Kun, a conventional dog, can apply for funding for new technology.

The solar-powered weed robot Farmdroid, which removes weeds without the use of chemicals, has spread across Danish fields. Recently, a battery-powered robot has also been developed that can remove thistles and thistles from grasslands – also without pesticides. And the highly advanced LaserWeeder now shoots weeds in several parts of the country using laser beams. New technology is constantly finding its way into the fields, and in October, a new subsidy scheme will open to give farmers better access to technology that can reduce pesticide use and improve climate efforts. However, this scheme does not apply to organic farmers. This has led the Danish Agriculture & Food Council, together with the Organic Association, to write a joint letter to the Minister for Nature and Animal Welfare, Christian Rabjerg Madsen, asking him to adjust the scheme so that organic farmers also gain access to the relevant technologies. "As it stands now, the scheme discriminates against organic farming and creates a competitive distortion because it becomes cheaper for conventional farmers to adopt these new technologies," says Sybille Kyed, head of agricultural and food policy at the Organic Association, to Organic Now. The joint letter to the minister states, among other things: "Under the initiative area for reducing pesticide use in crop production, organic farmers are unfortunately once again excluded from applying. This means that organic farmers are prevented from obtaining subsidies for a range of technologies that are very suitable for use in organic production – including weed robots, radrensers, camera technology for weed recognition, driverless units for mechanical weed control, etc." Competitive distortion The organizations emphasize in the letter that they have repeatedly pointed out the problematic nature of excluding organic farmers from initiatives aimed at reducing pesticide use. "Organic farmers are hit twice as hard if the rules are not changed. They will both miss out on the subsidy, and the price of the technology will reflect that there is a subsidy, making it even more expensive for organic farmers," says Sybille Kyed. According to her, subsidies can help raise the prices of new technology and at the same time do not support the right direction for technological development. "Without subsidies and through market forces, technology often starts in organic farming and later spreads to conventional farming," she explains. This includes, for example, the Danish-produced, solar-powered weed robot Farmdroid. She adds that, as the subsidy scheme is currently structured, subsidies are also given for a wide range of spray equipment, which, although intended to reduce pesticide use, still supports pesticide-based production. Can hinder growth in organic farming The letter to the minister also points out that the skewed distribution of technological support could undermine the government's goal of doubling the organic area. "Exclusion from applying for subsidies for these technologies will therefore lead to a poorer cultivation situation for organic crop production compared to conventional production. This could risk increased setbacks. At the same time, it reduces motivation to convert new areas," the letter states. In a LinkedIn post, Kirsten Lund, sector director for organic farming at the Danish Agriculture & Food Council, writes: "When the ambitions are lower pesticide use and more organic farming, subsidy schemes should naturally support the goal of expanding organic production. We hope the minister will listen to our appeal and ensure that the initiatives he leads support the goal of doubling the organic area." We have reached out to the responsible minister, Christian Rabjerg Madsen, and asked him to comment on the letter from the two agricultural organizations. However, the ministry states that the minister is away and will not be available for interviews until after the summer.