Politicians’ cuts to research are slowing the growth of organic farming.

The opinion piece was originally published on altinget.dk on 2 November. By Hans Erik Jørgensen, Chair, Organic Section, Danish Agriculture & Food Council Michael Kjerkegaard, Chair, Organic Denmark Jørn Jespersen, Chair, ICROFS, owner of JJ Advice The Danish Parliament has adopted ambitious targets for organic farming, but the government’s proposed budget cuts away a large part of the research foundation needed to achieve those targets. Funding is set to be halved. If the government and Parliament want to realise the adopted targets for growth in organic farming, there is a need to strengthen—not weaken—funding for research and development. Organic farming offers clear answers to the political objectives of reducing nutrient pollution from food production, improving animal welfare and ensuring clean drinking water. These objectives also form the basis for the political targets of doubling the area of organic farmland and the consumption of organic food by 2030. But political ambitions do not become reality on their own. They require new knowledge, new solutions and continued development in practice. The proposed budget should therefore have reflected this political priority and included an allocation of DKK 70 million. Instead, a proposal involving a significant reduction has been presented. The proposed allocation is DKK 26 million—close to a halving compared with 2026. **Cut year after year** ICROFS coordinates a large part of the research and development that is essential for organic farming to deliver on the political objectives. This includes areas such as climate, animal welfare, biodiversity, soil health and the environment, as well as the development of efficient cultivation systems without the use of pesticides and artificial fertilisers. Organic farming is already working in these areas, but must improve further in order to become a strong and competitive industry. It also concerns growth and resilience in the organic production of fruit, vegetables and plant-based protein for food. Organic research therefore contributes directly to solutions to some of the greatest challenges facing Danish agriculture and food production. Despite this, funding for organic research has been cut in recent years. Allocations have fallen from DKK 70 million in 2024 to DKK 55 million in 2025, just over DKK 50 million this year, and will then take a substantial further dive under the proposed budget. This amounts to a decline of more than 60 per cent in just three years. **Research creates the foundation** This stands in stark contrast to the government’s objective of doubling organic farming and its ambitions for a greener agricultural sector, when it presents a proposal involving such a significant reduction. Given the political decision that adjustments must be made and that the area of organic farmland must grow in order to address major challenges, there is now more need than ever to increase funding for organic research. This is research that creates the foundation for the entire agricultural sector to move forward. The capacity for innovation and interest in organic research are strong. In 2026, a record number of applications were submitted: 33 applications requesting a total of DKK 235 million to develop new methods and solutions and document their effects. These are ambitious projects that will further develop the Danish organic sector through close collaboration between research and practice. The ability to connect biological, economic and societal perspectives is one of the key strengths of organic research. It is also a prerequisite for developing solutions that are both environmentally sustainable and economically attractive to farmers and businesses. The negotiations on the research reserve should therefore ensure funding for organic research under ICROFS at a high and stable level in the coming years. We recommend restoring the allocation for research under ICROFS so that it once again reaches DKK 70 million in 2027. The allocation must correspond to the political objectives. Otherwise, Parliament risks ending up in a situation where the political targets remain in place while the knowledge base needed to achieve them is left blowing in the wind.