Organic farming is of growing importance in all the Nordic countries, based on the consumers’ demand for organic products. Organic farming is called "ecological agriculture" in the Nordic countries.
In Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden much work has been performed on different levels during the last five to ten years, to develop organic farming systems based on local resources and optimal use of the biological production potential. However, within research the approach has been somewhat different in the different countries. For example, in Denmark there has been emphasis on modelling of complex agro-ecological systems, whereas in Norway much work has been done on farm systems studies and on-farm research, the development of farm-research in cooperation between scientists, farmers and advisory officers.
During the last four to five years, there has been growing cooperation between the Nordic countries regarding research, education and extension related to organic farming. In several of these areas, firm collaboration is now established.
Nordic network experiences
One example of Nordic networking activities is the three subsections formed within the Nordic Association of Agricultural Scientists to deal with ecological agriculture; one for animal husbandry, one for extension issues and one for ecological agriculture in general. As a result, seminars are being arranged in these different fields.
Another example is the "Nordic research network, ecological agriculture", which started in 1996 through the sponsoring of the Nordic academy for advanced study under the Nordic Council of Ministers. The following areas are included in the network:
1. A Nordic research and development programme. This aims to develop research, focusing on multidisciplinary research for the development of the ecological (organic) farming system.
2. A Nordic postgraduate education programme. Three Nordic Ph.D. courses in ecological agriculture have been arranged so far.
3. Coordination of education (B.Sc., M.Sc.) and research information (Nordic newsletter).
The aim for the future is to organise this network through NOVA, the Nordic Agricultural University, which is just commencing. A working group has recently presented a suggestion for a Nordic M.Sc. in Agroecology/Ecological Agriculture to be run within the framework of NOVA. According to the suggestion, each country will have its own M.Sc. profile, but parts of it will consist of joint Nordic courses. Efforts are also made to coordinate this education with the education programme planned on a European level.
The goal is to also include the Baltic states and north-west Russia in the Nordic network. One step in this direction has been taken through the publishing of an Estonian newsletter on organic farming, starting in 1996, with the help of the editor of the Nordic newsletter. Funding has been applied for regarding a similar project in Lithuania.
Nordic newsletter
Since 1995, a Nordic newsletter "Research Notes on Ecological Agriculture in Nordic Countries" has been published through the cooperation of ten Nordic universities and research institutions. The aim is to quickly spread research results related to organic farming. (See also Els Wynen’s report.) These first two years of publishing have been a trial period and an evaluation is about to take place this Autumn. One of the things to be discussed is if the newsletter should be published in English in the future, instead of in the Scandinavian languages as now, thus making it available to a wider public.
Increase in research related to organic farming
Today, in all four countries, resources are allocated to fund research in organic farming. Some information on the amount of funding in the Nordic countries is given in Els Wynen’s report, but a more complete picture is given in Table 1 below.
Future areas of networking
In creating networks for research related to organic agriculture, it is important to focus on the different approaches of organic and conventional agriculture. For "organic" research, the great challenge lies in the emphasis of systems thinking and in using a holistic approach to the problem solution. What is really new with organic farming (and which might qualify it as a new paradigm) is the idea that the whole cannot be deducted only from studying the parts. This is contrary to the fact that most of the "organic" research so far has been performed in quite conventional areas, e.g. soil science and plant nutrition, as shown in Wynen’s report. The reason might be that it has been much easier (if at all possible) to find support for this type of research within the existing structures.
Thus systems thinking must be emphasised much more in future research. Also research of a traditional, "reductionistic" kind (which of course is also needed) must be put in a larger frame. As I see it, the most urgent need for networking is within the field of holistic approach.
However, it is important that the chairman and secretary of the group should be organic researchers, well oriented in the principles of organic farming.
Future network activities
The most simple kind of network would be to create a list of researchers and "resource persons" in different areas. Even though simple, such lists would be very useful provided they are kept up to date.
A more active network requires some kind of medium for information exchange, e.g. through internet discussion groups, or through a newsletter which can be distributed either via the internet or more traditionally on paper. From our Nordic experiences, it seems that the interest for participating at least in a Nordic internet discussion group is quite low. Researchers seem to give priority to their many other duties. The Nordic newsletter, however, has achieved much interest as a "window" through which activities in the other countries, as well as in other fields of research, can easily be viewed.
In creating future international networks, the Nordic countries can offer to share the networking experiences acquired so far, including the publishing of a newsletter. Also, a centre for ecological agriculture is now established at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences. If funds can be made available, there is substantial interest from this Centre to establish international relations, e.g. through coordinating international network activities.
Ecological agriculture in the Nordic countries
|
|
Denmark |
Finland |
Norway |
Sweden |
|
State support so far for research in organic farming |
1993-97: 50 million DKK |
"Last years", per year: |
1989-94: 38,4 million NOK 1995-96: ~14 million NOK |
1986-96, per year: |
|
Present and announced government support for research in organic farming |
1996-1999: 117,3 million DKK (US$7.5 million) Research & development: 1998-2001: 125 million DKK (US$18.6 million) Postgraduate education programme: 7 million DKK (US$1.05 million) |
1997: ~5,9 million FIM |
1997: ~10 million NOK 1998: 12,6 million NOK |
1996-98: 46,5 million SEK Research & development: Postgraduate education programme: |
|
Chairs in organic farming |
2; one of which in "Ecological animal husbandry systems" 2 associate professors |
1 (presently filled only by 40%) |
1 (to be announced in the summer/fall of 1997) 1 associate professor |
1 1 associate professor |
Comments to the previous table on ecological agriculture in the Nordic countries
The figures in the table are estimations. The aim is to give a general idea regarding the size of on-going activities.
Note that the figures represent only government (state) funding. There might also be private or semi-private funding in addition. For example in Sweden, the Government in addition gives money to a research fund administered by the Swedish Farmers’ Cooperation, which for the last three years has supported a 2,4 million SEK project (US$0.3 million) (in total), and is likely to support more organic projects in the future. In addition, for the next years at least 1 million SEK per year (about US$0.13 million) will be spent on organic research by private organizations.
The intention has been only to include funding intended exclusively for organic farming. There may also be cases of funding given to e.g. "sustainable agriculture" projects, where organic agriculture can be included, or where organic projects are funded within ordinary research funding. Generally, such projects are not included in the figures presented in this table, although a few might be covered in the figures for the past years.
Another problem is to separate what are "research" projects as opposed to different types of development projects. Both headings are given in the table.
As for Finland, a new research plan for the next few years is now being discussed, and the future funding depends on how well the plan will be accepted by funding bodies.
Most figures are taken from the following report:
Höök, K. Ekologisk jordbruks-och trädgårdsproduktion. Forskning i sju europeiska länder (Organic farm and gardening production. Research in seven European countries) Swedish Council for Forestry and Agricultural Research.
The report is supplemented with personal communications.
The current exchange rate has been used when converting into US Dollars.
