Organic Farm Knowledge: Free, online knowledge exchange for organic food & farming

Organic and agroecological farming systems are knowledge-intensive and rely on a two-way approach. Research priorities are based on farmers’ needs and the latest research results are translated and made accessible to farmers and advisors. An effective flow of sound knowledge between scientists, farmers, and advisors will speed up the transition to sustainable food and farming systems. 

Organic farmers have always been pioneers beyond technological innovations – among its many social innovations are free knowledge sharing. An excellent example of this is Organic Farm Knowledge. 

Since 2016, the Organic Farm Knowledge platform has been stimulating knowledge exchange among organic farmers, farm advisors and scientists. To date, about 800 materials from 22 EU-funded projects are freely available. Check the Search toolbox function and find tools with practice-oriented recommendations of your interest and field.  

Who uses the platform? 

In April 2024, 28% of the platform’s 20,000 users are organic farmers, followed by 14% advisoers. Interestingly, 9% of the users are non-organic farmers while 6% are farmers in conversion to organic. This shows the need for knowledge sharing and a tool like the Organic Farm Knowledge. 

Why use the platform? 

The Organic Farm Knowledge platform provides recent, relevant and tried solutions to farmers and advisoers active in organic – or wanting to make their practices more sustainable. 

This includes:  

• 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. While search engines provide some direction, the results they give require extra efforts from farmers to determine if they are relevant for organic; 
• A meeting hub supporting peer-to-peer communication between farmers and advisors within and across countries/regions: 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, the Middle East, North America, or Eurasia.

Can you contribute? 

Do you have interesting tools? Contact us via the Suggest a tool button. 

Are interested in knowledge exchange among farmers? Have a look at the EU organic movement’s manifesto for the next political mandate – developing research for organic is among the priorities for the next political mandate. 

About the platform & its future 

Within the OrganicTargets4EU project, Organic Farm Knowledge is expanding the organic knowledge reservoir even further to continue encouraging online knowledge exchange between organic actors. In the coming months, 30 new tools will be made available on new topics. For example, organic certification and regulation and 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 [email protected]  

Organic Farm Knowledge was set up by ICROFS (International Centre for Research in Organic Food Systems) in the framework of OK-Net Arable and OK-Net EcoFeed developed it further. Both projects were coordinated by IFOAM Organics Europe and are funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme. The third core partner of the Organic Farm Knowledge platform is FiBL (Research Institute of Organic Agriculture). 

About OrganicTargets4EU 

The Horizon Europe project OrganicTargets4EU (2022-2026) aims to help reach 25% of agricultural land under organic farming and a significant increase in organic aquaculture by 2030. IFOAM Organics Europe leads this project which is working on outcomes that will drive the growth and development of the organic sector focussing on policy implementation, evidence-based decision making, increased and coordinated Research & Innovation and increased knowledge sharing. The project results will be discussed in a multi-actor policy dialogue and it will make recommendations for the CAP strategic plans and EU/national organic action plans from 2025-2027 and from 2028 onwards.  

Visit the project website for more information and follow its hashtag #OrganicTargets4EU on LinkedIn and X or contact [email protected].