FiBL Austria
The Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL), Austria aims to be an interface and service hub between researchers and practitioners and also takes an active role in networking all the players involved in the organic food production chain.
Main topics
Animal health
Providing active support on practical issues in animal health and treatment and disseminating research results to veterinarians, advisers, and farmers; a further aim is to implement complementary medical treatment strategies on organic farms.
Food quality
Recording production-related quality aspects, whereby product characteristics are assessed using a variety of methods (primarily feed preference tests, consumer tastings, decomposition tests). Thus a toolbox for quality controls is being developed which can be used both in comparative trials of organically and non-organically produced foods and optimization trials for organic methods.
Risk research in the field of genetic engineering
Research on possible impacts resulting from genetically modified feeds. To this end chronic toxicological long-term and multiple generation feed trials are carried out on lab mice which are fed genetically modified maize as a test diet.
Nature conservation
Combining conservation measures with agricultural practices. Implementing projects to enhance biodiversity in selected groups of flora and fauna.
Plant production
Implementing and further developing cropping methods; the latest research results and farmers’ experience are tested for their regional commercial suitability with the aid of on-farm trials.
Knowledge transfer
Swift conveyance of research results to advisers and practitioners; international and national knowledge is processed and made available to the relevant interest groups. Activities include presentations for all players involved in the food production chain (farmers, advisers, consumers, veterinarians), participation in education and training courses (lectures at universities and schools, courses in food coaching) as well as the compilation of publications and journal articles, expert opinions and documentation (fact sheets, Internet). |
