Newsletter from Danish Research Centre for Organic Farming • December 2003 • No 4

New strategy for Danish research in organic farming

As the majority of the ongoing research in organic farming will conclude in 2004, the DARCOF board of directors has started the preparation of a new strategy.

The title of the new strategy is International research cooperation and organic integrity, and the objective is to ensure research that support development of organic food systems and contributes to a sustainable development in the organic sector and in society as whole. More..

Quality of organic wheat from different cropping systems

The baking quality of wheat depends e.g. on the availability of nitrogen in relation to the growth of the wheat plant. A new study has investigated the relationship between cropping systems and the baking quality. More..

Non-poisonous means for reducing rodent pest problems

Rodents are traditionally controlled with chemicals or with traps. But there is an expanding need for non-chemical methods and strategies, which can reduce problems with rodents.

This is especially the case in organic pig production. More..

Lower nitrogen supply resulted in a better fruit quality

Investigations in an organic apple orchard showed that the best quality of fruit came from trees with low nitrogen supply. More..

Soil quality and the development of organic farming

Soil quality is a key factor in organic farming, but often the term is used as a “buzz-word” without any clear meaning. Many have therefore sighed for a definition of the term.

A new book does more than that. In 18 chapters experts from Europe, North America and Australia contribute to an in-depth treatment of the soil quality concept, its history, and its applicability in research. More..

Organic farming is good for the environment

Two Danish action plans for a better aqueous environment have finally proven their worth’s: Nitrogen losses from agriculture to streams and lakes have been reduced with nearly 50 per cent since the mid Eighties.

Organic farming has played an important role in the reduction. More..

Leaching from grassland converted to cereal cropping

Grass-clover fields are very efficient in supplying nitrogen for the stock and crops of the farm as a whole.

However, since nitrate leaching from farmed land is of great concern, it becomes necessary to get experimental data on the nitrogen leaching when converting grassland to cereal cropping. More..

Leaching from incorporation of grass-clover leys

Dynamic simulation models can be used for predicting the nitrogen effect of leys – if the models are calibrated and validated appropriately.

In the BIOMOD project, two models FASSET and Daisy were adapted to an organic crop rotation. More..

News briefs

Finally, we have collected short news on Danish and European research activities. More