Scientific Research on Organic Farming: Topics and Methodology
Abstract
The "Research Initiative for Organic Farming" (Forschungsinitiative Biologischer Landbau - FBL) came into existence in Austria in the year 1991 as an informal alliance of scientists conducting work in the field of organic farming. In the years of 1994/95, they carried out work on the research project "Integral Key Topics and Methodological Criteria for Research on Organic Farming" with the goal of clarifying the future content and methodological approach of research in organic farming under special consideration of Austria. To begin with, a discussion on strategies for the further development of organic farming against the background of the principles of this particular farming method was initiated in the scope of the research project in order to ensure an effective ecosystem-oriented further development of organic farming. The paradigm changes, which have been induced by research in organic farming, (i.e., in the areas of plant nutrition, plant protection, animal health and product quality) thus become apparent. The targeted further development of organic farming has priority regarding the increase in ecological stability of cultivation systems and the optimization of the socio-economic situation of organic farms. The finding of solutions to current operative problems by means of practically oriented short-term projects (i.e., in the area of plant protection) is presented as a separate field. Key topics introduced in this strategic paper also include new fields of research in organic farming (i.e., biogenic raw materials; or problems, risks and opportunities for recirculation of residual biogenic materials). Inter-linked areas of key topics for organic farming research emerge as a result of the above-mentioned research goals and current practical problems under due consideration of the present level of know-how. These key topics should lead to a further interchange with related scientific and socio-economic disciplines. Thus, fields of research pertaining to ecosystems and cultivated lands are also touched upon in addition to those of agricultural research as well as socio-economic research programmes. The emphasis previously placed by the federal funding bodies on comparative studies of organic and conventional farming is no longer considered to be a priority at present. Only if an evaluation of new methods cannot otherwise achieve sufficient impact, do comparative studies continue to be required. This remains singularly valid for the sector of product quality, and to some extent, in the field of ecosystems research.
keywords organic farming êcofarming methods
Publikationen
Forschung im Ökologischen Landbau - Integrale Schwerpunktthemen und Methodikkriterien.
Autoren: Lindenthal, T; Vogl, C R; Heß, J Jahr: 1996
Journal articles
Project staff
Thomas Lindenthal
Dipl.-Ing. Dr.nat.techn. Thomas Lindenthal
thomas.lindenthal@boku.ac.at
Tel: +43 1 47654-99103
Project Leader
01.12.1994 - 31.07.1995
Christian R. Vogl
Ao.Univ.Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Dr.nat.techn. Christian R. Vogl
christian.vogl@boku.ac.at
Tel: +43 1 47654-93312
Sub Projectleader
01.12.1994 - 31.07.1995
BOKU partners
External partners
Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Biological Agriculture and Applied Ecology
none
partner
Bundesamt für Agrarbiologie (BA Agrarbiologie)
none
partner