What is The Organic Research Centre - Elm Farm?
The Organic Research Centre is a registered charity, formally known as the Progressive Farming Trust Ltd., whose business is to develop and support sustainable land-use, agriculture and food systems, primarily within local economies, which build on organic/agro-ecological principles to ensure the health and well-being of soil, plant, animal, people and our environment.
The Organic Research Centre was established in 1980 as a "Centre of Excellence" to address the major issues raised by a resource hungry global economy based on an intensive agricultural system.
We believe we can develop a genuinely sustainable, equitable and healthy food system based on production methods that husband finite resources and enhance biodiversity. More...
The Centre is the UK's leading independent research, development and advisory institution for organic agriculture, having played a pivotal role in the development of organic research, policy and standards since 1980. More...
We research, develop, provide and demonstrate solutions and to investigate appropriate technologies for the production, processing, distribution and marketing of food. More...
We disseminate information through advisory services, training and courses, website, articles and policy papers, scientific papers and publications and the production of a regular journal - the Bulletin. More...
The organisation is based on Elm Farm, a 94 hectare (240 acre), fully converted farm and on a second site at Wakelyns Agroforestry in Suffolk, and works through a participatory network of established organic farms and other businesses. More...
The Organic Research Centre produces a number of publications throughout the year, including the Bulletin and The Organic Farm Management Handbook. More...
The Progressive Farming Trust Ltd. is governed by a Council of Management. More...
To mark our 30th anniversary, a special 100th issue of the ORC bulletin and a ‘colour supplement’ outlining our development and future aspirations and providing a photographic history of ORC have been produced.