Crops grown under organic farming systems are more resilient to increasingly frequent droughts, while organically managed soils retain significantly more water than those under conventional cultivation, former Hungarian President János Áder said in the latest episode of his Blue Planet podcast, released on Monday.
Áder, chairman of the Blue Planet Climate Protection Foundation, spoke with Dóra Drexler, founder and managing director of the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (ÖMKi), about the role of organic farming in adapting agriculture to climate change.
Drexler said organic farming typically produces yields that are 15 to 20 per cent lower over a full crop rotation than conventional agriculture. However, the gap narrows considerably for high-value crops such as sweetcorn and green peas, where yields are only around 10 per cent lower.
She noted that organic producers do not incur fertilizer costs, while organically cultivated soils are capable of retaining 10 to 15 per cent more water, making them more resilient during prolonged dry periods.
Drexler also pointed to marketing challenges facing Hungary’s organic producers, saying farmers often struggle to secure higher prices that reflect certified organic quality.
She explained that ÖMKi works closely with farmers from the outset of its research projects, designing programmes with practical application in mind. Participating growers receive seeds for testing under their own local conditions, allowing researchers to evaluate how different varieties perform in organic or extensive farming systems. The institute then prepares region-specific recommendations based on the results.
Beyond crop trials, the institute is also developing cultivation technologies to improve resilience against climate-related challenges. Drexler highlighted ongoing research into making vineyards more resistant to heat stress and said five years of work have generated extensive data on the American grapevine leafhopper, one of the most significant current threats to Hungarian vineyards.
The institute also collaborates with established Hungarian organizations, including the national gene banks in Martonvásár and Tápiószele.
Asked about funding, Drexler said roughly half of the institute’s project financing comes from Hungary’s Ministry of Agriculture, while the remainder is provided through European Union research programmes. The institute currently participates in 17 EU-funded agricultural research projects, one of the highest totals in Hungary.
During the discussion, Áder noted that organic farming is built on four core principles: health, ecology, fairness and care. Drexler described organic agriculture as reflecting a broader value system rather than simply a production method.
She explained that organic farming prohibits the use of synthetic chemical inputs and genetically modified organisms. In livestock farming, producers must allow animals to express their natural behaviour, while practices such as trimming chickens’ beaks are not permitted.
Áder also noted that Drexler had participated in two panel discussions during the Blue Planet Foundation’s Budapest Planet conference, where she was encouraged by the large number of young people in attendance. Drexler added that the average age of organic farmers is around 10 years younger than the national farming average, while the proportion of producers with specialized agricultural qualifications is roughly twice as high in the organic sector.
The programme also highlighted the history of the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture, Hungary’s only research institute dedicated exclusively to organic farming. Founded in 2010 through foundations established by Melinda Esterházy, the non-profit organization employs 48 staff members, organizes more than 30 professional events each year and hosts a major conference every two years attended by around 500 participants.
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