Diversified rotations in protected vegetable production systems (DiverIMPACTS Practice Abstract)
In protected vegetable systems of the Mediterranean area, rotations are based on a limited number of species and botanical families. In the long term, this favours the development of soil pests and diseases. In order to diversify rotations, a workshop brought together DiverIMPACTS case study 25 (CS25) participants including farmers, technicians, marketers and scientists, to […]
Apple scab (Venturia inaequalis): robust cultivars for Central Europe (Biofruitnet Practice Abstract)
Apple scab (V. inaequalis) is the main disease in organic apple production. Availability of varieties is a major problem as only a few robust varieties are available on the market. The researchers propose a list of currently well-known robust varieties that are suitable for large scale production. Current breeding of new cultivars is crucial for […]
Effects of riboflavin supplementation level on health, performance, and fertility of organic broiler parent stock and their chicks
Data from breeder hens and chicks are particularly critical for the development of vitamin B2 recommendations for organic poultry. To test safe thresholds of supplementation, 100 breeder hens (Hubbard JA 57 K) and ten cockerels were allocated to ten housing groups, with each receiving supplementation of either 4.0 (treatment CON) or 2.5 mg (treatment RED) riboflavin per kg feed. […]
The State of Play of Copper, Mineral Oil, External Nutrient Input, Anthelmintics, Antibiotics and Vitamin Usage and Available Reduction Strategies in Organic Farming across Europe
Although input use in organic agriculture is strictly regulated, and significantly less contentious inputs are applied in organic than in conventional farming systems, copper, mineral oil, external nutrient input, anthelmintics, antibiotics and vitamins are still commonly used among organic farmers in the EU, partly due to the scarce availability of alternative products and the difficulty […]
Use of Copper-Based Fungicides in Organic Agriculture in Twelve European Countries
The reduction of copper-based plant-protection products with the final aim of phasing out has a high priority in European policy, as well as in organic agriculture. Our survey aims at providing an overview of the current use of these products in European organic agriculture and the need for alternatives to allow policymakers to develop strategies […]
Nutrient interactions and salinity effects on plant uptake of phosphorus from waste-based fertilisers
Many organically managed farms in Europe have low levels of soil phosphorus (P). Arable farms that rely strongly on biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) have been shown to have rather low outputs and a tendency to deplete soil P and potassium (K) compared with arable farms that have a lower reliance on BNF and higher external […]
Organic living labs and lighthouse farms in Europe
In light of the new Organic Action Plan for the EU, which recognises the importance of research and innovation for organic, knowledge exchange on organic farming, and building organic agricultural knowledge and innovation systems (AKIS), TP Organics’ study, based on mapping and screening existing cases in Europe, presents seven organic living labs and five organic […]
Presence of pesticides in the environment, transition into organic food, and implications for quality assurance along the European organic food chain – A review
The use of synthetic pesticides is not allowed in organic production, but traces of synthetic pesticides are regularly detected in organic food. To safeguard the integrity of organic production, organic certifiers are obliged to investigate the causes for pesticide residues on organic food, entailing high costs to the organic sector. Such residues can have various […]
Soil Health and Nutrient Density: Beyond Organic vs. Conventional Farming
Controversy has long surrounded the question of nutritional differences between crops grown organically or using now-conventional methods, with studies dating back to the 1940s showing that farming methods can affect the nutrient density of crops. More recent studies have shown how reliance on tillage and synthetic nitrogen fertilizers influence soil life, and thereby soil health, […]
Performances de variétés de blés panifiables cultivées en agriculture biologique en conditions peu fertiles
L’azote est le principal élément limitant la production de blé panifiable en agriculture biologique. Son manque peut entrainer une baisse de la teneur en protéine du grain et donc des pénalités de paiement. Dans cette étude, cinq variétés de blé d’automne ont été cultivées on-farm sur quatre exploitations aux conditions pédoclimatiques et itinéraires techniques différents […]
