GREAT PREMIERE FOR THE ORGANIC TRACK AT THE N WORKSHOP🌱
For the first time in the history of the N Workshop, an organic track was included in the programme, and judging from the attendance in Room 3, at the “Søauditorier”, Aarhus University, Tuesday afternoon, June 18, this addition was highly appreciated!
A packed room was treated to findings and valuable insights from leading researchers in the field centered around the overall question and backdrop for the individual talks: How do we address the nitrogen supply challenge in organic farming? What are the opportunities, and where are the barriers?
Christine Watson, Professor of Agricultural Systems at SRUC (Scotland’s Rural College) delivered the keynote emphasizing that for organic farming to grow and develop, the nitrogen (nutrient) supply issues must be solved. The nitrogen needs to come from sustainable sources meaning that we have to consider alternative sources, urban waste being one example. We also have to further develop crop rotation plans including e.g. clover plants for nitrogen fixation purposes, and we need to ensure that nitrogen, which is sold off in crop products and livestock products, is replaced in the system in order to produce good yields and high-quality products. Christine Watson stressed that unless we are able to maintain those yields and maintain that quality, organic farming will simply not be an economic option for the farmer.
Following the keynote, there were three 10-minute presentations:
Hanne Lakkenborg Kristensen, Associate Professor, Department of Food Science, AU FOOD, presented the results from the report ”Recycling and sources of nitrogen to double the organic farmland of Denmark – a knowledge synthesis”. The authors of the report had been asked by the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries of Denmark to answer the question “Is it possible to get sufficient nitrogen to double the organic area from the current 300.000 ha to 600.000 ha (12 to 24 percent of Danish farmland)? And the answer was: Yes, it is possible!
Jochen Mayer, Senior Researcher, Agroscope, Switzerland, presented the results from a research project spanning 35 years on nitrogen use efficiencies comparing organic and conventional cropping.
Mette Goul Thomsen, Research Scientist, NIBIO Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research, presented research results on “Can mulch and cover crops provide better nutrient status in vegetables?” concluding that mulch with green plant material provides a high amount of nitrogen, but more work needs to be done to increase nitrogen recovery from mulch.
A lively round table discussion moderated by Jakob Sehested, Centre Director, ICROFS - International Centre for Research in Organic Food Systems concluded this groundbreaking first organic track at the N Workshop.
Hanne Lakkenborg Kristensen chaired the organic track together with co-chair Stefaan De Neve, Professor, Gent University.
#økologi #organic #kvælstof #nitrogen #NWorkshop2024