We coordinate and carry out organic variety and cultivation trials as well as stable and field trials to provide a reliable scientific foundation of knowledge for farmers which can be applied in practice. We collaborate with organic farmers and advisers to develop and test new ideas and methods in practice, and each year we organise field demonstrations, stable visits, meetings, and other events all over the country to share information. Based on the collected data and experiences, we prepare cultivation guides, calculations, cal-culation tools, videos, articles, rapports, and publications which can support farmers in achieving technical economic success in organic plant and livestock production.

Current focus areas: 

• Organic national field trials and other trials
• Budget calculations
• Screenings and demonstrations
• Dissemination of knowledge, regulations, and subsidies for organic production
• Establishment of networks

We implement several projects which focus on promoting biodiversity in and around the fields. We have a particular focus on functional biodiversity, i.e., the area of nature and biodiversity that influences and creates value in production. We work at all levels from field to landscape with the aim of developing robust cultivation systems in balance with the surroundings. The background is the cycle principle of ecology, i.e., the principle of growing food in systems that protect and benefit the common environment, landscapes, climate, habitats, biodiversity, air, and water.

Current focus areas:

• Promotion of beneficial organisms with targeted measures
• Mixed cropping systems and integrated systems
• Trees/agroforestry as a climate and biodiversity tool
• The value of functional biodiversity for agricultural production
• Biodiversity checks on farms

- recycling food waste etc., biogas, residual products as feed:

In a circular economy, residual products and waste from one area of production or society are used as a resource elsewhere. Based on the ecological principles of ecology and care, the Innovation Centre for Organic Agriculture works actively to ensure that more organic residues are recycled into organic farming. Organic residues are particularly interesting resources in organic farming. Surplus food, residual products from the food industry, organic household waste, garden and park waste and other plant materials can be processed and used for feed, fertilizer and/or energy. With an expected growth in the organic area, residual products can contribute to meeting an increasing demand for nutrients in organic farming.

Current focus areas:

• Uncovering opportunities and obstacles for recycling organic waste products
• Quality and safety of recycled residual products
• Cooperation with actors that handle residual products
• Promoting access to biogas fertilizer for organic farmers
• Biorefining clover grass for 'green' protein, fertilizer and energy
• Developing self-sufficient systems
• Investigating and promoting regenerative farming

Organic animal welfare is much more than preventing disease and suffering in livestock. A holistic organic perspective on animal welfare implies that the farm animals are given the freedom to display their natural behaviour to the widest possible extent, and that the surroundings are arranged with a view to giving the animals positive experiences.

The Innovation Centre for Organic Farming is engaged in animal welfare from a development perspective, where known systems are challenged, and the boundaries of good animal welfare are pushed to benefit both the animals and organic farmers.

The background is the principle of fairness, which insists that animals must be offered conditions and life opportunities in accordance with their physiology, natural behaviour and needs.

Current focus areas:

• Keeping cows and calves together in dairy farming
• Grass-based milk production
• Welfare assessments in dairy herds
• Keel bone fractures in laying hens
• Reduced feather shedding and parasite load in egg production
• Sustainable pig production
• Silvopasture
• Welfare for grazing cattle 

A fertile and living soil is the basis for the organic farmer's production and economy and for a safe and climate-friendly food supply for current and future generations. Therefore, the Innovation Centre for Organic Agriculture develops and tests methods that preserve and improve soil fertility through carbon sequestration and building soil organic matter.

The goal is a living and robust soil which by healthy crop rotation and supply of organic matter can supply the crops with sufficient nutrients and act as a buffer in both dry and wet weather conditions. We base our work on the principles of ecology and health.

Current focus areas:

• Reduced tillage in organic agriculture
• Composting and using compost in practice
• Effective catch crops or green cover
• Regenerative farming

Food production is associated with the emission of greenhouse gases. This applies to both organic and conventional agricultural production. Both systems are associated with climatic advantages and disadvantages, and the climate impact of organic farming is broadly similar to that of conventional farming.

The Innovation Centre for Organic Agriculture is engaged in reducing the climate impact of organic agriculture in several ways. We develop and implement tools that put numbers on the climate impact of the individual farm to ensure that otherwise invisible factors contributing to the climate impact become evident for the farmer who is then able to act to reduce the impact.

Agriculture can also become more climate-friendly by producing food for humans to a greater extent than feed for livestock. We are working to ensure that protein crops for human consumption can become a successful and economically attractive branch of production for Danish organic farmers.

The same applies to perennial clover grass, which contributes positively to the climate impact calculations. Biorefining can increase the application possibilities and thus the clover grass area. This will benefit the climate and soil fertility and at the same time increase the domestic supply of quality protein for pigs and poultry. Residual products can be used as organic fertilizers for a growing plant production. The foundation for the effort is the principles of saving resources and cultivating in closed cycles.

Current focus areas:

• Plant protein for human consumption
• Climate action plans for agricultural enterprises
• Agroforestry as a cultivation system
• Biorefining of clover grass for high value protein production. Side streams and residual products for energy, fertilizer and fibre
• Biochar as a means of increasing carbon sequestration in soil

Many organic farms are facing generational change in the coming years, and at the same time, political ambitions aim at doubling the organic agricultural area and organic production by 2030. Thus, it is important that young farmers are trained for and see future opportunities in professional, organic agricultural production, and that established, conventional farmers can convert to organic farming on an informed and realistic foundation.

The Innovation Centre for Organic Agriculture supports recruitment to the profession through various offers and activities in collaboration with advisers, municipalities, organizations and educational institutions.

Current focus areas:

• Free conversion checks on conventional agriculture
• Free development checks on organic farms
• Education and courses in organic agricultural production
• Events on organic agricultural production targeted at youth