The Research Institute of Organic Agriculture FiBL is one of the world’s leading institutes in the field of organic agriculture. Its locations are situated in Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Hungary (ÖMKi), France and a representation in Brussels (Belgium) through FiBL Europe. FiBL’s strengths lie in its interdisciplinary research, innovations developed jointly with farmers and the food industry, solution-oriented development projects and rapid knowledge transfer from research into practice.
FiBL has a highly competent staff with expertise in all matters organic: soil management and plant production, species-appropriate animal husbandry and holistic animal health, socioeconomic matters, organic food processing and comprehensive analysis of the organic market.
Along with practical research, FiBL places a high priority on advisory work, training courses and providing specialist information (studies, technical leaflets, reference books, websites).
FiBL has long been committed to the international development of organic agriculture, e.g. with the umbrella organization of the organic agriculture movement IFOAM – Organics International. For research and development projects, FiBL partners with the European Union (EU), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and other national and international institutions.
FiBL facilitates the development of sustainable agriculture in Africa, Asia, Latin America and Eastern Europe in close cooperation with local partner organisations. In long-term trials, FiBL employees conduct research on local and organic farming systems, offering expertise in market development.
FiBL Switzerland has its headquarters in Frick and a team in Lausanne. It was founded in 1973 and currently employs about 300 people. It is financed, among other things, through commissioned projects from the private sector, EU research projects and support from the Swiss federal government.
FiBL Germany was founded in 2000 as a non-profit association. The head office in Frankfurt and the offices in Witzenhausen employ around 65 people. Funding comes from projects as well as contributions from foundations and members.
FiBL Austria has its headquarters in Vienna; another location is at the organic research and advisory centre "Biokompetenzzentrum Schlägl". It was founded in 2004 and acts as an interface and service point between research and practice with about 35 employees. It also plays an active role in linking all stakeholders along the organic food production chain in Austria. FiBL Austria receives project orders from both government agencies and private clients.
ÖMKi was established in 2011 to promote the improvement and more widespread implementation of organic agriculture in Hungary. ÖMKi is a non-profit organization based in Budapest and employs currently about 30 people. The principles of ÖMKi are authenticity, participation-based research, practice orientation and effective knowledge transfer.
FiBL France was launched in 2017. The team consisting of ten employees works regionally and locally with French research institutes and agricultural advisory services, in close collaboration with FiBL Switzerland.
FiBL Europe is the common institution founded in 2017 to represent the national institutes in Brussels. It serves as a single point of contact and central access to the extensive competencies of the national FiBL institutes.
