University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU) - Research portal

• Go directly to the nagivation.
• Go directly to the content.

• Print view.
• Deutsch.
• Contact.
• Data entry.
• BOKU startpage.
• Open Access.
• ArgeData.
• Core Facilities.
• .

Gathering of wild plant species in organic farming in Austria

Project Leader

Schunko Christoph, BOKU Project Leader

Duration:

16.07.2016-30.06.2021

Type of Research

Basic Research

Staff

Vogl Christian R., Sub Projectleader

Schunko Christoph, Sub Projectleader (bis 03.12.2017)

BOKU Research Units

Institute of Organic Farming

Funded by

Eigenfinanzierung - Department für Nachhaltige Agrarsysteme, Peter Jordan- Strasse 82, 1190 Wien, Austria

Abstract

Wild plant species are used for a diversity of traditional and innovative products. The marketing of certain wild fungi or wild fruits as raw or processed products are well known examples. Recently also less known wild plant species and products thereof are traded and sold by direct marketing, gastronomy and retailers. Wild plants are also attributed as superfoods, thus foodstuffs with distinct health effects.
Organic farming seems to be an important innovator for this development in Austria and many organic farmers are certified for gathering and processing wild plant species and local, regional, national and international associations and enterprises are part of value chains for processing and vending wild plant species.
Although this pronounced importance of wild plant gathering in organic farming, systematic reports are inexistent for Austria. This project thus aims for describing the most important actors for gathering, processing and vending wild plant species in organic farming in Austria and to document gathered plant species and collection sites. The innovation potential of organic farming for vending wild plant species is another focus of the project.

Keywords

Organic farming; Renewable resources;

Non-timber forest products; organic agriculture; Product innovations;