Research Agenda for Organic Agriculture 2013 – Research challenges and knowledge requirements for organic food and farming

Summary

Successful organic production and increased consumption of organic food means there is a great need for new knowledge and new, innovative solutions within the entire organic food chain. Many of the knowledge needs and challenges are, however, general and independent of production forms. We are now facing the necessity of transforming our food production from a system based on fossil fuels to one that is more resource efficient. We need to develop production forms that can support a growing population, and are at the same time environmentally friendly, maintain the ecosystem services of agricultural land and utilize resources in a way that is sustainable in the long term. There are also growing expectations that agriculture will deliver other valuable products in addition to food. Those engaged in organic agriculture have a responsibility to be part of this development and contribute to future solutions through research, development and innovation, in cooperation between stakeholders in the food chain.
This new Swedish research agenda for organic agriculture has been developed by EPOK in an open process together with interested parties in the food chain, as well as through dialogue with researchers and the research funding bodies. The agenda takes on the most important future challenges and knowledge needs of the organic food chain on the road towards increased sustainability, efficiency and environmental and sociatal benefits.
The main aim of the research agenda is to provide a well supported document which will enable the decision makers and research funding bodies to decide and prioritize future research ventures. Another important aim is to draw attention to relevant problems and inspire research into areas where knowledge is lacking.
The research agenda continues the work of coordinating research in organic agriculture that CUL – Centre for Sustainable Agriculture was previously responsible for. The new agenda highlights previously topical areas of research that need continued research, but also prioritizes new research areas. The agenda also links in with international research programmes on organic agriculture, in particular the research agenda drawn up within the EU Technology Platform TP Organics and the new Danish research strategy.