?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Adc&rft.title=Specialisation+of+organic+farms+through+co-operation&rft.subject=+Farming+Systems&rft.description=The+aim+of+the+present+research+is+to+analyse+how+organic+farms+could+specialise+and+cultivate+with+appropriate+efficiency+without+having+to+compromise+the+diversity+necessary+for+organic+farming.+The+obstacles+for+organic+farm+co-operation+will+be+charted+and+the+aim+is+to+find+viable+solutions+to+the+problems.+The+aim+is+also+to+influence+political+decision-making+so+that+the+threshold+for+co-operation+could+be+lowered.+%0D%0A%0D%0AIn+Finland%2C+the+share+of+organic+production+of+the+total+agricultural+land+is+currently+7%25.+The+demand+for+organic+products+exceeds+supply.+Diversity+decreases+the+profitability+of+the+farm%3A+In+organic+production%2C+specialisation+has+been+feasible+only+up+to+a+certain+point.+Appropriate+crop+rotation+means%2C+in+practice%2C+that+in+addition+to+the+main+production+line%2C+the+farm+engages+in+supplementary+production.+However%2C+diversified+production+inevitably+leads+to+small-scale+production.+The+amount+of+work+increases+the+equipment+and+labour+costs+per+parcel.+Co-operation+can+bring+even+larger+benefits+in+organic+production+than+in+conventional+production.+Genuine+savings+in+workload+are+generated.+On+animal+and+cereal+farms+it+would+allow+both+farmers+to+specialise+in+their+respective+lines+while+safeguarding+a+sufficient+nutrient+rotation.+This+would+be+highly+sensible+also+in+terms+of+environmental+impact.+%0D%0A%0D%0AThe+research+will+comprise+both+a+written+section+and+two+different+farm-level+studies.+Literature+and+experts+will+be+consulted+in+order+to+chart+the+technical+and+legislative+obstacles%2C+as+well+as+those+posed+by+subsidy+policies+for+a+comprehensive+co-operation+between+farms.+On+the+farm-level+section%2C+the+project+will+be+familiarised+with+two+or+three+partnerships+engaged+in+comprehensive+co-operation.+The+research+project+will+involve+two+to+five+farms+for+study+purposes+(project+farms).+These+farms+have+recently+launched+co-operation+or+are+planning+to+do+so.+The+project+will+draw+up+a+co-operation+model+jointly+with+the+farms.+The+functioning+of+the+model+will+be+monitored+throughout+the+research+period.+%0D%0A%0D%0AThe+progress+of+the+project+will+be+presented+in+media.+The+final+report+will+be+published+in+the+form+of+a+guide+directed+at+advisory+personnel+and+farms.+The+research+will+produce+practical+and+immediately+applicable+data+on+the+opportunities+to+expand+co-operation+between+organic+and+conventional+farms%2C+as+well+as+in+the+activities+of+the+relevant+authorities.&rft.type=Project+description&rft.type=NonPeerReviewed&rft.identifier=%7BProject%7D+Specialisation+of+organic+farms+through+co-operation.+[Luomutilojen+erikoistuminen+yhteisty%C3%83%C2%B6n+avulla.]+Runs+2003+-+2004.+Project+Leader(s)%3A+L%C3%83%C2%A4tti%2C+Markku%2C+Work+Efficiency+Institute.+More+information+online+at+%3Chttp%3A%2F%2Ftripunix.mtt.fi%2Fcgi-bin%2Fthw%2F%3F%24%7BBASE%7D%3Darktui%26%24%7BHTML%7D%3Ddocu_eng%26%24%7BSNHTML%7D%3Dnosyn_eng%26%24%7BTRIPSHOW%7D%3Dfor%3Dwww_eng%26NR%3D236-06+%3Chttp%3A%2F%2Ftripunix.mtt.fi%2Fcgi-bin%2Fthw%2F%3F%24%7BBASE%7D%3Darktui%26%24%7BHTML%7D%3Ddocu_eng%26%24%7BSNHTML%7D%3Dnosyn_eng%26%24%7BTRIPSHOW%7D%3Dfor%3Dwww_eng%26NR%3D236-06%3E%3E.&rft.relation=http%3A%2F%2Forgprints.org%2F5686%2F