A new RELACS video explores the work and research currently pursued in the Rose Valley in Bulgaria. Organic farmers are researching replacements of traditional copper Plant Protection Products (PPP) sometimes used in organic farming. What is the issue? Both rust on the rose and black leaf spots are economically important diseases in the oil bearing
The RELACS project recently released two new scientific papers on promising plant and animal protection methods and strategies for reducing the use of disputed external inputs. Treating powdery mildew in cucumber production with tagatose Powdery mildew fungi (Ascomycota phylum) is a persistent threat to cucumber production in soilless systems, requiring application of a lot of
The RELACS project just released two new practice abstracts on promising alternatives to fertilisers suitable for organic farming. Struvite as alternative to phosphorus All crops need phosphorus (P) to grow, but only a few P sources are permitted in organic farming. Rock phosphate is one of them, but because it comes from non-renewable sources and
The EUREKA project launched a survey to collect information on how multi-actor projects (MAPs) perform impact assessments and evaluation. The aim of EUREKA is to help ensure the longer-term and wider use of the practical knowledge and innovative solutions generated by farmers, foresters and other rural businesses in Horizon 2020 multi-actor projects. Lots of valuable
Do you know mastitis (inflammation of the udder) is one of the main reasons for antibiotic treatments on European organic farms? But frequent antibiotic use causes resistant micro-organisms. Using antibiotics is strictly restricted in organic farming and organic farmers instead implement a systemic approach to control and prevent disease. They seek to strengthen the animals’
The RELACS project recently published three new practice abstracts (practical guidelines) on: Vitamin B2 supplementation for laying and parent hens in organic poultry systems Recommendations for vitamin B2 supplements in organic slow-growing broilers Copper reduction strategies in viticulture These practical guidelines targeted to farmers and farm advisors were developed by RELACS project coordinator, the Research
The RELACS project recently published two new scientific publications on promising plant protection tools and strategies to further reduce the use of external and contentious inputs, namely mineral oil and copper. Under exceptional conditions and against specific pests, like whiteflies (one of the most harmful insect pests in greenhouses worldwide), mineral oil is occasionally used
Are you an organic farmer, plant protection or animal welfare expert? Or are you working for an organisation focusing on these topics? Then take part in the “Policy tools and initiatives for the reduction of contentious inputs in organic farming” survey to provide detailed information on policy initiatives to reduce the use of contentious inputs
RELACS just released a new project video on replacing copper in plant protection products in organic viticulture. In the organic vineyard inherited from his grandfather, vintner and owner Márton Ruppert has been cultivating Blue Frankish grapes since 2016. Over the past two years, Márton has been using tagatose to replace copper in the framework of
In their commercial vineyard in Frick, Switzerland, FiBL carried out 16 treatments of new plant protection products against mildew in organic viticulture. Three of the tested products used copper, the remaining 13 were replaced by pilot products, one of them based on larch extract. To evaluate their effectiveness, FiBL interviewed managing vintner Andreas Tuchschmid who
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