Research work

Gilchesters Organics is the centre for organic cereal research in the North of England. Trials have been conducted into soil fertility management, and variety selection for disease and weed management and for grain quality since 2002. We carry out the research in association with Newcastle University and as an industrial partner in the EU funded ‘Quality Low Input Farming Research Project’ (QLIF) which includes 4 other industrial partners and 27 European Organic Research centres or institutes.

Most UK organic cereal varieties have been designed for chemical farming but now grown under organic conditions. Spring and winter wheat trials have been conducted in association with Swedish, German, Swiss and UK plant breeders to assess varieties suitable for organic production in the North of England.

Gilchesters Organics Advisory Service

We can provide a full advisory service for organic combinable crop production including variety selection, rotations, weed management, cultivation techniques and soil management.