Reasons for DARCOFenews

By Erik Steen Kristensen, Hugo Fjelsted Alrøe & Claus Bo Andreasen, DARCOF

All over Europe there is an immense demand for research that contributes to the development of sustainable food production systems. Systems that will meet society's demands for environmental considerations, nature protection and socio-economic development, farmers' demand for stable production and reasonable livelihood, and consumers' demand for healthy and palatable food.

Since the mid nineties (evt. the 90's), the Danish Research Centre for Organic Farming (DARCOF) has initiated and coordinated research that contributes to the development of organic food and farming. DARCOF is a "centre without walls", which is to saymeans that the participating researchers remain in their own research environment, but participate in the interdisciplinary collaboration under the auspices of DARCOF.

From 1996 to 2000 33 large research projects were carried out within the framework of DARCOF. In 2000 and 2001 yet another 43 research projects (DARCOF II) were initiated, involving researchers from 16 different research institutes. The research in DARCOF has produced new knowledge and experience that might also be useful in other countries.

In order to share the outcome of the research, but also to strengthen collaboration across borders we have initiated DARCOFenews.

We hope you enjoy it.

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