On September 21, 2010 the Network for Practical Research in Organic Farming (VÖP) was founded by four German organizations: the organic producers organisations Bioland and Naturland, the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL Germany), and the Foundation for Ecology and Farming (SÖL) in Frankenhausen at the University of Kassel research station.
The network was formed to unite the activities of the four organisations in the areas of research and development, knowledge transfer, and education in order for farmers, advisors, and scientists to collectively develop organic agriculture further.