Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Supply chain technology
There are numerous parts of an agricultural supply chain, with many stakeholders. A conse-
quence for organic agriculture is that there are many areas that need to be established, modified
and strengthened. Major areas of interest are:
(a) the creation and expansion of knowledge networks for research and education;
(b) continuing revision of the organic standards and certification processes; and
(c) a clearer role of organic farming in rural and regional development.
Knowledge networks - research
To enable organic agriculture to grow and mature several supporting mechanisms are needed.
Such mechanisms include on-farm and collaborative research, teaching at a wide range of
competencies from farmer field days to doctoral studies (see
Chapters
15
,
16
and
17
), a compre-
hensive and reliable knowledge base, widely accessible information f flow lines and a diverse
pool of skilled people. Much of this process is under way, but considerable effort is still
required.
Research is vital for sectoral development as it allows new knowledge to be developed, such
as increasing yield and productivity, quantifying environmental and social impacts, minimis-
ing adverse effects and maximising benefits (see
Chapter
15
). Research and development in
organic farming is normally constrained by scarce funding from governments and large com-
mercial stakeholders, and smaller commercial players are generally unable to allocate funds
for research and development (Wynen 2003). There are no fundamental essential barriers to
establishing cross-disciplinary research collaborations, but various practical and structural
barriers exist including access to funding, cost of larger long-term trials and project coordina-
tion difficulties (see
Chapter
15
).
Despite criticisms about a lack of objectivity in organic research, almost all research activities
are inherently value-laden, with choices routinely being made about subject matter, funding
sources, treatments to apply and methodologies to follow (see
Chapter
15
). No single research
strategy is adequate to address the needs of the global organic agriculture movement. Instead,
there are several issues to consider. A balance needs to be achieved between reductionist and
holistic approaches (combining disciplinary and systems thinking), between short-term and
long-term trials and between multidisciplinary and single discipline projects. The process of data
collection, synthesis and interpretation should take place at all levels from the 'plots and pots' of
experimental trials to whole farms, and from catchments and bioregions to local and global
markets. Action, participatory and on-farm research approaches provide a range of options for
encouraging cooperation between project stakeholders, although their effective use depends on
the interests of the stakeholders and facilitation skills of the project leaders (see
Chapter
15
).
Relatively new organisations such as the International Society of Organic Agriculture
Research, Colloquium of Organic Researchers in the United Kingdom (UK) and The Organic
Center, as well as the Scientific Committee for Organic Agriculture Research in the USA dem-
onstrate that the organic movement is moving to another level of sophistication in pursuing
research. Together with the growing number of private and government research centres being
established (see
Chapter
15
) and universities offering study programs in organic farming (see
Knowledge
networks
-
education
), there is an opportunity to produce more research, produce
better quality research and to reduce research overlap by increasing collaboration.
It is common (and logical) for researchers to highlight the need for further research in their
discipline, and that is true of all chapters in this topic. Some specific areas where research has
been absent or less intensive include:
• environmental impacts (see
Chapter
12
);
