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A main function of the Organic Studies Centre involves
conducting scientific investigation of relevance to
the producers of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, and
ensuring the effective dissemination of the results
of this work.
Publications associated with the projects described
on this page can be found on our publications
page.
Many of the Centre’s projects are part-funded
through the Objective 1 R&D fund in collaboration
with a broad range of private sector contributors.
Summaries of some of these projects can be found in our Technical Bulletins
Further details of all these projects can be obtained from the Organic Studies Centre.
Scroll down the list of projects below
(updated October 2006) to view summaries of the wide-
range of current and recent research activities. Further
details are published in our technical
bulletins
Organic spring triticale trials
Five varieties of spring triticale were grown on six
Cornish organic farms at various locations across Cornwall.
Yields, quality and management are being compared. The
crops were grown during 2006 and the results will be
available soon. This work is being funded by Organic
South West with support from Olivers Seeds.
Development of small scale organic vegetable
production
In addition to the 60 acre Coswinsawsin organic demonstration
farm, a further three acres of land, in three blocks,
is currently in-conversion at the Duchy College Rosewarne
campus. This will provide a training and research resource
suitable for small scale horticultural production. Currently,
during the conversion stage, a number of fertility building
crop scenarios are being grown: mustard and phacelia
followed by winter rye and vetch (short term), white
sweet clover (medium term) and a longer term “humus
builder” mixture of red clover, chicory and cocksfoot.
Seeds have been supplied by Cotswold Seeds. There is
an adjoining 0.5 acre organic fruit field used as a
student training resource.
Agri-environmental research
The Organic Studies Centre has secured funding from
the European Social Fund for an R & D Framework
Project to further the understanding of the impact of
agri-environmental management on farm biodiversity.
One of the main elements of funding supports knowledge
capacity building. This has enabled the OSC to recruit
animal behaviour specialist Dr Peter McGregor to the
team.
Inverterbrate surveys
For the third year in succession (2004-06), beetle populations
have been monitored at Coswinsawsin organic farm, funded
by Cornwall College Research Fund.
A compendium of animal welfare and health
The Organic Studies Centre are currently updating an
electronic compendium of animal health and welfare,
funded by Defra and in collaboration with Reading University
and Glasgow University.
The original compendium can be found at www.organic-vet.reading.ac.uk
Participatory Vegetable Trials
In 2005, the OSC co-ordinated on-farm trials in Cornwall
of lettuce and cabbage varieties, whereby crops were
grown under commercial conditions and production and
quality monitoring was conducted by the participating
farmers (reported in Technical Bulletin
9).
In 2006, the trials involved potato and leek varieties.
The trials were funded by Defra in collaboration HDRA.
Survey of organic farms in Cornwall
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This survey involved interviewing
all organic farmers in Cornwall so as to identify
the major technical constraints, production levels
and management opportunities. Started 2002, was
completed in 2003. |
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A full report is available
here
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Summary papers were presented
at the 2004 BGS/COR conference (CORBGSsurvey1.pdf
and CORBGSsurvey
2.pdf) |
Guidance on fertility building crops (DEFRA project OF0316)
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This is a joint project with
ADAS, IGER and Abacus Organic Associates started
in 2002 and completed in 2006. Duchy College acted
as the south west industry link, ensuring farmer
participation. Activities included co-ordination
of farmer validation sites, information dissemination
and facilitating one of the novel legume trial sites.
The project website is http://www.organicsoilfertility.co.uk |
Animal Health and Welfare Assessment Benchmarking (including DEFRA project OF0343)
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This project started in 2002
and was completed in 2006, in collaboration with
Bristol University using the welfare assessment
protocol developed by the veterinary department
(http://www.vetschool.bris.ac.uk/animalwelfare).
15 farms were initially assessed during 2002-03.
28 farms were assessed during 2003-04. All farmers
were interviewed post assessment. |
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A summary paper was published
in the Veterinary
Record, August 21, 2004 in Cattle Practice 11,
(4). 331 – 333 and at the 2004 BGS/COR conference. |
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The project was funded by Defra (Project OF0343),
OMSCO, Mole Valley Farmers, MilkLink, BCVA with
support from the Soil Association and Scottish Organic
Producers Association (SOPA), with matched funds
through OSC R&D budget. |
Grass mixtures suitable for Cornish
organic farms
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2004 - 07 |
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Two commercially available
grass mixtures are being compared in split fields
across seven farms over 4 years. Modern ryegrass/white
clover mixtures are being compared with a cocksfoot,
fescue, herb, chicory, clover mixture. This will
include monitoring of species composition, biodiversity
and animal behaviour. There are seven farms in Cornwall
involved in this research. The work is supported
Cotswold Seeds and OSC R&D budget |
Demonstration of organic protein
crops for livestock
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2004 and 2005 |
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Conducted on a field scale
at two commercial organic dairy farms in Cornwall,
with field size plots demonstrating peas, lupins,
triticale and millet. Agronomy and forage quality
were monitored. A demonstration event attracted
40 farmers. A follow up event to discuss nutritive
value of the crops was held in December 2004. The
results were reported in Organic Studies Centre
Technical Bulletins 5, 7,
9 |
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The trials were supported
by Soya
UK , Oliver
Seeds , Biotal
and through the OSC R&D budget. There was also
significant farmer input from Ian and Jo Comley
and David and Hazel Denning. |
Cereal variety trials click
here to download publication
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Spring organic cereal trials were conducted in
2004 and 2005 at Waylands Farm, Looe in collaboration
with The Arable Group and Organic South West, courtesy
of Geoffrey and Giles Maddever. |
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The results are summarised
in Technical Bulletins 6
and 8 and are available as full reports. |
The factors affecting the quality of organic cereals
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Surveys were conducted during 2004 and 2005, involving
73 and 41 farms respectively and 124 and 78 organic
cereal samples. Funded by Devon Grain Stores Ltd,
West Country Grain Stores Ltd, Organic South West
and OSC R&D budget. Reported in Technical
Bulletins 6 and 8. |
Demonstrating commercial production
at Coswinsawsin
Organic Demonstration Farm
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1999-ongoing. |
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The 61 acre farm is managed
commercially. The OSC has no management input to
the farm. It is part of the Elm Farm and Soil Association
farm networks. The farm is used as a resource to
demonstrate commercial production, as an event venue
and as a potential experimental site. All commercial
activities are recorded and financial data are published
by the farm manager. |
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Further details of the farm can be found on the
demonstration page and
regular updates are published in our
technical bulletin |
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Funded by Cornwall County Council and OSC. |
On-farm faecal egg monitoring of
sheep, using FECPAK
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2004-05 |
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Funded by Cornwall College
Research Support Fund, six organic sheep flocks
were monitored regularly for one year using the
FECPAK on-farm faecal egg monitoring pack. |
Potato variety monitoring
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2001-ongoing |
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Funded by Bioselect UK (2003-04),
Sarvari Research Trust (2004-05) and MBM Organic
(2001-03) |
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In 2006, the trials involved
three farms in Cornwall as part of the Defra-funded
participatory research being conducted by farmers
in collaboration with the OSC, HDRA, The Soil Association
and NIAB. |
Survey of organic combinable cereals
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2003 |
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Interviews with organic
farmers and analyses of samples of organic cereals
were conducted by Treza Knight, a Duchy College
student on placement, provided detailed information
on cereal production in Cornwall. |
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Funded by Cornwall College
Research Support Fund |
Observations on sweet clover
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2004 - 05 |
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Sweet clover performed well in novel legume trials. This crop is now being grown as a fertility building crop on two commercial farms and under experimental conditions at IGER North Wyke Research Station. Observations being made on agronomy and management. IGER are managing replicated plots examining frequency of cutting. Fodder potential is also being monitored. A national survey is planned. |
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Supported by Cotswold Seeds, IGER and OSC R&D budget |
Cauliflower variety monitoring
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2000 -ongoing |
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Annual monitoring of commercial organic cauliflower varieties, this is linked to long-term Duchy College conventional trials programme. |
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The Duchy College cauliflower research programme can be viewed at http://www.cornwall.ac.uk/research/herring/ |
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Funded by OSC R&D budget |
Invertebrate studies on Coswinsawsin Farm
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2004 |
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A 6 week study to monitor and to set up a longitudinal monitoring protocol for invertebrate populations on Coswinsawsin Farm was completed by Pete Maycock. A full report will be available soon. |
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Funded by Cornwall College Research Support Fund and OSC R&D budget. |
Small mammal populations on Coswinsawsin Farm
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1999-ongoing. |
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Long term monitoring of small mammal populations during and post-conversion. |
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Results from the first two years of monitoring have been published. |
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Funded by Cornwall College Research Support Fund and supported by Cornwall Wildlife Trust volunteers. |
Wild bird populations on Coswinsawsin Farm
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2000-ongoing. |
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Long term monitoring of wild bird populations on Coswinsawsin Farm a summary report was published in August 2004 Technical Bulletin. |
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Supported by local ornithologist volunteers. |
Green waste composting click
here to download publication
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2001-02 |
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A one year pilot green waste composting project at Coswinsawsin Farm to investigate opportunities and challenges in the development of on-farm composting. |
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Funded by County Environmental Trust Ltd and Kerrier District Council. |
Garlic for cabbage root fly control
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2002 |
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The use of a garlic based product was tested on cauliflowers at Coswinsawsin. |
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Funded by Garlic Farms Ltd. |
Organic table-bird production 2002
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A study of four commercial organic table-bird production, using recorded measurements, provided unique estimates of mortality, growth and feed-conversion parameters, as well as management factors. |
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A paper has been published
in the proceedings of the 2nd SAFO workshop, Germany. |
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Supported by Lloyd Maunders Ltd. |
Organic lupin production
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2002 |
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Seven lupin varieties were grown as demonstration plots at Coswinsawsin |
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Supported by Goreham and Bateson Ltd |
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