Feed more on-farm protein. A European strategy in organic agriculture to improve on-farm protein management

Summary

The Lifelong Learning Program (Leonardo, action type: mobility) funded our project “European Agricultural Training – renewing skills for experienced organic advisors” (see www.ch-go-est.eu), 2013-2015.
The goal of this European partnership project was to facilitate networking and exchange of ideas, experiences, and methods between experienced organic multiplicators (advisors, teachers in agricultural training, researchers etc.). The group had members from several northern and mid-European countries and the focus was on-farm protein management from cultivation to feeding. Field visits to leading organic farms organized by participating organisations, discussion and resulting ideas gave new inputs to the work of the advisors in their own countries and development of approaches to increase sustainability of organic agriculture. Discussion on a common feeding strategy to reduce the need for external input of protein concentrates focussed mainly on ruminant nutrition. These are the conclusions of our projekt concerning a European strategy in organic agriculture to improve on-farm protein management.