ICROFS
- International Centre for Research in Organic Food Systems
News
2018.05.22 | Agriculture and food
Innovative and sustainable grazing-based systems integrating cows and young stock
How can organic dairy cows stay with their mothers? How can we make more robust grazing strategies? How can animal health be supported, and medicine reduced, in organic dairy farming? The new CORE Organic Cofund project GrazyDaiSy seeks to answer these questions.
2018.05.16 | Agriculture and food
Legume-based cover crops benefit crop yield and reduce nitrate leaching
The use of cover crops in arable farming is more efficient in nitrate leaching reduction than decreasing the field nitrogen surplus. However, this requires well-developed cover crops.
2018.05.01 | Agriculture and food
Designing resilient organic greenhouse production systems for Europe
Greenhouse production is a highly intensive cropping system that guarantees out‐of‐season production in any climatic condition. The recently launched project 'Greenresilient' aims to demonstrate the potential and feasibility of an agroecological approach to organic greenhouse production in Mediterranean, Central and Northern European organic…
2018.04.26 | Agriculture and food
Lower prolificacy and more robust piglets in Topigs Norsvin compared to Danbred
A controlled experimental study indicates that maternal traits of Topig Norsvin compared to Danbred sows may be more suited for outdoor organic production conditions. Offspring were more robust and meat percentage higher at slaughter.
2018.04.09 | Agriculture and food
Soil organic carbon change in arable farming under organic and conventional management
Soil organic carbon (SOC) in arable organic farming depends on inputs in crop residues, green manure, catch crops and animal manure. Changes in SOC of different organic and conventional farming systems were compared in a long-term experiment and related to estimated carbon inputs. About 10-20% of the estimated C inputs were retained in topsoil SOC…
2018.04.09 | Agriculture and food
Larger root biomass in organic than conventional farming systems
Root biomass is commonly estimated as a fixed fraction of shoot biomass. Now, a more reliable method of root biomass estimation, that differentiates crops grown in organic and conventional farming, is proposed.
