The research interests of SOAR cover a wide range of subjects within organic agriculture and food systems:

• Farming system research
• Crop production
• Resource management
• Ecosystem services
• Climate change mitigation and adaptation
• Livestock production
• Animal health and welfare
• Consumer and citizens’ involvement
• Regulations and policies
• Food chains
• Food sovereignty

Previous SOAR documents:

Annual reports...

Co-operation agreement...

The text below is an excerpt from the collaboration agreement about the role of the Scientific Panel:

Section 10

The role of the Scientific Panel is to support the development of quality education and stimulate the formation of networks within SOAR. The SOAR Scientific Panel will discuss and make recommendations to the draft for the annual strategy, the annual activity plan, the annual account and report and the budget prepared by the Head of SOAR, cf. section 14.

Section 11

The Scientific Panel shall consist of members with expertise which insure that the Scientific Panel overall will  cover the scientific areas of organic livestock research, organic soil and plant research, environmental, economic, social sciences and food quality related to the organic context, in accordance with the objectives of SOAR (article 3).

Section 12

The Scientific Panel is appointed for a period of 3 years and can be re-appointed by the SOAR Steering Committee if it is decided to continue SOAR beyond the 3 year period. The Head of SOAR convenes meetings, issues the agenda and prepares discussion papers to be considered by the panel.

SOAR provides national and international activities and courses where PhD students and their supervisors can

• develop, stimulate and challenge their understanding of the organic principles and values
• develop competences in interdisciplinary and systemic research approaches
• network and stimulate mobility of researchers