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2.3.3.2 Priorities

Production

• "Careful focus of research on identified technical constraints to production for each crop and market."
• "Greater insight into organic supply of plant nutrients."
• "Research in organics should be on whole farm management. Current research gives us a good understanding of the important components of production but it is necessary to bring them altogether rather than looking at aspects in isolation."
• "Extending organic research to more crops, fruit research has been almost exclusively on pipfruit and kiwifruit."
• "Breeding and selection of natural plant resistance to pests and diseases."
• "Providing greater resources for research on classical, biological control of pests and diseases."
• "Greater research on the development of pest, disease and weed control using natural products."
• "Need for more research on development of organic systems of crop and under-storey management and their interaction with pest, disease and weed control as well as water management."
• "Post-harvest disinfestation research linked to organic production requirements."
• "Technologies to improve soil quality, improve nutrient cycling in soil, improve soil physical conditions, to improve soil biological activity."
• "Long term effects of organic farming methods on sustainable land use and environmental quality issues."

Comparative Studies

• "Research into the effects of a reduction in the use of chemicals in some production systems, i.e. pest dynamics."
• "Research into the overall costs of conventional and organic production systems to society as a whole."
• "Comparison of effects of organic farming versus conventional farming."

Technology Transfer

• "Research investment is needed in technology transfer which is a major constraint, including researching and managing the process of transition from conventional to organic production."
• "Mechanisms to encourage growers to trial organic production systems on their properties and information delivery."

Infrastructure

• "Policy analysis, exploring government and industry reticence to support organics, i.e. what are the barriers of government and industry level which are constraining the development or support of organics."
• "Research in partnership with BIOGRO reviewing the mission, structure and operations of the organisation to further enhance its already crucial role in supporting grower adoption and industry development in organics."

Other

• "Continual focus on social aspects of industry development and farmer decision-making."
• "Research into strategies to increase conversion to organics both of producers and increased consumption of organic food by consumers."

Contact for Enquiries

Kay Brown
Sector Performance Policy
MAF Policy
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
PO Box 2526
Wellington
NEW ZEALAND

Phone: +64 4 894 0695
Fax: +64 4 4 894 0746
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