Research priorities – open space workshop held in Frick
The Swiss state research centres – Agroscope – and the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) are currently setting their priorities for their work programme 2008 to 2011, to be finalized in 2007. An open space workshop was organized, in order to give different stakeholder groups the possibility to give an active input to the priority setting process. About hundred participants including researchers from Agroscope and FiBL, consultants, organic farmers and representatives of Bio Suisse identified future research topics. The open space event offered an excellent platform for a dialogue between research providers and the organic sector. The event was organized by the organic farming research coordination group of Agroscope and FiBL and hosted by FiBL.
For the first time the priority setting process was carried out in this early stage. The workshop was opened by Professor Carlo Leifert of the University of Newcastle and coordinator of the Quality Low Input Food project. Leifert looked at Swiss organic farming research from an international perspective. He said that Switzerland was one of the leading countries in organic farming research in Europe. According to criteria developed by the University of Newcastle the private FiBL has most points regarding research & development and technology transfer compared to the other specialized organic farming institution in Europe. Agroscope is place three in Europe among the conventional research institutions who are also dealing with organic farming research.
In a plenary with all participants 25 topics were identified, which were then discussed in workshops. Participants gave high importance to different aspects of food quality, improvement of production techniques for low input arable crops, soil fertility research and efficient use of non renewable energy. Improving communication between researchers, farmers and consumers was considered as an important topic, too. A characteristic of the open space method is that participants can move between the workshops. The overall feedback on the day was positive, in particular that the farmers actively participated.
Further Information:
The plenary presentations
 Contact person at FiBL: Thomas Alföldi
President of the organic farming research coordination group of Agroscope and FiBL:
Dr. Padruot M. Fried Federal Research Station Agrocecology and Farming
Reckenholzstrasse 191
CH - 8046 Zürich
Phone +41 1 377-7222
Fax: +41 1 377-7201
E-Mail
Organic farming at www.reckenholz.ch |
