?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Adc&rft.title=Department+of+the+Environment%2C+Food+and+Rural+Affairs&rft.description=The+aim+of+the+Programme+is+to+deliver+knowledge+to+improve+organic+farming+methods+and+he+performance+of+the+organic+sector.+Research+includes+assessment+of+agronomic+and+conomic+performance%2C+investigations+into+technical+barriers+to+production+and+appraisal+of+the+impact+of+organic+farming+on+the+environment.+The+research+supports+policy+evelopment+and+decision+making%2C+and+helps+inform+those+considering+conversion+to+organic+methods+and+those+already+using+such+methods.+%0D%0AThis+policy+programme+has+two+research+programmes%3A+%0D%0AOrganic+Farming%3A+Production+and+Economics%0D%0AEnvironmental+Impact+of+Organic+Farming%0D%0AThe+key+scientific+objectives+of+the+Programme+are%3A+%0D%0A(1)To+obtain+and+evaluate+data+on+the+agronomic+performance+and+profitability+%2F+costs+of+the+main+types+of+organic+farm+systems%2C+during+and+after+the+conversion+process+(work+is+being+undertaken+on+the+following+systems%3A+stockless+arable%2C+upland+sheep+and+beef%2C+specialist+dairy+and+field+vegetable.+%0D%0A(2)To+quantify+and+evaluate+the+impact+of+organic+farming+on+the+environment%2C+taking+into+account+such+externalities+as+pollution+and+the+costs+of+dealing+with+such+pollution%2C+as+well+as+the+effects+on+wildlife+and+landscape+quality.+This+can+only+be+done+relative+to+the+impact+of+conventional+production+systems+and+assessed+through+reliable+means+of+comparative+study+and+evaluation.%0D%0A(3)To+identify+and+develop+improved+techniques+of+organic+production%2C+in+particular+to+overcome+any+recognised+technical+constraints.+General+areas+for+study+include%3A+optimising+crop+nutrient+supply%3B+methods+of+weed+and+pest%2Fdisease+control%3B+evaluation+of+the+various+inputs+used+(e.g.+crop+varieties%2C+nutrient+sources%2C+animal+breeds)%3B+and+animal+health+and+welfare+practices.+%0D%0A(4)To+ensure+that%2C+for+all+relevant+work%2C+knowledge+transfer+and+delivery+is+maximised.&rft.type=Organization+description&rft.type=NonPeerReviewed&rft.identifier=%7BOrganization%7D+DEFRA%3A+Department+of+the+Environment%2C+Food+and+Rural+Affairs.+Organization+Leader(s)%3A+Murphy+Bokern%2C+Donal.+More+information+online+at+%3Chttp%3A%2F%2Fdefrafarmingandfoodscience.csl.gov.uk%2F0%2Fprogramme.cfm%3Fprogrammeid%3D3%26unitid%3D1+%3Chttp%3A%2F%2Fdefrafarmingandfoodscience.csl.gov.uk%2F0%2Fprogramme.cfm%3Fprogrammeid%3D3%26unitid%3D1%3E%3E.&rft.relation=http%3A%2F%2Forgprints.org%2F5573%2F