H2020 CORE Organic Cofund Project: Coordination of the European Cofund of Transnational Research in Organic Food and Agricultural Systems

Fostering Transnational Research in Organic Farming The EU-funded CORE Organic Cofund project is a network of European ministries and research councils dedicated to funding research in organic agriculture and farming systems. One of the best-defined paths to sustainable agriculture and food production is organic farming. “Due to the lack of crop protection products and the use of a wider variety of crops, organic farming can improve soil health, decrease pollution, and promote biodiversity, making it a sustainable alternative of choice in food production,” explains Ivana Trkulja, CORE Organic coordinator at the International Center for Organic Food Systems Research. However, to truly reap the benefits of organic farming, it must be implemented at scale. “Along with individual organic farms, which is what we have, we need to build an organic farming ecosystem,” says Trkulja. The EU-funded CORE Organic Cofund (Coordination of European Transnational Research in Organic Food and Farming Systems Cofund) project is helping to build such an ecosystem.

A Proven Track Record Founded in 2004, CORE Organic is a network of European ministries and research councils dedicated to funding research in organic farming and food systems. “By joining forces across organizations and Member States, we can enhance support for transnational research projects that address some of the most significant challenges in the organic value chain,” adds Trkulja. Over the past 18 years, the program has launched eight transnational calls and funded 62 research projects with €61.9 million. These calls have involved researchers from all partner countries, including smaller countries and Eastern European countries. The calls have addressed agroecological topics such as animal diseases, cropping systems, mixed animal and plant production, animal feed, organic food processing, and zero-waste and circular food systems. “CORE Organic has a proven track record in developing capacity and competencies in organic research,” notes Trkulja. “Thanks to these funded projects, not only has interest in organic agriculture increased in Europe, but it is also seen as a key enabler for a sustainable, climate-resilient, and circular food system.” During CORE Organic’s co-funding phase, the network launched three transnational research calls. Following an independent call in 2016, the network collaborated with SUSFOOD2 co-funding to launch a 2019 call on sustainable and organic food systems. The integration of systems thinking, established in the 2019 call, was deepened with a 2021 call on organic farming systems for improving mixed plant-animal production.

In total, the co-financing phase involved 29 funding organizations from 21 countries/regions supporting 29 projects. Achieving the Green Deal Goals Even with over a decade and a half of success under its belt, Trkulja says CORE Organic is just the beginning. “There are still challenges that need to be addressed, especially with the European Green Deal’s ambitious goal of making 25% of EU farmland organic by 2030.” To achieve this goal, CORE Organic Pleiades, the program phase launched in September 2022 under the umbrella of the EU-funded OrganicTargets4EU project, has its full focus on understanding the implications of the Green Deal’s organic farming goals. In the meantime, CORE Organic maintains its mission to coordinate the research investments needed to facilitate greater innovation in the organic farming sector. “The CORE Organic network has provided a much-needed level of continuity,” Trkulja concludes. "This ensures that funding has a lasting impact and that the organic research community is well positioned to address current and emerging challenges."