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2.3.3.3 Research Processes for Organic Production

Research agencies were asked to make comments on the appropriate processes for research into organic production and whether different research approaches from that used for research into conventional production were required. Comments included the following:

Research Processes

• "While conventional research will bring benefits to organic producers and the industry by providing individual production components, there is a special requirement in organic research to undertake interdisciplinary research programmes on production systems. This is because the underlying concepts of organic production involve ecosystem management in which all components of production interact. In addition, the organic image and the economic advantages which come from it depend on consumer perceptions of the product and its method of production. Certification is an essential component of organic produce and the whole production system must conform to the certification standards of the day. This requires a team of researchers addressing the development of certified organic production systems. A similar trend is appearing in the evolution of integrated production."
• "The appropriate process is to identify the constraints and then set priorities for research into organics. At present the set of priorities used for setting funding levels for example from the PGSF does not recognise the organic industry as an end user."
• "Research must demonstrate return on investment."
• "A whole-system approach should be used for this work."
• "Encouragement to fund one or more long-term, i.e. 10-50 year trials, is needed."
• "Do not reinvent overseas projects in this research."

Research Approaches

• "Research approaches are the same as for conventional production and the same research addresses both issues."
• "Interdisciplinary development of organic production systems on long-term, dedicated research sites."
• "The same basic research methods can be used for either conventional or organic topics."
• "For technical research, the paradigm of comparison with conventional sprays has to be abandoned. Controls are still possible with zero treatment plots. In this comparison there is more emphasis on improvement of organic systems."
• "Whole farm research is an example of the integrative or cross discipline type of work which has tended to fare poorly in the PGSF allocation system. It is very difficult to present cross discipline and non conventional work so that its value will be recognised by scientific referees. This means that its is unlikely to reach the science quality benchmark set for the PGSF."
• "Develop the use of landowner/farmer-based field research programmes adequately backed up by the technical support and analytical services and involved both BIOGRO and Demeter."

Science Credibility

• "Research must be subject to the same standards of design, analysis and interpretation as research into conventional farming systems."
• "Ensure that those with a track record do the work rather than those with declining FORST outputs who see a slush fund. Fund via the FORST tender process."
• "Research grants should be overseen by a committee of industry, grower, academic, the relevant stakeholders."
• "One of the main constraints to the adoption and acceptance of organic farming methods is the lack of rigorous scientific evaluation and comparison against conventional systems. If an alternative research approach was adopted that does not meet well-established scientific methods, then this would make the situation worse."
• - "It is absolutely critical that normal science hypothesis testing is used."

Technology Transfer

• "Fund research sites which can also be used to demonstrate organic production practices."
• "Look for bids which combine technical and technology transfer in one, ideally from multidisciplinary teams involved on one group site."

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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