Newsletter from Danish Research Centre for Organic Farming • September 2003 • No 3

Coexisting with genetically modified oilseed rape

Researchers from the Danish National Environmental Research Institute have prepared a computer model that estimates the dispersal of pollen from genetically modified oilseed rape.

The model can be used for suggesting measures on how to control the GM dispersal under different conditions, allowing coexistence of GM and organic rape fields.

More..


Soil management and predator activity

How do we keep polyphagous predators prepared and ready to meet invasions of aphis and other problem makers? That is one of the real issues for agricultural management.


Compacted subsoils in organic farming

For many growers, it is a key issue whether mechanical loosening should take place or not. The next problem is how to avoid recompaction.

On-land ploughing can be part of a solution.


Effects of plant residues on microbial activity

The use of N2 fixing crops and catch crops are essential factors in most organic crop systems. The objective of a study was to investigate the influence of the plant residue amendment on crop yields, soil respiration, N mineralisation, green house gasses etc.


The turnover of soil organic matter on different farm types

The content of organic matter in the soil and the mineralisation of nitrogen is of particular interest in organic crop growing. In order to study the long-term balance between build-up and degradation of organic matter, a simple simulation model has been developed. Data from Sweden, U.K. and Denmark have been used for validation.

Monitoring welfare
and health

Improved management in the individual sow herd is a way to reduce health problems and to ensure product safety. In this connection, a HACCP programme could be a tool for monitoring and assessing any risk factors present in the herd.


Workshop in SAFO

In early September, the first workshop in the EU-funded SAFO-network was held in Florence, Italy. The workshop focused on socioeconomical aspects of organic animal production – both on farm level and in a social context.


Product quality from organic livestock systems

Product quality was the dominating theme at the annual meeting of the European Association of Animal Production (EAAP). Several contributions discussed quality from organic systems.


Developing the collection of statistical data on organic food and farming

EU is funding a concerted action, which aims to build up a framework for reporting valid and reliable data about the European organic sector. Organisations collecting such data are invited to join the project and make use of the experts’ knowledge.