EIP Project: Conservation Agriculture in Organic Production Without Herbicides

The Slovenian Association for Conservation Agriculture (SZOK) is participating in the project “Conservation Agriculture in Organic Production Without Herbicides”, implemented under support for projects of the European Innovation Partnership for Agricultural Productivity and Sustainability within the Common Agricultural Policy Strategic Plan 2023–2027.

Intervention title: IRP31 – Support for EIP Projects

Project title: Conservation Agriculture in Organic Production Without Herbicides

Brief description of the operation:

Duration: 24 April 2025 – 24 April 2028

Co-funding amount: €299,967.20

Project partners:

1.         Slovenian Association for Conservation Agriculture, lead partner

2.         Chamber of Agriculture and Forestry of Slovenia – Maribor Institute of Agriculture and Forestry, 

3.         Naklo Biotechnical Centre

4.         ŽIPO Lenart d.o.o., Lenart

5.         Vasja Majerič Farm, Moškanjci

6.         Štefan Urbanč Farm, Račja vas

7.         Kumer 1687 d.o.o. Farm, Trgovišče

8.         Škorjanc Organic Farm, Dolenja vas

9.         Žnideršič Organic Farm, Brežice

10.     Jaka Kastelic Farm, Mirna Peč

11.     Zorica Rengeo Farm, Šalovci

12.      Izobraževanje Tamara Urbančič s.p., Topolc

 Description of project activities:

The project “Conservation Agriculture in Organic Production Without Herbicides” addresses key challenges facing Slovenian agriculture, foremost among them weed control without herbicides or ploughing through sustainable conservation practices. It also tackles soil degradation, biodiversity loss, climate change and the excessive use of plant protection products. The project aims to develop and implement innovative conservation agriculture practices that increase productivity and support the sustainable management of natural resources.

Planned activities include:

● An inventory and analysis of existing weed-control practices and their environmental and economic

impacts.

● At least eight practical on-farm trials of different weed-control techniques.

● Development of digital tools, protocols and monitoring methods for conducting the practical

trials.

● Organisation of workshops, lectures and professional field visits to train farmers and disseminate

knowledge about sustainable practices.

● Preparation of manuals and multimedia content, and organisation of public events to promote the project

results. 

 Objectives and results of the operation:

The primary objective is to identify, improve and develop weed-control techniques that are viable for agriculture in the long term, help preserve and improve environmental health, reduce agriculture’s dependence on the plant protection industry, and improve the economic performance of farming.

Objectives:

Ø  Develop new and improved weed-control techniques without herbicides.

Ø  Improve soil quality and increase biodiversity.

Ø  Transfer knowledge into practice by involving farmers and other stakeholders.

Ø  Increase the productivity and sustainability of agriculture.

Ø  Strengthen farms’ resilience to climate change.

Ø  Improve cooperation among farms and accelerate the flow of information.

Ø  Reduce dependence on plant protection products and promote organic farming.

 Methods used:

➢ Inventory of weed-control techniques

➢ Survey of weeds at different locations

➢ On-farm trials of different weed-control approaches without herbicides 

Expected project results:

1. Development of new practices: Adapted herbicide-free weed-control techniques will be developed for different farm types and pedoclimatic conditions.

2. Reduced environmental impact: Lower herbicide use and improved soil quality will help reduce erosion and water pollution.

3. Increased productivity: Optimised crop rotations and innovative techniques will enable higher output at lower cost.

4. Knowledge transfer: Workshops, training sessions, field visits, manuals and digital tools will ensure long-term access to the results and encourage wider adoption of the practices.