Improving yields in organic cropping systems

• Research unit: SERI
• Project number: 24.00051

Abstract (English)

With the European Green Deal, the Farm-to-Fork and Biodiversity Strategy, the EU aims to achieve the target of at least 25% of theEU’s agricultural land under organic farming by 2030. This means tripling the current organic farm area with estimated 700.000 farmersexpected to enter the organic sector. One of the obstacles hindering conversion to organic farming is the lower yields per hectare grownunder organic conditions as compared with those produced under conventional farming. Therefore, improving organic yields is a keychallenge of the organic sector, which however needs to be achieved on the basis of the principles of organic farming. Against thisbackground, the overall aim of the project is to contribute to a sustainable increase in yields in organic cropping systems through acomprehensive and structured compilation and evaluation of existing knowledge, devising sustainable impact strategies relevant tostakeholders and policy. The project will set up an European-wide network of testing, experimentation and demonstration sites from 11regions / countries, representing a wide range of pedo-climatic and structural conditions. It will connect actors from science and practiceto jointly reflect on organic yield increase strategies. It will draw recommendations for the future research agenda and development ofEU policies relevant for organic production. The outcomes of the project will be widely available and disseminated to actors within andbeyond the organic community.