Our research projects

Title

Alternatives for contentious inputs in organic agriculture (OrganicPlus)

Acronym

OrganicPlus

Start

15.05.2018

End

31.10.2022

Coordinating Institute

Centre for Agroecology, Water and Resilience, Coventry University

Contact

Partner

Allocated to research program

Internet

https://organic-plus.net/

Summary

Development of alternative products for livestock farming and horticulture from wood from agroforestry and short rotation coppices. The Organic-PLUS project has the overall aim of providing high quality, trans-disciplinary, scientifically informed decision support to help all actors in the organic sector, including national and regional policy makers, to reach the next level of the EU’s organic success story. By doing so organic food systems can be more true to organic principles but equally to the EU Bioeconomy agenda. Organic-PLUS objectives are to: 1) identify and valorise contentious inputs currently used in European agriculture 2) provide specific technical solutions to minimise or phase-out their use 3) provide environmental, social and economic assessments of phase-out scenarios 4) disseminate and broker knowledge, ideas and results to maximise impact. Organic-PLUS has three large ‘topical’ workpackages PLANT (researching alternatives to copper and mineral oils), LIVESTOCK (researching alternatives to synthetic vitamins, antibiotics and novel animal bedding) and SOIL (researching alternatives to peat, animal-derived fertilisers and plastic mulch). The topical work is supported by IMPACT (researching consumer conceptions of contentious inputs and disseminating knowledge together with stakeholders) and by MODEL (using sustainability assessment methodology to deliver phasing-out scenarios). The LEAD workpackage is also responsible for managing the International Scientific board and the European Industry advisory board ensuring impact to industry and policy development.

Funding

Grant agreement number

Funding framework

H2020-SFS-2016-2017