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Satellite meetings and symposia at the Organic Congress 2006
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In order to utilize all possibilities for communication between congress participants, the organising committee has reserved the congress centre on the 29th of May and on the 1st of June (the day before and the day after the congress). On these dates it is possible to participate in workshops and meetings arranged by different organisations, institutes, and projects. The arrangements include:
- SOAR summer school 2006, 28 May to 2 June
Potential of Organic Farming to contribute to Rural Development in Europe
- Eco-AB workshop on 29 May
Founding workshop of the European Consortium for Organic Animal Breeding
- FQH workshop on 29 May
Towards a better understanding of organic food quality
- CORE Organic workshop on 29 May
Increased transnational research cooperation
- ISOFAR Workshop on 1 June
Energy self-reliance in organic farming - is it feasible?
- 5th SAFO workshop on 1 June
Conclusions and technological transfer
Potential for Organic Farming to contribute to Rural Development in Europe - SOAR summer school 2006
The overall aim of the course is to introduce PhD students to recent research in organic food and farming. Specifically, the goal is to create an understanding of the possible connections between rural development and organic food and farming in Europe. Further, it is the goal to formulate researchable hypotheses as inputs to an imaginary EU research programme on ‘The potential of organic farming to contribute to rural development in Europe’.
Through this activity participants will develop competencies in formulation of research questions and programmes on complex issues, which are relevant in the current economic and political situation in Europe, at the forefront of research in the field, and applicable as researchable issues.
The participant should after the course have a clear understanding of issues and research in rural development and |
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organic food and farming, research methods used in this context, and to be able, on an academic level, to discuss and reflect on her own research in this context.
Venue, costs and further details, please see the congress webpage or the SOAR homepage.
Founding workshop of the European Consortium for Organic Animal Breeding on 29 May
At the Joint Organic Congress a founding workshop will be held in the European Consortium for Organic Animal Breeding' (Eco-AB). The aim of Eco-AB is to work on the development of animal breeding in a way that stimulate organic agriculture through animal breeding directed at the needs of organic farming systems.
Further description, progamme and registation page is available in the specel article in this issue of DARCOFenews.
Towards a better understanding of organic food quality - Public FQH Workshop on 29 May
During the 1st Scientific FQH Conference in November 2005, researchers and food specialists presented the state-of-the-art methods of food research and discussed future research strategies. Many questions remained open, which have to be further developed in a one day FQH Workshop at the Congress Centre in Odense on 29 May 2006.
| The workshop aims at intensifying the scientific discourse on future research methods and the concepts underlying organic food quality. The workshop is primarily open to the participants of the 1st Scientific FQH Conference of last November, but also other scientists interested in the work of FQH are welcome to join in. |
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Further information are available on congress webpage and at the FQH webpage.
How to increase cooperation in transnational organinc food and farming research - CORE Organic workshop on 29 May
CORE Organic is a European initiative to enhance quality, relevance and resource utilisation in organic food and farming research. The initiative comprises 11 European countries supported by the EU-commission.
Research in organic food and farming is a new, but rapidly expanding discipline on the European research scene. One of the problems is that the present research effort in Europe is characterised by small research communities; often scattered and fragmented both geographically and institutionally. There is therefore a need for gathering the dispersed expertise to a critical mass in order to enhance quality, relevance and utilisation of resources.
| The activities of CORE Organic will include coordination and evaluation of existing research, integration of knowledge and information, and |
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identification and coordination of future research.
By the end of the project, it is the ambition to have established a joint research programme of at least 3 million € per year. See more at www.coreorganic.org.
The aim of the workshop is to bring together interested scientists and others for the following purposes:
- To identify the most important research topics in joint transnational organic research
- To form ways for collaboration and coordination of organic research in future in Europe
- To find ways for improved use of research facilities of organic research
The expected results are related to better collaboration and coordination for strengthening the overall performance of European research in organic food and farming
More information is available at the congress webpage (www.organic-congress.org).
Energy self-reliance in organic farming - is it feasible? ISOFAR Workshop on 1 June
Organic farming could be self-reliant in energy from solar, wind and biomass resources. Bio-fuels (ethanol, plant oils, gas) in particular would be important fuels for machinery and transport. Potentially organic farming could also export renewable energy to the cities. But bio-energy production in such large amounts would compete for land used for other purposes. Moreover, consideration for soil fertility is a key issue for sustainability.
| The expertise on energy use and efficiency in organic farming and on the potential for integration of energy production in organic farming systems is fragmented. However, there are a number of researchers and others in different institutions |
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and countries with important knowledge and ideas on this subject.
The workshop will aim to bring together interested scientists and others for the following purposes:
- Review the knowledge on energy use efficiency and renewable energy production
- Identify research and development needs within energy use efficiency in organic farming
- Identify research and development needs within renewable energy production in organic farming
- Form a network for international collaboration, eventually a section/working group on energy under ISOFAR.
For further information and contacts, see the congress webpage (www.organic-congress.org).
5th workshop on Sustaining Animal Health and Food Safety in Organic Farming (SAFO) - by SAFO on 1 June
The workshop will present and discuss the main conclusions and implications from the SAFO project on different areas like standards, certification, advice and research.
| The expertise on energy use and efficiency in organic farming and on the potential for integration of energy production in organic farming systems is fragmented. However, there are a number of researchers and others in different institutions. |
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Other relevant projects in the area of animal health and food safety in organic livestock production can also be taken up at the workshop, where we will emphasise the dialogue with a wider group of participants (such as organic certification bodies, organisations and advisors) and discuss future perspectives and activities.
Further information including programme and registration details can be found at www.safonetwork.org and at the congress webpage (www.organic-congress.org).
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