The Organic Research Centre (ORC) is the UK's leading independent organic research organisation. Changing the future of food and farming.

From climate emergency to food security, the way we farm is key to solving some of the biggest issues facing us today. Changes in our agricultural practices have never been more needed. If we continue intensive farming, we will be responsible for the continued decline of many species, including pollinators, soil organisms and the natural enemies of pests. Habitats will continue to be degraded, and pollution levels will rise.

It doesn’t have to be that way. Our in-the-field research and knowledge exchange activity enables the transition to naturally healthy and resilient farming systems. We build evidence and understanding of the positive impact of organic and agroecological farming, and practical information to help farmers and growers do it better.

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Farm-PEP aims to bring together all the sources of useful knowledge for Agriculture, whether from academic science, applied research projects, industry trials, farmers own trials or simple on-farm experience. Listed below are useful websites, organisations and websites that we know of.  Add any we've missed in the comments box or by adding as new content, or better still, as a new Group.  

Regenerative farming looks to optimise the use of the ecological system and environment, in order to benefit from the natural ecosystem services that they provide.

Practical sustainable farming regardless of labels.

An EU-wide network to support and promote solutions for alternative weed control.  

Tell us how you are improving your soils. Share useful resources, organisations and initiatives.

Farm-centric research generally involves On-Farm Experimentation and may be better described as 'Farm Action Research', i.e. research conducted at least in part by and for beneficiaries who also farm. 

Organic is a system of farming and food production. Organic farmers aim to produce high-quality food, using methods that benefit our whole food system, from people to planet, plant health to animal welfare.

Agricultural research is conducted by a range of organisations, from individual farmers, through advisors, distributors, manufacturers, charities, societies, supply chain companies, levy bodies, universities and research institutes.  This page aims to connect across these often disparate sources.

This topic refers to the whole food supply chain, from farm fork, and all the products and services that contribute to food production.

Knowledge Exchange in Agriculture in the UK is diverse, with many organisations involved. That is part of the reason for creating Farm-PEP, to help provide connections to what many percieve as a fragmented landscape.

Share your ideas and experience of how to improve nutrient efficiency and reduce dependence on artificial fertilisers

Tree forage has many nutritional benefits for livestock as it diversifies their diet, provides additional nutrients and contains tannins that reduce methane production. Dr Lindsay Whistance from Organic Research Centre offers her advice on the best trees for silvopasture in a recent Innovative Farmers blog. 

  The Public Goods Tool (PG Tool) has been in constant use since its creation in 2011 (https://www.organicresearchcentre.com/our-research/research-project-library/public-goods-tool/)

To build a socially and environmentally resilient and regenerative food system in a net zero landscape, the Sustainable Farm Networks initiative connects diverse demonstration farm networks across the UK to share experiences, findings and best practice.

Help us collate the knowledge sources, organisations and initiatives out there that are seeking to improve the farmed environment

Organic Research Centre slides developed to share with educators who lead agriculture degree courses at the AUC Educators Retreat 2023.

The phrase “Non-Inversion Tillage” (NI) as used in this review first requires definition. Any system which does not seek to substantially invert the soil profile is regarded as NI.

Guidance on bringing Britain’s hedges back into the farm business.

Shaping our relationship to the soil.

Written for farmers and advisors this book will help you assess the potential business benefits of agroforestry for your farm or client and to understand the possible benefits to the wider environment.

The Policy Brief, written by Colin Tosh, is based on evidence presented in, and feedback to the online workshop held 20/10/2021.

Creeping thistle has become an increasing problem especially for organic arable farms with soils of higher organic matter content.

This guide provides a good basis for achieving high-quality products.

Through Innovative Farmers, a group of organic and conventional farmers have teamed up with the Organic Research Centre and AHDB to investigate how to grow living mulches.

Value chains with close collaboration between actors, both from the supply chain and wider society, enable direct, dynamic and innovative, relationships that better facilitate management and sales of smaller volumes of diverse products.