Supplementation of vitamin B2 (riboflavin) in poultry feed is essential. For organic farming, non-GMO derived riboflavin is required. The only products on the market that are not produced with the help of GMOs are more expensive than the conventional products, and their legal status still needs to be clarified at the EU level. Screening 51 non-GM riboflavin overproducing wild-type yeast strains, Meyerozyma guilliermondii (M. g.) was found to produce the highest riboflavin concentration. M. g. is a yeast species widely present in the environment, is classified in Risk Group 1 and is very unlikely to cause disease. Using bioprocess engineering and without metabolic engineering, further tests achieved an even higher production. To provide a feasible and affordable certified vitamin B2 supplement, minimising expensive media components was tested at the scale of the shake flask. The upscale of the fermentation process to a 1 L-bioreactor was evaluated. Air supply, dissolved oxygen content, and feeding rate during a fed-batch cultivation mode play a crucial role in the cultivation of M. g. to produce riboflavin. The highest reached concentration of riboflavin during a fed-batch cultivation was 317.6 mg/L after nine days for a final yield of 30 mg riboflavin per g dry matter of yeast cells. The selected strain bears potential for far higher concentrated riboflavin than currently available and its adoption by feed additive producers will diversify the sources of vitamin B2 produced and increase the availability of non-GMO derived vitamin B2 for organic feed production. It will have to be first registered as a feed additive under the EU’s horizontal legislation on feed additives (EC) 831/2003 to be be authorized and used for organic production.

Vitamin E is essential, and supplementation to the diet is often needed to meet the requirements of cows. Current supplementation recommendations may be overestimated in forage-based systems where grazing or grass-clover silages are the basal diet, with low to moderate levels of concentrate feed. A systematic literature review, surveys of vitamin E status on organic dairy farms, and experiments with vitamin E supplementation in organic farms were conducted and allow to update the vitamin E supplementation recommendations for organic dairy cows as follow:For organically managed dairy cows, vitamin E supplementation is needed in the transition period, i.e., the period from the end of gestation, calving and beginning of lactation.During the transition period, vitamin E supplementation should be higher if the basal diet is based on maize silage, hay or haylage, or whole crop silage, than if it is based on pasture or grass-clover silage.Vitamin E supplementation is not needed after the first 30 days of lactation if the basal diet is pasture or high-quality grass-clover silage.Daily vitamin E supplementation for organic dairy cows should be done according to the primary type of forage fed in their diet (full length PA on RELACS-project.eu).These recommendations are only valid with an adequate selenium intake and concentrate proportion in the diet in line with organic production. Signs of vitamin E insufficiency include increased frequency of mastitis, retained placenta, decreased fertility and increased oxidative flavour of milk. It’s essential to provide animals with vitamins according to their needs, but aligning with organic principles for less dependency on external inputs means not to not supplement above the optimal level

Fungal diseases can cause significant yield losses. Fungicides used in organic farming generally have a contact mode of action. Such fungicides should be applied shortly before an infection event in order to have the highest efficacy. Decision support systems (DSS) are tools allowing optimal timing of fungicide application. DSS have been developed for various crop-pathogen combinations, e.g., apple scab, grapevine downy mildew. Different types of DSS are available. Some provide advice on the timing and quantity of fungicide spraying. Others (i.e., tactical models) provide farmers with yes/no advice (e.g. treatment needed or not worth the cost), or give risks of infection (e.g. no, low, intermediate or high risk). Some models, e.g. RIMpro, illustrate the biological processes and the risk of infection. Some DSS are interactive, allowing farmers to enter the characteristics of their crops; others work independently, displaying a prediction for the risk of infection (e.g. Agrometeo). In many countries and regions, advisory systems provide access to appropriate DSS according to the needs of farmers. Complete solutions for local (private) collection of weather data and integrated disease forecast models are also available (e.g. iMetos®, Sencrop). Copper alternatives based on natural substances often degrade faster or show less rain fastness than chemical products. To achieve the best efficacy of these alternatives, optimal application timing is crucial. Based on pathogen biology and weather data, DSS assist the farmers and allow to determine the optimal timing of spray interventions, leading to better efficacy of the products. DSS may reduce fungicide use by half compared to calendar-based strategies without increasing disease risk.

The greenhouse whitefly Trialeurodes vaporariorum causes direct damage to plants by piercing their tissues, and indirect damage, by transmitting viruses. Mineral oils are usually applied to control the greenhouse whitefly but should be replaced with more sustainable solutions. The combined use of disruptive vibrations, orange essential oils (EO) and other plant extracts (PE) significantly reduces the greenhouse whitefly fitness and infestation rates and is more effective than separate application of plant-derived products and vibrations. The vibration device: Vibro-plates consist of square wooden plates (20X20x1cm) paired to mini-shakers (12V) associated with a microchip. The disruptive vibration amplitude, measured from the plants, must reach a velocity of at least 30 μm/s to disrupt the signals emitted by the whitefly. Power cables are required. The device should be available in 2023. The products: the orange EO is formulated as a micro-emulsion (available on the market), diluted in water, and applied to the crop with standard spray devices. BPA044I, a PE of Clitoria ternatea (to be registered in EU, expected for 2025), is easily diluted in water and sprayed on the crops with standard devices. Combined use of alternatives: Vibro-plates must be turned on as soon as the plants are in the greenhouse for 24 hours a day and for the entire period when crop protection is needed. The system is particularly effective at low population densities of greenhouse whitefly. In combined application, Orange EO and BPA044I are diluted at 4 and 20 mL/L, respectively. The first treatment is done at the first appearance of whitefly adults and repeated after 7-10 days. The combined use is a suitable strategy to control the greenhouse whitefly in organic farming. 

The orange spiny whitefly Aleurocanthus spiniferus is a pest of many crops, especially citrus. Mineral oils are sometimes used to control it and need to be replaced with more sustainable solutions. Orange spiny whiteflies communicate with each other through vibrations. A mini-shaker controlled by a microchip vibrates the wires connected to the citrus plants. These disruptive vibrations can interfere with their communication and reduce their populations. Wires must touch the plants to transmit the vibrations. These are better propagated through young and trimmed plants. Vibrations are effective if the distance between the mini-shakers is below 50 meters. The poles carrying the shakers are set at regular distances to ensure that sufficient wire tension and an adequate vibration amplitude. The mini-shakers should be turned on at first signs of infestations, as whiteflies can mate without vibrational communication when population density is high, making mating disruption approaches ineffective. The energy is supplied by solar panels connected to the mini-shaker. The microchip of the mini-shaker can be programmed to transmit vibrations that target other pests that rely on vibration signals. The combined application of plant extracts/essential oils (e.g., Clitoria ternatea and orange essential oil) enhances the effects of the vibrations. Disruptive vibrations significantly affect the orange spiny whitefly, especially when population density is not yet high, and is a suitable strategy against this pest in organic citrus orchards. The method is free of chemicals and does not release harmful residues into the environment. Purchase and installation of the devices is a long-term farm investment and requires periodical maintenance.

While antibiotics remain necessary against mastitis, their widespread use leads to antibiotic resistance, which constitutes a threat to public health. Many essential oils (EOs) have antibacterial or anti-inflammatory properties. With the help of advisors, dairy farmers tested alternative mastitis treatments with EOs following a common protocol established by RELACS. First, farmers receive a training on the RELACS protocol for testing EOs as a cure for mastitis. The trials start with the selection of cows with light to moderate mastitis according to criteria defined during training. After taking a milk sample for bacteriological analysis, farmers randomly apply one treatment per cow: the EO or their usual antibiotic treatment. In the RELACS protocol, the EO treatment contained two essential oils (Litsea cubeba and Origanum vulgare), each mixed with sunflower oil, and applied one after the other, directly on the udder. The EO treatment is applied twice a day for 7days. If the mastitis worsens, the farmers switches to antibiotics on day 2 or 5. Clinical signs (monitored throughout the trial), bacteriological analysis of milk (sampled 1 month after first application of EO) and somatic cell count (every month) are used as indicators of cure. Farmers gave a positive feedback regarding the application of EOs and the evolution of mastitis in treated cows. Statistical analysis showed no significant differences between the two treatment groups (EOs and Antibiotics) but, further trials are needed to gather more data. The use of EOs successfully contributes to the healing of mastitis and can also be used preventively. EOs have a lower ecological impact and are less expensive than antibiotics (8 and 18 € /treatment, resp.). They however require more work. 

Copper is the only effective fungicide authorised for a variety of important uses in organic farming. Because of its environmental impact, it is restricted to 28 kg/ha over seven years in the EU, and further restrictions may come while only a few alternatives are on the market. Liquorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) extract is a plant extract (from leaves) with fungicidal properties which acts via contact against a range of fungal plant pathogens as well as bacterial pathogens. Liquorice formulation can be used as a stand-alone replacement for copper under low to medium disease pressure. It is used with professional spray equipment. Preliminary field trials showed excellent protection of grapevine berries against downy mildew. Protection of leaves is good but might be moderate under high disease pressure. For an optimised efficacy, assessing the infection pressure and potential infection periods is crucial. Decision Support Systems are thus strongly recommended to apply Liquorice formulation at the optimal time, i.e. right before or at the onset of a probable infection period, as Liquorice should be used as a contact fungicide. Taint tests and vinification trials showed that the formulation does not negatively impact the wine quality and flavour. Preliminary studies to assess the environmental risks of the Liquorice formulation show no harmful effect on bees and no negative impact on other beneficial insects.It is an effective addition to the toolbox of copper alternatives with good efficacy on important diseases. As soon as the formulated Liquorice extract is authorised under EU regulation 1107/2009 and registered as a plant protection product, it can help to reduce or even replace copper-based products, especially in organic grape production.

A high share of the nitrogen (N) in recycled and other organic fertilisers needs to be mineralized before it can be taken up by plants. This makes the effect on yields less predictable. Evaluating recycled fertilisers regarding their nitrogen efficiency compared to mineral fertilisers can help estimate the amount of N they supply to the plants and, therefore, the effect on yields. The long-term N transfer rate indicates how much of the total N applied is available to plants. Liquid animal manure and digestates show a relatively high transfer rate com-parable to mineral fertilization, while solid manure, especially composts, show lower rates. The mineral fertiliser equivalent (MFE) compares nitrogen efficiency of an organic fertiliser to a mineral fertiliser in a given year of application. Sewage sludge and human urine have a high MFE. In general, fertilisers with a lower C/N ratio and a higher proportion of N as ammonium (NH4+) show higher nitrogen transfer to the plant in the year of application as well as in the long term. Fertilisers should be chosen based on the desired effect: for a fertilisation effect, fertilisers with a narrow C/N ratio and high contents of ammonium (NH4+), such as liquid manures, human urine or sewage sludge are advantageous. For effects on soil and soil organic matter, sources with a week N effect should be chosen. Besides nitrogen, the other nutrients contained in organic fertilisers should also be considered to avoid nutrient imbalances, mainly of phosphorus and potassium. Experiments showed higher N efficiencies for stored human urine, digestates and sewage sludge than compost. Additionally, higher contents of ammonium-nitrogen (NH4+-N) and a lower C/N ratio in-crease the nitrogen efficiency of recycled fertilisers.

On many organic farms, especially those without livestock, phosphorus (P) exports through the sale of produce is greater than P imports through fertilisers and purchased animal feed. Mining of soils is unsustainable in the long term. Regular soil testing and/or calculation of nutrient budgets can show whether soil P is being depleted. Replenishing soil P reserves will prevent deterioration of soil fertility and sustain good productivity. Many bio-resources contain P from various organic wastes. Digestates and composts contain average P concentrations between 0.2 and 0.7% dry matter. This P is partly in inorganic form, available to plants on the short-term, and partly in organic form, providing P on the longer term. Meat and bone meal often contains about 5% P and is marketed as commercial fertiliser. It shows an increasing plant P availability with decreasing pH (pH < 6), like rock phosphate. Wastewater treatment plants are a major sink for P. Struvite is granular magnesium ammonium phosphate with very low levels of contaminants produced from wastewater and sewage sludge. P in struvite is not soluble in water, yet available to plants independently from soil pH. The overall recovery of P from the initial material is low and therefore struvite production needs to be combined with other approaches to recover P from wastewater treatment plants. In the AshDec® process, a fertiliser with about 9%. Rhenania phosphate is produced. It is not water soluble, but plant available in acidic, neutral and alkaline soils. The process recovers almost all P from the sewage sludge and requires no hazardous input materials. This P fertiliser made from sewage sludge, as well as struvite are not yet permitted for use in organic agriculture, but will likely be soon.

Copper is a widespread fungicide in organic plant protection. It is cheap, easy to use and effective against a variety of diseases. Its accumulation in the soil can cause adverse conditions for beneficial organisms. Its use is therefore limited in the EU (≤28 kg/ha over 7 years). On vegetables, copper can leave unattractive spots. Copper use can be reduced through a holistic approach using alternative products as well as several strategies, starting with the design of the production area and the selection of varieties. Preventive measures that provide light and reduce humidity create unfavourable growing conditions for fungal pathogens and reduce the need for treatments. For tomato in a greenhouse or foil tunnel, use ventilation to reduce air humidity. Heat at night to prevent condensation on the leaves. Use drip irrigation instead of sprinklers. Remove weeds; they compete for water and nutrients, can host pests and pathogens, block the airflow and therefore increase humidity at plant level. Use optimal plant spacing depending on variety (≤4 indeterminate tomato plants/m2). Remove the side shoots to increase air flow. Remove infected leaves to prevent inoculants for further infections. Prune only when plants are dry, to reduce risk of infection with pathogens like grey mould or late blight. Using alternatives to copper, such as Pythium oligandrum containing products or plant extracts. They can have similar efficiency against late blight compared to copper, if used correctly. In the case of biocontrol agents, do not apply them when the sun is shining and irrigate the soil or the plants’ surface before. Clean the sprayer before loading the microbe-containing solution. In the case of plant extracts, do not leave any surface of the plants untreated.

Gastrointestinal worms are common in all grazing livestock species. Animals are usually treated with synthetic anthelmintics to control worm infection. Anthelmintics are contentious in organic farming because resistance spreads rapidly and synthetic residues in faeces threaten biodiversity. Many gastrointestinal worm species have a life cycle that comprises juvenile and adult worms in the gastro-intestinal tract of their host animal as well as worm eggs and larvae in the excreted faeces. Grazing animals are given spores of the naturally occurring biocontrol fungus Duddingtonia flagrans in a feed additive. The thick-walled spores pass undigested through the gastro-intestinal tract. They germinate on the faeces and form trapping organs that capture, paralyse and consume emerging infective worm larvae before they contaminate pasture and re-infect animals. Duddingtonia is best fed daily during climatic periods that allow larval development and re-infection of grazing animals. Trials have shown that worm burdens in lambs grazing after Duddingtonia treated sheep are reduced by 57-75% compared to lambs grazing after untreated sheep. Biocontrol with Duddingtonia should be embedded in an integrated parasite management strategy with or without anthelmintic treatments and combined with elements such as high-quality feed, appropriate stocking density, grazing management, bioactive forages, appropriate housing conditions, and regular Faecal egg counts to monitor the effectiveness of the strategy and adapt it, if needed. Duddingtonia is not yet registered as a feed additive in Europe. Its cost – once registration is complete and the product available – is expected to be higher than that of anthelmintics.

Copper is the only effective fungicide authorised for a variety of important diseases in organic farming. Because of its environmental impact, it is currently restricted to 4kg/ha/year in the EU. Larch (Larix decidua) extract (Larixyne) acts as a contact fungicide against a range of oomycetes (downy mildews), ascomycetes (e.g. powdery mildew) and basidiomycetes. If authorised under EU regulation 1107/2009, plant protection products based on larixyne can help to reduce copper use in organic grapevine production. Larch extract can be used as a stand-alone replacement for copper under low to medium disease pressure. It can most likely replace some copper treatments and thus reduce overall copper seasonal use. It may also be used to increase yield stability in addition to standard copper use. Larch extract will consist of ready to use formulations to be applied by standard professional sprayers. In low copper strategies, treatments with tank mixtures of Larixyne and copper (100-300 g/ha copper metal per treatment) are recommended during bloom and in the last two treatments (usually at véraison) to protect plants till harvest or in periods with high disease pressure. Disease pressure should be assessed during the season to decide on treatment timing and dosage. The use of Decision Support Systems is crucial to predict the infection pressure and apply low dosages of copper only when necessary. Repeated use of larch extract at high dosages may lead to phytotoxicity symptoms on leaves and grapes depending on the variety and climatic conditions. All possible preventive measures, such as robust varieties or crop management practices should be deployed to reduce copper. Larixyne is an effective addition to the toolbox of copper alternatives. 

Worm control issues pose a threat to the business of organic sheep producers who still have to rely to a larger extent on dewormers to maintain the health and productivity of their animals. Independently developed alternatives can be used alone or combined to reduce the parasite burden in the animal and on pasture, keep dewormer treatment frequency low and drench efficacy high. Rotational use of land for cattle first, then sheep and silage or hay allows lamb production on pastures with low worm populations. Without cattle, feeding lambs on silage or hay alone will already be beneficial. Protein supplementation to ewes reduces worm egg output and increase milk production. Both factors contribute to higher weaning weights of lambs, and less dewormer use. Protein supplementation to wormy lambs improves their resilience and resistance. Supplementation is done via concentrates or by including red clover in the pasture. Bioactive forages including sainfoin, chicory and heather show anti-parasitic properties and can improve animal performance. Hill farms may have easier access to heather, whereas lowland farms can easily establish other bioactive forages. Fungi such as Duddingtonia flagrans can be used as biological control. It grows naturally in the soil or in rotting organic matter and feed on soil nematodes and on the free-living juvenile stages of gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN). Grazing animals ingest the spores, which pass undigested through the gastrointestinal tract. These then germinate in the faeces, where they trap and digest the GIN larvae. Up to 70% reduction of larvae has been reported on pastures. Regular monitoring of the animals via Feacal Egg Counts and weighting is necessary to inform a strategic use of dewormers.

The greenhouse whitefly Trialeurodes vaporariorum is a major pest in many crops, including tomato and zucchini. Mineral oils are used against this insect and need to be replaced with more sustainable solutions. Whiteflies communicate with vibrational signals for mating. Vibrational plates (Vibro-plates) were built to transmit specific disruptive vibrations to the whiteflies via potted tomato and zucchini plants. The combined use of vibrations and essential oils resulted in a reduction of the whitefly populations. The Vibro-plate consists of a square plate covered with a plastic layer making it waterproof and preventing damage from plant watering. An electrically powered mini-shaker is placed in the centre at the bottom of the plate. The emission of the disruptive signal is produced by a microchip installed inside the mini-shaker. The prototype can be easily used in the greenhouse thanks to its versatility (plate dimensions can be modified and the mini-shaker can be applied to metallic wires for the plants grown in soil). The device must be turned on for the entire period when crop protection is needed to be effective. As vibrations dissipate with the distance travelled, an adequate number of mini-shakers is needed (on average 1 for 5m2). Vibrational signals used in synergy with essential oils against whiteflies can be considered a suitable strategy for organic farming. The method is free of chemicals and does not release harmful residues into the environment. The construction of a vibratory device should be seen as a farm investment with multiple year’s longevity and periodical maintenance. The device can accommodate different cropping systems and is easy to install on-farm. The device should be available for farmers at the end of 2022.

New and sustainable nutrient sources are needed for organic farming. Urban (food) waste can be a highly valuable source with low environmental impact and high recycling efficiency. This source can be used to compensate for the negative nutrient balances in organic farming. However, it must be treated to become hygienic, biologically stable, and easy to handle. 
Anaerobic digestion of food and organic waste in a closed system produces fertiliser “digestate” and energy, while avoiding greenhouse gas emission. The closed system minimises losses of nutrients like nitrogen (N) and potassium (K). The end product has a high nutrient concentrations on a dry matter base and a higher nitrogen fertiliser value than compost of the same amount of waste. Around 180 million tonnes of digestate are produced in the EU per year.
This fertiliser should remain in a closed environment for as long as possible to avoid N loss. It should be directly incorporated after field application, e.g., through slurry injection, instead of traditional (liquid) manure spreader. N use efficiency from digestates is higher in spring crops than in winter crops when incorporated into the soil before crop establishment. For crops with wide row distances, concentrated application by strip-till is more efficient in terms of nitrogen and phosphorus fertiliser value.
Solid-liquid separation can increase the versatility of digestates. The liquid fraction is high in N and K and low in phosphorous (P), while the solid fraction is high in organic matter and P. The solid fraction is at high risk of N loss. Apply it as soon as possible after separation or store it in a closed container. 
The current EU regulation (EC) No. 889/2008 authorises the use of various digestates for organic production.

All crops need phosphorus (P) to grow. Negative P budgets deplete the soil’s P reserves in the long term. In organic farming, only few P sources are allowed. Use of P fertiliser can be crucial, especially when reliance on biological nitrogen (N) fixation is high.
Struvite (magnesium ammonium phosphate) is a naturally occurring mineral used to satisfy plants’ phosphorus needs. Struvite obtained from municipal wastewater treatment plants - with a nutrient content of 5% N, 28% phosphate (P2O5), 10% Magnesium (Mg) - allows P recycling (with some N and Mg) and can thus partially replace non-renewable P sources. 
Depending on the process, 12-22% of P present in wastewater is recovered in struvite. The P in struvite is not water-soluble but soluble in weak organic acids, such as those present in root exudates. The quality and purity of the final product depends on the production process, but contaminant levels are generally very low. 
Struvite slowly dissolves in the soil over time, especially when solubilised by root exudates, such as citrate, or under acidic conditions. We recommend it for crops with continuous need for P, and that it’s applied before or at sowing as it becomes available to the plant over time.
Struvite can be used in all crops in doses similar to other P fertilisers. Its formulation in granules of 1 to 3 mm diameter, is suitable for normal farm machinery. It must be incorporated into the soil after broadcast application. Use of struvite in rows is possible.
Struvite production needs to be combined with other recycling methods to ensure complete P recovery from wastewater.
Struvite’s inclusion in the annex of the EU Organic Regulation, listing the fertilisers authorised in organic farming, is expected on an update of this list (after 07/2022).

In organic poultry farming, feed supplements, such as vitamin B2 (riboflavin) should be GMO-free. A supply shortage of GMO-free riboflavin made a new, more expensive, product appear on the market “EcoVit R”. An update of the requirements and recommendations for riboflavin in organic slow-growing broilers is needed to explore the potential of reducing the amount of riboflavin, thus reducing feed costs while ensuring animal health and welfare. 
Four different controlled feeding trials using two riboflavin products at different concentrations showed that 1) the newly available riboflavin product “EcoVit R” is equally suitable as the conventional one “Cuxavit”; and 2) slow-growing broilers need less riboflavin than the currently recommended amounts for conventional broilers (Blum et al., 2015). 
Supplementation with 4.0 mg Vit B2/kg feed is safe for slow-growing fattening broilers.
Low riboflavin concentrations, such as relying only on native riboflavin content of feed or addition of only 3.5 mg Vit B2/kg feed, should be avoided. It may result in slightly lower performances and deficiency symptoms. 
An adequate supply of vitamin B2 is critical in the first phase of life. A three-phase supplementation of 3.1; 2.3; 1.9 mg Vit B2/kg feed also generated good overall performance, feed conversion and efficiency.
The alternative product “EcoVit R”, produced through a fermentation process by Agrano GmbH, can be used as a GMO-free alternative for organic feed production. It is a suitable alternative to “Cuxavit B2”. 
On the basis of our trials, a minimum riboflavin supplementation of 4.0 mg Vit B2/kg feed should ensure sufficient riboflavin supply for the animals. A slightly higher dosage in the first half of the fattening period may be beneficial.

Copper is widely used in organic plant protection in horticultural crops. It is easy to use and versatile. However, its accumulation in soil causes adverse conditions for beneficial organisms. Copper use is limited to 4 kg/ha/year (average over 7 years) in most European countries. 
The design of copper reduction strategies in organic vineyards relies on a system approach to plant health. 
Choose resistant or tolerant varieties recommended for organic viticulture (e.g., Solaris, Nero).
Choose an area with favourable climatic conditions for viticulture. Do not establish a vineyard in a valley where cold temperatures and humidity persist. Place the rows parallel to the dominant wind direction. Apply optimal row and planting distances to allow air to easily flow; this will depend on the canopy form. For organic vineyards, the cordon canopy can be a good choice. In this case, the optimal space between the rows is 200-250 cm and 80-100 cm between the plants. 
Prune vines 2-4 times per season and do not allow plants of different rows to touch each other. Keep the bunches reachable for the wind and the sprayer. Remove foliage in the bunch zone to aerate the grapes and develop stronger skin. Keep the space under the rows clear by managing the weed or the cover crops mechanically. Collect and remove infected parts to help slow down the spread of infection.
Use a decision support system to help identify the ideal time for the application of plant protection products. This prevents unnecessary work and reduce pesticide load. Apply copper alternatives to avoid further increasing the copper load in the soil. 
If needed despite all preventive measures, the use of copper, copper alternatives, or a combination of both should be considered.

Dewormers represent a contentious input in organic farming. Their synthetic residues enter animal products and the environment, and contribute to the global spread of anthelmintic resistance. Monitoring of faecal egg counts (FEC) is the most powerful tool available to determine levels of worm infections on-farm and can significantly improve parasite control strategies and ultimately reduce anthelmintic inputs (i.e. strategic targeting of treatments, identification of worm resistant animals for selective breeding, and detection of anthelmintic resistance in flocks). 
Collect fresh faecal sample: Bring animals into a clean pen for 15 minutes and collect the faeces when they leave. Collect pellets from at least 10 different faecal samples, filling airtight container or bag with around 10 grams of faeces (ca. 10 pellets). Keep samples cool and examine within 48 h. In the absence of analysing equipment, send samples to a laboratory.
Process the faecal sample: Add (2-3 g of the sheep faeces to 20-30 ml of floatation fluid. The floatation fluid consists of 400g NaCl (kitchen salt) mixed with 1L water. Mix well the faeces and floatation fluid, then strain them through a standard sieve (e.g. kitchen sieve). Stir the filtered solution before drawing off a small sample with a 1 mL pipette and place it into a counting slide. Leave the sample for a couple of minutes to allow the eggs to float to the top. Count the number of eggs under a microscope. Without a microscope, the FECPAKG2 system allows for digital images of the processed faecal sample to be sent to trained technicians for assessment.
Carrying out your own tests on-farm gives instant results and allows for greater flexibility in monitoring gastrointestinal nematode infections throughout the year.

Nutrient imbalances are often not noticed on organic farms. However, nutrient deficits can deplete the soil in the long-term and therefore reduce soil fertility.
Farm gate nutrient budgets are an easy and efficient tool to assess the main nutrient flows in and out of the farm. They can reveal whether there is a nutrient surplus or deficit. To calculate the farm gate nutrient budget, all nutrient inputs and outputs need to be quantified. The difference between them shows if there is an imbalance or not.
The following groups are classified as nutrient inputs: imported feed, fertilizer, soil amendments, seeds, and N-fixation by legumes. For all imported goods, the nutrients can be calculated by multiplying the amount with the given nutrient content. The N-fixation is calculated based on the yield of the leguminous crops. If yields are not available, typical N-fixation values per hectare are given for different cropping densities. 
All sold products or by-products are classified as nutrient outputs. The nutrients can also be calculated by multiplying the amount with the given nutrient content.
The Excel tool (https://orgprints.org/38025/) is an easy way to calculate a nutrient budget. It provides data on nutrient contents of common inputs and outputs, and it calculates the resulting N-fixation. 
Farm gate balancing is a useful approach for understanding the farming system: a high nutrient deficit for any nutrient means that the soil will be mined on the long-term. High nutrient surpluses, on the other hand, can result in nutrient losses with a negative impact on the environment. However, nutrient budgets must also be seen in relation to the soil nutrient status, e.g. a positive budget may be desirable to raise nutrient status of a depleted soil.

Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) is needed as a supplement in poultry diets. In the organic sector, GMO-free sources/supplements are obligatory. New production strains for GMO free vitamin B2 are being developed in Europe due to recent shortages at overseas producers. Non-GMO sources of vitamin B2 are more expensive than their GMO-based counterparts. To optimise feed production costs and reduce dependency on external sources, levels of vitamin B2 supplementation in organic production need to be re-evaluated for several types of animals.
Data from project experiments indicate that hens in organic systems can be supplemented with a maximum level of 4.0 mg/kg feed without impacting the performance and animal health of the hens and their offspring. This level of supplementation is lower than the 5-7mg/kg feed recommended by Blum et al. (2015). 
For organic laying hens, a riboflavin supplementation of 3.0 mg/kg of feed is considered safe. A riboflavin supplementation below this level may still not affect egg quality, laying performance, body weight development, nor any health and welfare indicator. However, a supplementation level of 1.5 mg/kg of feed leads to a decline of riboflavin concentrations in the egg yolks and livers, a potential first signs of deficiency.
For organic parent hens, a riboflavin supplementation of 4.0 mg/kg of feed is considered safe. 
Providing fresh or ensiled forages (pasture or silages) will enhance the natural riboflavin supply of poultry. 
Regular evaluation of the animals must include monitoring of health and performance.

Recommendations issued by advisory services are often not readily adopted by farmers. Farmer Field Schools (FFS) facilitate exchange between practitioners. Recommendations shared between practitioners are often found more convincing and are thus implemented by farmers more rapidly. In the case of animal health care/antibiotics reduction, FFS also allow the shift from a static health plan to a dynamic process giving autonomy to farmers in decision making and implementation. As a result, antibiotics use was reduced on the participating farms while animal health and welfare were maintained or improved. Practical recommendations for successful Farmer Field Schools on antibiotics reduction include: (i) FFS are groups of 5-7 farmers including one host and 4-6 advising guest farmers per meeting and one facilitator (possibly an advisor). (ii) A set of well-prepared data of the host farm (overall farm information, performance, health and welfare, treatments) are circulated before the FFS takes place. (iii) A meeting consists of one-hour farm visit followed by a structured discussion during two hours to address problems raised by the host farmer. (iv) Each guest farmer must give one or more recommendations to answer the questions of the host farmer. (v) The host farmer draws his own conclusions based on the proposed recommendations and decides which recommendations will be adopted. The facilitator does not impose any solutions on the host farmer. An Animal Health and Welfare Planning Protocol helps to focus on a specific health problem (e.g. mastitis).
Further readings: Handbook on RELACS AWHP Protocol