Organic Farming Innovations Network Europe (OH-FINE)

Connecting farmers, knowledge and innovation across European organic farming

OH-FINE brings together 18 scientific and agricultural organisations to create a pan-European organic farming learning community. It includes established organic farmers, farmers undergoing conversion and farmers considering organic production. Teagasc is one of five Regional Knowledge Hubs (RKH) case-study countries, with more than 100 case-study farms participating across the project.

Map of Europe highlighting countries involved in organic farming learning community, with icons indicating 5 sub-networks and 6 case studies across Ireland, Belgium, Lithuania, Poland, Switzerland, Austria, Bulgaria, Spain, and Italy.

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Starting with farmers’ needs

OH-FINE recognises farmers need access to trusted people, practical demonstrations, locally relevant solutions and continuing support as their businesses evolve. The experiences of 20 Irish case-study farms contribute to research examining knowledge needs, the functioning of the Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation System (AKIS) and factors that help or hinder farmers in accessing and applying knowledge. This evidence is then used to help shape the project’s knowledge exchange activities rather than assuming that information developed by researchers will automatically translate into practice. Teagasc also leads research on the impact of knowledge interventions and engagement with the organic AKIS; this means OH-FINE is not only asking what information farmers need, but also whether the ways in which that information is provided actually helps farmers to make and sustain changes.

Learning across Europe

Cross-visits are a central element of OH-FINE. Farmers, advisers and researchers visit organic farms and research facilities in participating countries, providing opportunities to compare farming systems, discuss practical problems directly with other farmers and bring potentially useful innovations home.These activities form part of a broader programme incorporating workshops, training, field demonstrations, advisory support and networking.

Co-designing solutions on farms

OH-FINE is conducting practical field trials co-designed by farmers, advisers and researchers. Irish crop trials are being undertaken in collaboration with the Organic Tillage and Vegetables (OTV) European Innovation Partnership (EIP), illustrating an emphasis on connecting existing initiatives rather than duplicating research.

The current OH-FINE/OTV trials examine:

pea-bean intercropping, examining seed-rate ratios and their effects on yield, protein content, standability and weed competition
low-disturbance establishment of multi-species swards
organic maize, examining seed depth, weeding timing and machinery approaches

From knowledge to action

OH-FINE is also developing an Organic Farming Learning Community, supported by the regional knowledge hubs and a European online platform. The platform brings together videos, technical information, factsheets and decision-support resources, while face-to-face activities retain the farmer-to-farmer and adviser-to-farmer interaction that is critical for practice change. For general information on organics in each of the five OH-FINE Regional Knowledge Hubs, please search the OH-FINE Organic Compass.

OH-FINE actively collaborates with Irish organic initiatives such as the organic flagship project GROFarmS, OTV EIP, Growing Organics Demonstration Farm programme, EU ENFASYS.