Research

Organic wild collection is regulated by Regulation (EU) 2018/848 on organic production and is an indispensable economic pillar in many regions around the world. Yet, there is currently no monitoring of the distribution and relevance of organic wild collection in Austria. This is problematic, because related opportunities along the value chains are not adequately exploited and challenges not adequately addressed. In this project, we aim to raise awareness of organic wild collection in Austria and highlight its potential. Our specific objectives are i) to map the status quo of organic wild collection in Austria, ii) to understand the challenges and success factors of organic wild collection and possible synergies with measures for agricultural extensification, renaturation, nature conservation and tourism, and iii) to identify local visions and possible transformation pathways for organic wild collection. The project is divided into three stages. In the first stage, in order to map the status quo of organic wild collection in Austria, data from organic control and certification bodies are analysed and these findings are supplemented by telephone interviews with approximately 80 randomly selected producers of organic wild collection products. In the second stage, the challenges and success factors of approximately 15 national and international pioneer producers in organic wild collection are analysed and potential synergies between wild collection, nature conservation and tourism identified. In the third stage, Delphi surveys and workshops are held in three high-potential regions with representatives of interest groups, authorities and civil society in order to test the transferability of the potential identified in the second project stage. This project is new in all aspects, as it is the first time in Austria that organic wild collection is examined in terms of its development, synergies and potential in a comprehensive and up-to-date manner.

The main objective of this project is to continue expertise in chickpea cultivation in Austria. With 381 ha (as of 2023, AMA evaluation), chickpea cultivation in Austria is still considered a niche crop. A lack of knowledge about cultivation methods and variety selection makes it difficult for farmers to successfully cultivate chickpeas. However, changes in climatic conditions and increasingly frequent extreme weather events such as droughts and heat waves require local agriculture to adapt. Chickpeas, which are considered drought-tolerant and heat-stable, can make an important contribution as a native protein crop. The aim of this project is therefore to identify cultivation potential, particularly for arid areas, which should result in cultivation and variety recommendations for practicing agriculture. An experiment with different chickpea varieties and inoculants is being conducted on the organic fields of BOKU University in Marchfeld with the aim of gaining insights into the nitrogen fixation performance and water use efficiency of chickpeas. These findings could be of great importance for organic farming in particular, as the lack of readily available synthetic fertilizers requires coordinated and balanced crop rotation processes, especially in organic farming.

The proposed project "Initiative of Fostering cross-border knowledge exchange and co-creation on sustainable soil and farm management (Soil-X-Change)" will help to connect farmers, actors, policy makers, projects, and initiatives to speed up innovation and promote faster, wider co-creation and transposition of innovative solutions into practice. It will contribute to effective AKIS by intensifying thematic cooperation between researchers, farmers, and other stakeholders in the EU. Soil-X-Change will also contribute to the green transition, smart agriculture, climate-neutrality, and sustainability areas, as well as enhancing and exchanging the knowledge of the main actors. Soil-X-Change, initiated by EIP-AGRI Operational Group practitioners (OGs), reflects the needs of 151 direct partners. It will collect, combine, harmonise, analyse and integrate the results and data product developed by the different EIP-AGRI OGs and the project partners. Soil-X-Change will disseminate and share innovative practices across 9 member countries. Furthermore, the Soil-X-Change project will bring together EIP OGs and key stakeholders working on sustainable soil and farm management to create an EU-wide network, share knowledge, and introduce ready-to-use practices that will enable farmers to make the right decisions related to agricultural production practices. At the end of the project the extended knowledge and innovative ideas of member and non-member OGs will widen the scope of their activities and showcasing their result to an increased number of stakeholders and farmers in an international environment and network across EU countries. Soil-X-Change will use a bottom-up approach (farmers to OGs) and will reinforce and share practical knowledge using the main dissemination channels suitable for farmers and practitioners.