PROGRESSIVE FARMING TRUST LTD LBG

Their core work

The Organic Research Centre (ORC) is the UK's leading independent research body dedicated to organic and agroecological farming systems. They conduct applied research on crop diversification, livestock sustainability, organic seed and plant breeding, and agroforestry — translating scientific findings into practical guidance for farmers. Their work bridges the gap between academic research and on-farm practice through participatory methods, knowledge networks, and farmer-facing tools. They are particularly strong in embedding crop diversity and sustainable input alternatives into European food systems.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In their earlier H2020 work (2015–2018), ORC focused on livestock sustainability (sheep and goats via iSAGE), cereal diversity, and building organic knowledge networks — essentially strengthening the foundations of organic and low-input farming across Europe. From 2018 onward, their focus shifted toward more systemic and transdisciplinary approaches: agroforestry, phasing out contentious inputs (copper alternatives, peat and plastic substitutes), intercropping design, and participatory tools like citizen juries and location-based serious games. The trajectory shows a move from sector-specific organic research toward integrated agroecological systems design with stronger farmer and citizen engagement methods.

ORC is moving toward integrated agroecological systems (agroforestry + mixed farming) with increasingly sophisticated participatory and transdisciplinary methods, positioning them for future work on agricultural transition pathways.

How they like to work

ORC operates exclusively as a consortium partner — across all 11 H2020 projects they have never coordinated, which suggests they position themselves as a trusted knowledge contributor rather than a project leader. With 223 unique partners across 29 countries, they have built an exceptionally wide European network for an SME-sized research centre. This breadth means they bring a rich web of existing relationships to any new consortium, making them a valuable connector in the organic and agroecological research community.

ORC has collaborated with 223 unique partners across 29 countries, giving them one of the broadest networks in European organic farming research. Their connections span virtually all EU member states plus associated countries, with particularly strong ties to Western and Northern European agricultural research institutions.

What sets them apart

ORC is one of very few independent, SME-scale research centres in Europe focused entirely on organic and agroecological farming — most organic research sits within larger university departments. Their combination of deep organic farming expertise with strong participatory research methods means they can both generate scientific evidence and translate it into farmer-usable knowledge. For consortium builders, they offer a rare UK-based partner with pan-European reach (223 partners, 29 countries) and credibility in both research and practitioner communities.

Highlights from their portfolio

• iSAGE
  Their largest H2020 project (EUR 705K) and most comprehensive scope — covering sheep and goat sustainability from breeding programs and climate adaptation to consumer trends and socio-economic analysis.
• AGROMIX
  Their most recent project (2020–2024) and a signal of their future direction — combines agroforestry with mixed farming using innovative participatory tools like location-based serious games and GHG emissions accounting.
• Organic-PLUS
  Directly addresses the contentious-inputs challenge in organic agriculture (copper alternatives, peat and plastic substitutes), a politically sensitive and commercially important topic for the organic sector's credibility.