Organic farmers' experiments and innovations: a debate

摘要

Farming activities demand continuous modifications and adaptations of practices to fit changing agro-ecological and socioeconomic conditions. Experimentation has always been part of farming. Farmers hold detailed and valuable knowledge about their environments, they experiment actively and have their own research tradition. As the organic farming system has been developed mainly by farmers themselves, there is a considerable experimental potential within the organic movement leading to significant innovations. To understand the motives, topics, methods and results of organic farmers' experiments and to identify the factors influencing the experimental process is an important contribution for a better understanding and support of the organic farmingmovement.