Replacement of copper in organic farming – First results of RELACS experiments conducted by ÖMKi

Copper is currently used as a plant protection product (PPP) and/or leaf fertilizer in organic and conventional farming in several European countries. However, its use is controversial, which is why the European research project RELACS (Replacement of Contentious Inputs in Organic Farming Systems) is looking for alternatives.

To understand the significance of copper usage and how it may be reduced, RELACS partner ÖMKi, the Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture, is conducting a range of experiments to evaluate the role of copper in plant nutrition, its importance in plant protection and its environmental effects.

First results indicate that the copper-free alternative PPP called BPA038F is more effective in preventing downy mildew in grapes than its copper-containing counterpart. To confirm these findings, the experiments will continue throughout 2020 and 2021.

To learn more about the results of the first experiments on substituting copper in organic farming in Hungary, read the full article here and follow the latest RELACS project’s development on Twitter and Facebook.

RELACS seeks to promote the development and adoption of environmentally safe and economically viable tools and technologies to reduce the use of external inputs in organic farming systems.