Organic Research Centre
ORC is the UK’s leading research centre for the development of organic, agroecological food production and land management solutions to key global issues including climate change, soil and biodiversity conservation and food security.
Partner Contributions
Alternative weed control – National Workshop
Event
ADAS and The Organic Research Centre are hosting a workshop to evaluate alternative weed control solutions for arable and field vegetable production
Looking for a tool to help you gauge your farm sustainability? Look no further…
Blog Post
ORC's Christian Gossel describes the new version of the farm sustainability Public Goods Tool and invites farmers to try it out and share with others...
Building a sustainable food system in an ever-changing world
Blog Post
Agricology's Farm Engagement Officer Matt Smee reflects on his experience of the ORFC (2023) and its contribution to helping build a resilient, equitable and sustainable farming system...
Living Mulches Final Report
Resource
The final report for Innovative Farmers field lab trials which aimed to determine the impacts of living mulches on cash crop yields and weed composition.
Building Agricology for the Future
Blog Post
"...The strength of Agricology is that it promotes practical, sustainable farming regardless of labels through its network of partner organisations. Together we can build more diverse, resilient systems, working with nature to help restore the land and ecosystems and ensure a secure supply of food..."
The potential of biofumigation to control soil borne pests, pathogens and weeds
Resource
A DiverIMPACTS practice abstract exploring the practicalities of applying the technique of biofumigation to help with pest and weed control.
The Basics of Soil Fertility
Resource
FiBL booklet offering a view on soil fertility from different angles to stimulate new thinking about a sustainable relationship to the soil.
Are you a northern farmer looking for ways to do things differently?
Blog Post
ORC's Charlotte Bickler shares some of the opportunities available for farmers in the north of England and Scotland...
Including diverse leys in arable rotations
Resource
Practice abstract created as part of the DiverIMPACTS project outlining some of the many advantages to more complex mixtures of leguminous leys and some of the challenges and key practical considerations.
Support climate friendly farming – one donation, twice the impact
Blog Post
For over four decades the ORC has supported farmers to implement sustainable land management and food production solutions that produce quality food, minimise resource use and protect and enhance the environment.
Friends with benefits: identifying and attracting natural enemies
Event
A practical workshop to learn how to ID and observe natural enemies and share experiences with encouraging them into cropping systems Interested in building natural pest resilience into your cropping system? In this workshop entomologist Barbara Smith (Centre for Agroecology, Water and Resilience) will provide an overview of the main groups of natural enemies, the […]
How do English farmers learn and finance agroforestry? New insights from the Agroforestry ELM Test project
Blog Post
Following a well-received evidence review in which the main factors holding back agroforestry in England were identified, the Agroforestry ELM Team, led by the ORC, Woodland Trust, Soil Association, and Abacus Agriculture, have now moved on to detailed interviews of England’s leading agroforestry farmers and analysis of their responses.