Task 3.1 Collect state-of-the-art research results and best practices
Lead partner: FiBL
Partners involved: FiBL, PFT Ltd/ORC, EUFRAS, AIAB, FiBL Projekte
FiBL will start this task with the identification of bottlenecks on organic practises based on diverse sources: first of all the needs of the farmer innovation groups as identified in a workshop at the kick-off meeting (see Task 2.1), but also the report from the EIP-AGRI Focus Group on Organic Farming, international scientific literature, as well as regional extension experience. The latter will be provided by FiBL Projekte. The next step will be the collection of state-of-the-art research results and best practices which address these bottleneck. To this end, a team of 5 Experts will be established (see below). The experts will be seconded to AIAB and will contribute in-kind against payment.
This team will be complemented with PFT Ltd/ORC for additional scientific expertise, while AIAB, EUFRAS and FiBL Projekte will contribute with adviser expertise. All experts have a strong scientific background as well as a deep understanding of the practical context of farming. The expert team will screen and assess following sources of information: (1) scientific literature, (2) outcomes of EU, national and regional research projects (including ongoing projects), (3) practical experiences of advisers and farmers (reported in grey literature, directly known by the Experts and their networks or reported by the farmer innovation groups in WP2). It will focus on four major issues soil fertility [1], fertilization strategies [2], weed management [3], and pest and disease control [4].
For each of the issues the expert team will identify innovative techniques and solutions from all over Europe as well as from similar ecological and socio-economic conditions from outside Europe. The identified solutions will be scientifically sound, acceptable by practitioners and embedded in the system approach of organic farming. Examples of solutions include new crop rotations, intercropping with legumes, habitat design (variety choice); new fertilizers (biogas slurry, biochar, digestates); innovative weed control techniques (e.g. mechanical weed control with part-automation) and new techniques for disease and pest control (novel botanicals, functional agro-biodiversity, release of parasites and predators, predictive information models).
Experts contributing in-kind against payment
• Dr. Christine Watson (Scottish Agricultural College, UK)
Expertise: nutrient use efficiency in agricultural systems (issue 1,2)
• Mait Kriipsalu (Estonian University of Life Sciences, EE)
Expertise: composting, organic waste, biochar, compost certification (issue 1,2)
• Dr. Paolo Barberi (Centro Interdipartimentale di Ricerche Agro-Ambientali, IT)
Expertise: weed ecology and non-chemical weed management, agro-ecological/organic cropping systems, functional agrobiodiversity (issue 3)
• Dr. hab. Jolanda Kowalska (Institute of plant protection, National Research Institute, PL)
Expertise: biological pest control, entomopathogenic nematodes, crop protection in organic farming (alternative organic pests control) (issue 4)
• Dr Annegret Schmitt (Julius Kühn Institut, DE)
Expertise: alternative control agents/strategies for control of plant diseases, mode of action of natural substances, interactions in host-pathogen systems (issue 4)
The task will mainly involve desk work and online exchange, but plenary meetings are also planned at the kick-off meeting (M2) and the second project meeting (M8).
Task 3.2 Identify best methods for learning and knowledge exchange
Lead partner: AIAB
Partners involved: AIAB, EUFRAS, FiBL Projekte
In this task, efficient methods, practices and tools used by farmer innovation groups will be gathered and analysed. Not only the farmer innovation groups that are part of the project will be considered, but also others active in the EU or even outside the EU will be studied. This survey will identify the methods and tools used at different geographical scales (EU, national, regional, local, global) and for different actors. It will analyse the success factors, potential constraints (including gender specific ones) as well as the conditions of the application. As regards the survey with the farmer innovation groups, this will take place as part of task 2.2.
The survey will lead to a manual of recommended prototype methods and tools for knowledge exchange that will be discussed, tested and fine-tuned with the farmer innovation groups. Examples of prototype tools include leaflets, information sheets, handbooks, video clips, social media, face-toface meetings, activity and role of facilitator, calculation models and decision trees. Efficient combinations of tools will be defined per topic, type of farmer innovation group, knowledge source, geographic conditions scale of use (i.e. local, regional, national, trans-national,) and other relevant categories and include suggestions on how to solve the language barrier. In addition, this task will provide input into task 4.1 regarding the best format for the online discussion forum.
AIAB will be responsible for the development of the survey matrix, the implementation of the survey and the analysis of the outcome, supported by EUFRAS and FiBL Projekte.
Task 3.3 Identify and develop end-user, education and training material
Lead partner: AIAB
Partners involved: FiBL, AIAB, EUFRAS, PFT Ltd/ORC, AU/ICROFS
The collected state-of-the-art research results and best practices (task 3.1) will be combined with the recommended methods and tools for knowledge exchange (task 3.2) to identify the best existing end-user and education material and where needed to develop new material. The material will be accompanied by a description of the context in which it is best implemented (details on target learner groups, geographic areas, language, scale, etc.). Material will be developed both for specific technical problems and/or for conceptual solutions at the level of the whole farming system.
Recommendations will be made for how to combine the different solutions and techniques to better reach the targets and the goals. AIAB will be responsible for the methodology of the end-user material while FiBL will be responsible for the contents of the modules. EUFRAS will support both. A first offer of end-user material will be prepared for the 3rd project meeting (M13-14). At this meeting all project partners (including all farmer innovation groups) will jointly evaluate the material, make a selection of the material to be tested and check whether no important bottlenecks in organic arable cropping remain uncovered (see task 4.2). Based on this evaluation the material will be fine-tuned and new material for areas not covered yet will be developed. A new offer of end-user material will be ready for discussion at the 4th project meeting (M22-M23).
PFT Ltd/ORC and AU/ICROFS are involved in this task to ensure linking with WP2, respectively WP4 works well.