EUKI – Improving C-Balances in Organic Farms
Project description
In cooperation with research institutions in Slovenia (KIS) and Serbia (IFVC), Naturland aims to demonstrate and introduce practices that improve the humus balance of stockless organic farms. One of the key reasons for launching the project was a study indicating a loss of 0.5% of humus from arable soils in northern Serbia over the past 30 years.
Demonstration farms will showcase practices that increase soil organic matter, such as growing crops with a positive humus balance (e.g. clover, alfalfa, grain legumes, etc.), using catch crops, undersowing and intercropping, and establishing agroforestry systems.
In addition to crop production, the project will explore alternative uses for some of these crops, such as dehydrating alfalfa or using grass-clover mixtures for biogas production.
Knowledge transfer to end users will take place through field demonstrations, seminars, study visits, videos and media coverage.
Partnership
Project Coordinator: Naturland – Association for Organic Agriculture (Germany)
Project Partners:
Funding
The project is funded by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV) under the European Climate Initiative (EUKI).