The first workshop of the DEFRA-funded Organic Weed Management project (OF0315) was held at HDRA, Ryton Organic Gardens, Tuesday 5th December 2002.

The aim of this project is to define weed problems together with organic farmers and growers, propose ways of addressing these problems, and then research solutions in order to arrive at the most appropriate for use in organic systems.

The workshop was well attended

Over 70 participants from around the country attended the day; about 70% of these were farmers and growers. The aim of this first stakeholder meeting was to identify priority weed issues in organic systems, discuss research methods and establish research theme groups.

See the agenda of the first workshop (PDF 9Kb)

 Minutes from the 'Docks and other perennials' focus group 12/2/03 (PDF 36Kb)
 Minutes from the 'Systems' focus group 5/3/03 (PDF 139Kb)
 Minutes from the 'Communications' focus group 11/3/03 (PDF 161Kb)

In the morning three groups were formed at random to discuss priority weed issues, definition of topics for theme groups and discuss appropriate methodology.

The priority issues from the groups were defined into themes and prioritised which highlighted four groups.

1. Knowledge collation and dissemination
2. Docks (and other perennials)
3. Risk analysis
4. Systems studies

These themes were further explored in small groups of participants in the afternoon. It was decided that 'Risk analysis' issues would initially fall under the theme of 'Knowledge collation and distribution'. The outcomes of the day were to take forward these three themes with interested participants, drawing in other relevant stakeholders to produce a framework of research action for each topic.

See the Weed Management Workshop proceedings (PDF 94Kb)