Niels Halberg has 15 years of experience in the research and modelling of organic and conventional farming systems including agronomy, economics and resource use and environmental impact. He has conducted on-farm research in Europe since 1992 and in Africa and Asia since 1999 and published several papers comparing organic and conventional farming.
Dr. Halberg has long-time experience in project management and co-ordination of cross-disciplinary work between several institutions including several specifically addressing organic agriculture. The cross-disciplinary projects have included –besides different agricultural/livestock specialists - biologists, statisticians, economists, political scientists, sociologists, and professional philosophers.
Halberg initiated the international research project titled: "Sustainability of organic farming in a global food chains perspective" (2006-2009; www.globalorg.dk). He has also broad experience in dissemination and in the preparation of material for political decision-makers.
Niels Halberg has experience in teaching and PhD supervision.
Main areas of activity
- Coordination of research programmes
- Monitoring of research projects and supporting dissemination
- Initiation of research
- Liaising with stakeholders and keeping dialogue with researchers
- International collaboration and supporting networks
- Preparing research-based material for policy makers and stakeholders in the sector
- Coordinator of ERA-net CORE Organic
- Visepresident in ISOFAR
- Theme coordinator in TP Organics
Research experience
The development of agri-environmental indicators for use on organic and conventional farms, by extension officers and at political decision levels has been a key part of Niels Halberg's work. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) has been part of that research since the year 2000 when he coordinated the Danish project "Life Cycle Assessment of basic food " (2000-2004; www.lcafood.dk ).
Niels has several years experience researching tropical farming systems focusing on improved use of locally available resources and organic farming. This work builds on participatory research and international scientific collaboration such as in the project with smallholder dairy farmers (www.Ugandadairy.dk ). Most recently Halberg was first editor and author of several chapters of an international book titled “Global Development of Organic Agriculture: Challenges and Promises” (CABI, 2006).
Dr. Halberg has long-time experience in project management and co-ordination of cross-disciplinary work between several institutions including several specifically addressing organic agriculture. The cross-disciplinary projects have included –besides different agricultural/livestock specialists - biologists, statisticians, economists, political scientists, sociologists, and professional philosophers.
Publications in Database Organic Eprints...
Previous professional experience
Since 2007, Niels Halberg has been directing ICROFS. Before that, he was senior researcher at the Dept. of AgroEcology and Environment, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Aarhus, since 1998. In 2001-2002, he was advisor at the School of Agriculture Prek Leap, Cambodia (on leave).
In the period 1992-1998, Halberg was researcher at the Danish Institute of Animal Sciences, and from 1988-1992 he was extension officer in Local farmers organisation (Ribe Landboforening).
Educational background
Niels is a trained agronomist and has a PhD in ecological economics, both from the Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Copenhagen. |
