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International workshop on the comparison of organic and conventional agricultural cropping systems


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Ascona, Switzerland

[Translate to Englisch:] Wiese mit blühendem Salbei, Klappertopf und anderem

[Translate to Englisch:] Zu vielen Bioprodukten gibt es eine gute Geschichte. Es gilt, die positiven Nebeneffekte der biologischen, regionalen Produktion herauszustellen. (Foto: FiBL, Lukas Pfiffner)

What can be learned from the DOK and other long-term trials? These and other questions will be discussed during a workshop from 6 to 10 October 2019 on Monte Verità in Ascona, Switzerland. Researchers from FiBL and other organisations want to show the potential of long-term experiments with regard to the sustainability of agricultural systems.

The event will be organized by FiBL, Agroscope, ETH Zurich and Demaria Event Management.

A sufficient agricultural production in a sustainable way is one of the main global and regional challenges in the future. Limited cropland, climate change, loss of soil quality and biodiversity coupled with excessive use of non-renewable resources require new solutions for future cropping systems beyond existing management practices.

Long-term experiments are unique research platforms to shed light on the performance of cropping systems and their impact on ecosystem services. Comparisons of organic and conventional systems in long-term field experiments provide essential information on biomass productivity, nutrient cycling, climate regulation and biodiversity conservation. The DOK (biodynamic, bio-organic, conventional) field experiment in Switzerland has now been running for forty years and has provided a wealth of data.

This conference aims to bring together scientists who have been researching the functioning of agricultural systems and underlying processes in the DOK and other field experiments worldwide. During sessions and workshops, all this knowledge will be compiled and synthesized. A discussion aims to reveal the potential and limitations of long-term experiments to answer questions on the sustainability of agricultural systems. Moreover, future research questions for long-term experiments will be formulated. The workshop will be rounded off with an excursion to the DOK trial.

Further key dates

  • 07 June 2019: Notification of abstract acceptance
  • 07 July 2019: End of registration at a reduced rate
  • 08 September 2019: End of registration

Further information

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