The University of Hohenheim has a long tradition of research and teaching in agriculture and natural sciences.  The Faculty of Agricultural Sciences has five research stations each with its own area of specialization.  The Crop Production and Crop Protection Station focuses on systems and process engineering, efficiency and productivity, as well as plant and grassland production.  The Plant Breeding Station focuses on certain grains, forage and energy crops.  The Horticulture Station focuses on vegetable cropping, orchards, and ornamental plants.  The Husbandry Station focuses on high-performance dairy production.  The Animal Husbandry, Animal Breeding and Poultry Production Station focuses on production methods, animal welfare, and environmental impact.

JKI is both a federal authority and research body for the German Government.  The Centre carries out a variety of research on cultivated plant systems and products at 15 different specialized institutes: Application Techniques for Plant Protection; Biological Control; Breeding Research on Agricultural Crops; Breeding Research on Horticultural and Fruit Crops; Crop and Soil Science; Ecological Chemistry, Analysis and Stored Products Protection; Epidemiology and Pathogen Diagnostics; Biosafety of Genetically Modified Plants; Grapevine Breeding; National and International Plant Health; Plant Protection in Field Crops and Grassland; Plant Protection in Fruit Crops and Viticulture; Plant Protection in Horticulture and Forests; Resistance Research and Stress Tolerance; and Strategies and Technology Assessment in Plant Protection.  Of particular interest, the Institute for Biological Control performs research on the use of natural antagonists to control arthropod pests and diseases and has produced a number of publications on the use of biological control in organic agriculture. 

The AREC focuses on sustainable agricultural management in rural areas in Austria. The Centre fuses higher school education with research in the areas of grassland and livestock management, plant production, holistic animal health, conservation of endangered farm animal genetic resources and organic legislatives. The Institute of Organic Farming researches organic grassland and livestock management and currently has projects on the impact of different grazing systems on the soil and the impact of calving season on milk yield.   

ICROFS is a collaboration between research groups in different institutions and universities and coordinated through a head office in Denmark. The secretariat of ICROFS initiates, coordinates, and participates in international research activities. The aim of their work is to strengthen the positions of organic farming and food systems and to increase the conversion possibilities from conventional farming production. ICROFS plays a central role in a large number of research endeavours, including the DARCOF III, CORE Organic, CERTCOST and GlobalOrg projects. ICROFS also manages Organic Eprints, an open, online archive for research in organic agriculture with more that 8,000 publications. 

IRRI is a CGIAR centre focused on rice research and education. The Institute strives to reduce poverty through improved and diversified rice systems; to ensure that rice production is sustainable and can handle climate change; and to improve the nutrition and health of poor rice consumers and farmers. Research conducted by and coordinated by IRRI covers a breath of rice research areas from breeding and genetics through post-harvest. The Institute’s Rice and Climate Change Consortium focuses on reducing the net contributions of rice systems to global warming and developing new rice cultivars that are better adapted to climatic stresses.

KEFRI’s mission is to conduct research and provide technologies for sustainable development of forest and other natural resources.  The Institute has seven research programmes: Farm Forestry, Natural Forests, Dryland Forests, Industrial Forest Plantations, Tree Seeds, Service and Technology Dissemination, and Partnerships and Networks.  KEFRI is not directly involved in organics research, but has partnered with other organizations working on organic agriculture.

LI-BIRD’s goal is to contribute reducing poverty and improving social justice by empowering poor and marginalized people to improve quality of life.  The organization aims to achieve this through participatory approaches to research and development on natural resources, biodiversity and ecosystem services.  Activities at LI-BIRD fit into five programmes: Agriculture Innovations for Livelihood Security; Biodiversity for Sustainable Livelihoods; Ecosystems Health and Services; Policy and Social Research for Wider and Inclusive Impacts; and Knowledge Management and Capacity Building. 

OFRF’s purpose is to foster the improvement and widespread adoption of organic farming systems. They achieve this mission by sponsoring research related to organic farming, disseminating research results to organic farmers and to growers interested in adopting organic production systems, and educating the public and decision-makers about organic farming issues. OFRF’s integrated strategy of grantmaking, policy, education and networking initiatives supports organic farmers’ immediate information needs while moving the public and policymakers toward greater investment in organic farming systems.

The Organic Research Centre is a registered charity in the UK and a leading research, development and advisory institution for organic agriculture.  The Centre’s research is aimed at addressing the needs and questions of the UK organic sector.  Research includes work on policy, whole farming systems, cropping, livestock and soil, water and nutrients.  Studies have included work on agroforestry, seed production and quality, extended season cropping, companion cropping and disease control, nutrient flows, livestock feeds and animal welfare.

Organic Seed Alliance is an organisation that supports the ethical development and stewardship of the genetic resources of agricultural seed.  It conducts its work through collaboration between organic farmers and breeding professionals.  The Alliance is researching new varieties and working to restore old varieties that do well without synthetic inputs and are suited for local environments.  In addition, work is being done to breed varieties specific for organic production, with consideration of disease resistance, weed competition, nutrient optimization, weather and pollution tolerance, and improved crop yield.