DCG Round Tables Summary

DCG Round Tables Summary from round tables – Slovenia – Hungary – Poland – Estonia – Czech Republic Overview on the most common problems in DCG Summary of important solutions

Slovenia The most important problems: – Information about organic seed are missing. – Unsufficient connection between science and practice. – Need of improvement of advisory services. Proposal of solutions: – Make the information about organic seed more clear. – Create better connection between science and praxis. – Better transfer of know how from advisors.

Slovenia Proposals of solutions - Slovenianoticed% Better information service in organic farming 133,33 Better connection between science and practice 133,33 Improvement of advisory services133,33

Hungary The most important problems: – Farmers: Researchers language is not easy to understand, general presentations do not answer practical problems Ministry‘s courses too generic, do not differentiate between different knowledge of participants – Researchers: not motivated for connection with farmers, these efforts not acknowledged, not enough communication among organisations in organic farming – General: Weak information base. Projects‘ effect is temporally, results not used after Lack of government support, lack of coordination among organisations in ecological farming

Hungary Proposal of solutions: Active contribution of farmers and researchers to communication (two-way connections), lectures and practical demonstrations, discussing practical problems, share farmers knowledge and experiences Improvement of information base, knowledge data base. Long term models based on contribution of all participants Harmonize activities of organisations of ecological farming Government support Shortening of supply chain – enforce local connections: personal connections increasing trust, link to local community, nursery, school Education of children based on 4H (head, hand, heart, health).

Hungary Proposals of solutions - Hungarynoticed% Better information service in organic farming 125 Long term models of communication based on active contribution of farmers and researchers 125 Develop local connections – increase trust of users, partners 125 Harmonize activities of organisations in organic farming, government support 125

Poland Problems: From farmer point of view: Improvement of sale possibilities. Simplify legislation for on farm processing. From trader point of view: Better advertisment. Continuity of goods supply.

Poland Problems: From the point of view of certification body: Fulfillment of law conditions. Labeling of products. From the point of view of consumer: More „meat“ products. Better availability.

Poland Proposals of solutions - Polandnoticed% Improvement of advertisment225 Increase of sales225 Changes in legislation225 Continuity of goods supply112,5 Products labeling112,5

Estonia Main problems: (Roundtable 1) –Research is very limited - in some areas there are no professional scientists (organic processing and marketing) –Better dissemination of results of new research studies (uploading to the website, writing articles to local newspapers etc) –Scientists should work more intensively with lead-journalists and disseminate information in media actively –Poor development of organic farming technologies in Estonia –Lack of education in environmental problems (e.g. pollution of Baltic sea, problems of large scale production, pesticides use and food quality).

Estonia Proposals for solutions: (Roundtable 1) -Scientist should have information/feedback from practitioners about problems needed to be solved. -Funding for problem-solving projects should be created. -There is a need to do more on farm research. -Farmers should share their new knowledge and good practice with other farmers and scientists. -Small farmers should collaborate and find together solutions to their problems. -It is important to promote mixed farming, but practical guidelines are missing. -Stronger education on environmental problems (e.g. pollution of Baltic sea, problems of large scale production, pesticides use and food quality).

Main problems in organic animal husbandry (Roundtable 2) -Protein and mineral fodders – availability, possible local sources and suitable mixtures -Feeding of young lambs – availability of mother milk substitutes (e.g. milk powder) -Animal welfare and disease prevention -Lack of organic milk and meat processing -Need for product development -High production price, small market -Not enough scientific research in organic animal husbandry and processing - many specific problems not addressed. Estonia

Gaps in knowledge transfer (Roundtable 2) -Lack of interest from scientific community in organic animal husbandry topics -Not enough knowledge (applied research) to transfer -No specific training programs for farmers, only separate seminars/trainings on different topics -No curricula of organic farming in vocational and higher education -Not enough foreign scientific study results translated and presented in Estonian -No advisors in some areas (poultry, pigs, rabbits, small-scale processing). Estonia

Conclusions/solutions (Roundtable 2) -Make good use of European Innovation Partnership (organic EIP), Horizon 2020 and other sources for research and dissemination -Organic processing needs to be developed, so organic products are more available to consumers -Scientific evidence needed why to prefer organic food. Estonia

Proposals of solutions - Estonianoticed% Use of new technologies311,5 Improvement of information services311,5 Improvement of advertisement27,8 Improvement of research and better connection between science and practice 623,1 Better cooperation between small farms (less competitive approach)27,8 Diminish environmental problems - pollution of Baltic Sea (pesticides etc.)27,8

Estonia Proposals of solutions - Estonianoticed% Elaboration of guidelines for mixed production13,8 Increase of availability and possible local sources for mineral & protein fodders and mother milk substitutes for animals311,5 Development of animal welfare13,8 Development of organic milk and meat processing13,8 Diminish prices and increase market13,8 Increase fundings for research13,8

Czech Republic Description of the situation: – Processor/producer communicates with the consumer through the trader. If the processor/producer uses direct marketing – uses also direct communication with consumer. – Lack of communication between science and practice. Large companies have own research – protection of know how, competition,…

Czech Republic Description of the situation - farmers: – Fresh products – very often direct communication with consumer. – Products are sold to the processor – communication with consumer is indirect (through traders). – Farmers want to invite consumers to the farms. – Farmers communicate very intensively with processors because of the price of the products. – Lack of cooperation with scientists (low interest for information – scientific texts are too difficult, mainly subsidies are important).

Czech Republic Description of the situation - scientists: – With producers – cooperate if it´s needed for research. Large producers don´t want to cooperate. – With farmers – quite often contact is initiated by the scientist. Advisors should be a connection link. – With consumers – mainly during some research actvities (in other cases very rarely).

Czech Republic Description of the situation - consumers: – With processors - no communication (no reason), exception is if the processor is also a trader. – With farmers - sometimes, during direct marketing communication is very intensive. – Some consumers communicate with scientist, mainly through media.

Czech Republic Description of the situation - general: – A lot of farmers are active only becouse of subsidy (they don´t need any informations). – Small part of consumers are active (they are looking for information). The bigest part is passive (they accept informations, but don´t search for them). – Producers and traders generally don´t want to communicate because of lack of confidence.

Solutions – Czech Republic – Key role should be played by advisory services. They should create the professional connection link. – Advisors should popularise the information from science (scientists don´t have enought time and support from employers).

Czech RepublicNoticed% Improvement of communication637,4 Connection between science and practice318,7 Improvement of sale possibilities212,5 Improvement of advertisment212,5 Take care about continuity of goods supply 16,3 Improvement of advisory services16,3 Use of new technologies16,3 Czech Republic

Bulgaria Problems: - Lack of good relation between processors and farmers - Branch organizations not active - Expensive Bulgarian organic products - Misleading labeling.

Bulgaria Selected problems to find solutions: - Lack of knowledge of shop assistance ‘’What is organic” - Lack of trust in ‚Organic’ in the society.

Bulgaria Lack of knowledge of shop assistants ‘’What is organic”: Solutions - Training materials - Who will develop? How to present them? Financing? - Webinars - Who will develop? Financing? - Trainings for shop assistants. Questions without answer: - Who is responsible for the knowledge of the shops assistants? Owners, shop managers or assistants themselves?

Bulgaria Lack of trust in ‚Organic’ solutions in the society: - National advertisement campaign - Work with “Ambassodors” – e.g. TV culinary broadcasts with organic food - Common work with other organizations – pediatric, homeopathic, holistic - Presentations at other forums, organized by other organizations “what is organic”.

Bulgaria Lack of trust in ‚Organic’ solutions in the socjety: - Work with farmers’ markets - Work with children - New internet pages – present websites don’t work well - Work with Food coop to raise awareness what is ‚Organic’.

Bulgaria Noticed% Increase of sales428,7 Lack of informations about organic farming321,6 Small area and turnover17,1 Improvement of advertisement17,1 Communication between farmers and scientists17,1 Improvement of advisory services17,1 Product labbeling17,1 Lack of trust in organic certification17,1 Lack of trust for farmers17,1

The most common problems in evaluated countries CommonNoticed% Improvement of communication between scientists and farmers1013,3 Lack of informations about organic farming810,7 Connection between science and practice810,7 Improvement of sale possibilities810,7 Improvement of advertisment79,3 Improvement of advisory services56,7 Need for new technologies45,4 Low availability of protein & mineral fodders and mother milk substitutes for animals34,2 Need for changes in legislation34,1 Need for continuity of goods supply22,7 Improvement of research, active sharing of results 22,7 Product labeling22,7

CommonNoticed% Lack of communication with younger people (14 and less) 11,4 Problems of small farms – competitivness11,4 Cooperation of small farmers11,4 Environmental problems - pollution of Baltic Sea11,4 Environmental problems - pesticides11,4 Missing guidelines for mixed production11,4 Animal welfare11,4 Lack of organic milk and meat processing11,4 High production price, small market11,4 Fundings for research11,4 Small area and turnover11,4 Lack of trust in organic certification11,4 The most common problems in evaluated countries

The most common problems in evaluated DCG countries Insufficient communication between science and praxis (farmers don´t use the possibilities enough, in some countries the Internet use is low among the farmers, advisory service is too scarce and too general) Complicated and restrictive legal regulations as well as beaurocracy are limiting the initiative of the farmers, processors and traders Low level of ecological awareness among the consumers - difficult sell of the organic products, especially animal ones Shortage in advertisement, new technologies and marketing possibilities The presence of pesticide residues in organic crops is a problem (environmental reasons, fraud, low understanding of the farm practices, sometimes the control & certification system not fully strict) Research in organic sector is very limited – lack of understanding among the funding bodies - low financing.

Proposed solutions To improve radically the advisory system into more specialistic and individual To increase the knowledge and awareness of the farm workers To organize practical seminars, workshops and trainings (incl. Internet use), farm visits, updated websites, fairs To influence policy makers via representatives of the organic organisations To encourage the businessmen to establish new comopanies within organic sector To provide more funds for research in organic sector To make the control of the organic farmers more strict To simplify the legal regulations and to diminish beaurocracy To publish articles in newspapers and magazines and to print brochures.

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