Economics, Marketing and Policy

Projects

The bracketed names after the title are funding bodies, the italicised organisations are collaborators.

Sustainable Organic Vegetable Systems Network (DEFRA funded)

This project monitors the performance of vegetable rotations and new developments and innovations within the context of whole farm systems. It identifies the agronomic, financial and management factors which contribute towards sustainable organic vegetable systems, and disseminates good practice techniques to other growers.
This project started on 1st June 2003 and will initially run for 3 years.
It is an IOR (Initiative on Organic Research) project led by HDRA in collaboration with Elm Farm Research Centre (EFRC) and Horticulture Research International (HRI). It has a total budget of £280,000.
>> Click here for details of the new project
Conversion to organic field vegetable production (DEFRA)

Monitoring agronomic and economic performance during the conversion of a 13ha unit at HRI Wellesbourne and nine reference farms. The farms included in the study represent different scenarios of conversion, soil types and geographic locations.
Project leader: HDRA , Collaborators: HRI Wellesbourne & Kirton; Organic Advisory Service EFRC; University of Wales, Aberystwyth.
>> Click here for further details
Study of the Market for Organic Vegetables (DEFRA funded)

This ongoing project aims to quantify the balance between demand and UK supply for a wide range of organic vegetables which can be grown in the UK.
Project leader: HDRA, Collaborators: Soil Association, Elm Farm Research Centre, Institute of Rural Studies, Aberystwyth.

>> Click here further details
>> Click here for initial results from the study (PDF 47Kb)
Economics of organic farming (DEFRA)

Investigating the economics of organic farming, through a study of 72 farms over 3 years, started in December 2002. HDRA's role is to collect and analyse data from 12 horticultural units.
Project leader: University of Wales, Aberystwyth
>> Click here for details of the new project
>> Click here for the final project report from 1998/99 (PDF 56Kb)

Paper on the Use of Gross and Net Margins in the Economic Analysis of Organic Farms.
This paper reviews the effectiveness of these management techniques when assessing the economic performance of organic farms.
>> Click here for a link to COR Conference proceedings (PDF)
EU Rotate N (EU funded)

This four year project develops a model based decision support system to optimise nitrogen use in Horticultural Rotations. HDRA leads the economic workpackage of the project and has a soil science input as well.
Project leader: HRI Wellesbourne. HDRA is among nine other EU participants.
>> Click here for further details
Organic fruit production: a review of current practice and knowledge (DEFRA)

The aim of this study is to provide information on best practice techniques for established organic fruit growers and growers considering conversion to organic fruit production.
Project leader: Soil Association & Organic Advisory Service EFRC
>> Click here for further details
Economics of organic fruit production (DEFRA)

One year study investigating the market for organic fruit and the economics of growing and converting to organic top and soft fruit production systems.
Project leader: WIRS University of Wales, Aberystwyth
>> Click here for further details

Contact members of the conversion and economics team:

Chris Firth is responsible for overseeing projects and other work undertaken by the conversion, economics and marketing team. He also completed the above study on the economics of organic fruit production.
Ulrich Schmutz also works in HDRA’s economic team and are involved in most of the projects.
Becky Turner is responsible for managing the field and research work at the Hunts Mill site as part of the conversion to organic field vegetable production project.
Phil Sumption is responsible for the monitoring the agronomic performance of reference farms undergoing conversion to organic field vegetable production project.
Francis Rayns and Gareth Davies also work on aspects of the conversion project. Anton Rosenfeld on the agronomics of the Sustainable Organic Vegetable Network project.

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