Organic Farming in Austria 2002 - Organic Europe

Austriahttp://www.organic-europe.net/country_reports/austria/2002/TMPf3vu4j4i61.aspPage 13 of 1604.05.2009Advisors of the Ernte-Verband specialising in viticulture, fruit-growing,vegetable gardening or pig production often work in several provinces.Small associations like Erde & Saat, Kopra, Freiland, Orbi, Dinatur andHofmarke do not have sufficient financial resources to employ advisors.Therefore, the associations’ secretaries or experienced farmers usuallyprovide advisory services. This work is often done on an honorarybasis.Farmers are also organised into regional and specialised workinggroups. Periodical meetings offer them the opportunity to discussproblems and exchange knowledge and experience. The average sizeof these groups is ten to thirty members. Meetings take place three tofour times per year.top of pageTable: Number of Advisors Affiliated With the Ernte-Verband, theDemeter-Bund and Official BodiesProvinces /AssociationsErnte-VerbandOfficial Bodies(Chamber ofAgriculture)DemeterBurgenland1 advisorLowerAustriaUpperAustria2 advisors 1 advisor1 advisorSalzburg 1 advisor 1 head of organicagriculture section5 advisorsTyrol1 secretary (Ernte-Verband)1 co-ordinatortop of pageVorarlberg 1 advisor 1 head of organicagriculture sectionStyria1 head of organic agriculture section6 advisorsCarinthia1 co-ordinator1 advisor1 advisorAustria 1advisor(Source: Groess, 2000)13 Research Situation13.1 University Institutes13.2 Private Research Institutes and NGOstop of page13.3 Federal Research InstitutesA slow but gradual increase in research on organic farming has takenplace at the university level since 1992. A central institution for researchon organic farming is the Institute for Organic Farming at the Universityof Agricultural Sciences in Vienna. (For addresses see addressdatabase).13.1 University Institutes• Institute for Organic Farming, University of Vienna