crops to be grown alongside organic and conventional farming in England.
GM debate bubbles below the surface
Bulletin Articles
Mass media coverage of genetically engineered crops has cooled since the big public debates of 2003/2004. But the threat to our food supply and environment from contamination has not. ORC's Dr Bruce Pearce reports from a key EU gathering on GM and GE crops in Vienna...