Legumes are the "power-plants" of organic systems. They "manufacture" nitrogen with minimum energy and greenhouse-gas use. They build soil fertility and can be processed into biogas, creating thermal heat and electricity. © Garden Organic, US
Legumes are the "power-plants" of organic systems. They "manufacture" nitrogen with minimum energy and greenhouse-gas use. They build soil fertility and can be processed into biogas, creating thermal heat and electricity. © Garden Organic, US


Local biogas processing plant creating thermal heat and electricity from biomass, e.g. from 2-year grass clover leys. © Garden Organic, US
Local biogas processing plant creating thermal heat and electricity from biomass, e.g. from 2-year grass clover leys. © Garden Organic, US


With ample roof space for solar electricity panels, farms can become net-energy producers. © Garden Organic, US
With ample roof space for solar electricity panels, farms can become net-energy producers. © Garden Organic, US


Efficient water use like drip irrigation can reduce the environmental footprint of horticulture across Europe. © Garden Organic, US
Efficient water use like drip irrigation can reduce the environmental footprint of horticulture across Europe. © Garden Organic, US


Environmental economics

Environmental Economics of Organic Horticulture

Within this area of research we are studying the environmental impacts of organic farms and are looking at the wider economic, environmental and sustainability issues of organic farming systems - beyond the farm gate.
The research we are interested is how to quantify and qualify the environmental impacts of organic horticulture?
Can organic horticulture protect river catchments more effectively from pollution with nitrogen or phosphorus?
Can certain organic management practices be introduced into conventional farming and make it more environmentally friendly - at what costs and benefits?
How to quantify sustainability indicators e.g. by "green accounting" on a farm level or modelling their impact on a local, national or European scale?
These are some of the questions we are interested in our research. As these are best tackled by inter- and trans-disciplinary research, we are actively collaborating, with other research institutes and universities both in the UK and across Europe.

For sharing new ideas and developing further research projects, please do not hesitate to contact us. (Ulrich Schmutz)


Current projects in this area


EU-Rotate_N
Together with Garden Organic’s soil science team and the University of Warwick (Warwick HRI) as lead investigator, a model based decision support system is being developed to optimise nitrogen use and minimise water pollution.
For more details, follow this link:
EU-Rotate_N

The Use of Indicators to Assess the Sustainability of Farms Converting to Organic Production
Within this project a set of indicators for evaluating farm level sustainability were devised.
For more details, follow this link:
The Use of Indicators to Assess the Sustainability

Sustainability analysis in organic vegetable systems
Agronomic and economic sustainability are assessed within Garden Organic’s "Sustainable Organic Vegetable Systems Network project". It includes sustainability at the rotational level, and farm level.
For more details, follow this link:
Sustainable Organic Vegetable Systems Network


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