News

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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Organic Research Centre

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.
Posted in Events, News and events
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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…
Posted in News, News and events, Research
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Looking at soil health in a field

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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Apple trees in rows with field vegetables

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…
Posted in News, News and events, Policy
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New ration planning tool for poultry and swine - Training
8th Feb 2021
Formulating feed using calculation software in organic is a challenge. This new tool improves the feed database to meet the needs of organic farmers! Within the scope of the OK-Net EcoFeed project, the Ration Planning…
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Ayrshire cows in a field

Soil Analysis and Management for Organic Dairy Systems
4th Feb 2021
Online meeting to discuss the results of the EIP-Agri soils project Organic farming is fundamentally based on management of soil life and ecology to optimise forage and crop productivity. This dependence on soil life distinguishes…
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ORC welcomes Colin, Pip and Rowan
25th Jan 2021
We are very pleased to welcome three new members to our team Colin Tosh joins us as Senior Agroforestry Researcher from the Centre for Behaviour and Evolution at Newcastle University where he was a lecturer…
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Growing Beyond Monoculture
25th Jan 2021
Final episode in the DIVERSify web series goes live https://vimeo.com/491073274 As part of the EU Horizon 2020 research project DIVERSify, researchers have been working on investigating the viability of species mixture cropping as an alternative…
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This Good Earth released
21st Jan 2021
Eco-film-maker calls for prosecution of corporate polluters for crimes against humanity. Corporate chiefs whose companies knowingly poison the planet in pursuit of profit should be prosecuted for crimes against humanity says the award-winning director of…
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Diverse cereal

It's Seed Week!
21st Jan 2021
Celebrate Seed Week with us Einkorn population We’re delighted that throughout this week, from 18th to 22nd of January, we celebrate The Gaia Foundation’s Seed Sovereignty Programme's fourth Seed Week. Through story, articles, videos and podcasts, Seed Week highlights the…
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GMOs and gene editing in agriculture: the benefits of regulation
20th Jan 2021
How does organic & non-organic food and farming avoid contamination with GMOs? Why is it so relevant for food production that GMOs are regulated? Which disruptions can be expected from gene editing and new genetic engineering in general?  These…
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BIOFACH / VIVANESS eSPECIAL
19th Jan 2021
The eSPECIAL version of the BIOFACH/Vivaness trade fair pairing will carry over key aspects of the familiar in-person event and the accompanying Congress into the digital world. Industry representatives can look forward to three full…
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Breeding and Seed sector innovations for organic food Systems
19th Jan 2021
Online conference of EUCARPIA Organic and low input section jointly with LIVESEED, BRESOV, ECOBREED and FLPP projects. This is the 5th conference of the EUCARPIA Organic and Low Input Section since its establishment in 2007, which…
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Troubleshooting the practical challenges of intercropping
19th Jan 2021
Intercropping offers promising opportunities to improve sustainability, reduce pest and disease burden, and enhance the resilience of agricultural systems to stresses such as climate change and market pressures. There are practical challenges, however, in growing,…
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Lindsay with a couple of free range pigs

Veganuary
18th Jan 2021
Our Senior Livestock Researcher Lindsay Whistance wrestles with the arguments for and against Veganuary in this blog On Boxing Day evening, at the slowing down of festive indulgences, I began to speculate about what should…
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