Organic and agroecological farming systems are knowledge-intensive relying on a two-way approach where research priorities are based on farmers’ needs and the latest research results are translated and made accessible to farmers and advisers. Hence, only an effective flow of sound knowledge between scientists, farmers, and advisors can allow the transition of our food and farming system. 

Since its start in 2016, the Organic Farm Knowledge platform has been committed in stimulating the exchange of knowledge among organic farmers, farm advisers and scientists. Initially set up within the European funded project OK-Net Arable (2016-2019), the platform has grown throughout the years fed by a variety of Horizon 2020 projects. Currently, about 800 end-users materials from 22 EU funded projects are available free of charge to all visitors. Check the “Search toolbox” function and find tools with practice-oriented recommendations of your interest and field.  

The Organic Farm Knowledge platform has at heart their 20.000 monthly users and it continuously monitors their needs. Our latest survey (April 2024) shows that 28% of users are organic farmers followed by 14% advisers. Interestingly, 9% of the users are non-organic farmers while 6% farmers in transition to organic.  

The Organic Farm Knowledge platform provides the best solutions to farmers and advisers including:  

• Science based easy-to-use tools with practical recommendations translated in 16 languages. 

• Access to knowledge relevant for organic in a one-stop-shop way. Search engines, i.e. Google provide some direction, but extra efforts by farmers are required to determine if it is relevant for organic. By visiting the OFK platform, users know that the accessed information is the most recent and relevant to organics. 

• It serves as a meeting hub supporting peer-to-peer communication between farmers and advisors within and across countries/regions. Check out the Organic Advisory Directory 

• Cross border knowledge access. Knowledge shared through the platform may be of relevance for regions with a similar climate, such as Northern Africa, Middle East, North America, or Eurasia.  Do you have interesting tools? Contact us via the “Suggest a tool” button. 

Within the OrganicTargets4EU project, coordinated by IFOAM Organics Europe, the platform is taking actions to further expand the organic knowledge reservoir and promote online knowledge exchange between organic actors. In the coming months, 30 new tools will be made available on new topics such as organic certification and regulation as well as the new theme “organic aquaculture”. 

Subscribe to the newsletter to receive periodic updates, and do not forget to follow the Organic Farm knowledge platform on Facebook and Twitter for news and events.  

For more information contact ambra.desimone@organicseuroe.bio and Lauren Dietemann  lauren.Dietemann@fibl.org

Picture by Lauren Dietemann