Danish Agricultural Advisory Service National Centre The adviser as important mediator of research and innovation in organic farming. Differences in organic advisory service in European countries. By Erik Fog, DAAS Seminar: European Organic Advisers August 29 th 2005

Danish Agricultural Advisory Service National Centre Development of organic farming Health and environmental concerns Pioneer farmers Engaged academics Forming organic farming organizations General recognition and support Funding for research and information Private and public extension

Danish Agricultural Advisory Service National Centre Farming and advise - mutual development Beginning with ideas and general practise Farmers get the new experiences Advisers facilitate the exchange of experiences Advisers support trials and innovation The market develops – many newcomers Advisers concentrate on conversion planning and adaptation to the regulations Public funded research and innovation Advisers disseminate new knowledge and methods

Danish Agricultural Advisory Service National Centre The advisers many challenges Being part of the organic movement (in opposition to conventional farming?) Working with difficult funding in organic organizations. Covering all the farmers needs of knowledge and support Technical in different branches, Management and economics, Marketing, Innovation and experiments Pooling capacities and co-operating

Danish Agricultural Advisory Service National Centre Differences in European countries Countries where organic farming has only recently got public recognition Few farms. Small organic organizations. Nearly no funding for advisers and innovation. Most Central and Eastern European Countries, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, Spain?

Danish Agricultural Advisory Service National Centre Differences in European countries Old “organic countries” with a strong organic organizations offering their members skilled advisory service. The public advisory service is supplementing (most conversion planning) Austria, France, Germany, Great Britain, Netherlands, Switzerland

Danish Agricultural Advisory Service National Centre Differences in European countries The Nordic countries with tradition for extensive advisory service from farmers organizations with public support. Organic advising integrated in the general system. Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden

Danish Agricultural Advisory Service National Centre Conclusions The advisers challenges are common The progression and the conditions varies a lot The traditions and the funding structure varies also A lot of benefits can come out of transmitting the good examples A network must offer activities suited for advisers from different levels and traditions.