Our focus is on the soil management of vineyards and orchards and the application of diverse seed mixtures as cover crops. We investigate the effects of such cover cropping techniques on soil carbon sequestration, soil microbial activity and the reduction of soil erosion damages, beside agronomic and biodiversity parameters. The research involves operating farms around Hungary.

Moreover, we have ongoing research on the effects of reduced and no-tillage systems, as well as cover cropping under organic arable farming conditions in dry continental climate, where we investigate effects on soil microbial properties as well as soil carbon sequestration, besides general agronomic parameters. Furthermore, we collect best practices of farmers using alternative tillage systems around Hungary.

We have advanced experiences with soil inoculation and the field assessment of microbial soil inoculants' effects using small plot and on-farm trials. We collaborate as partners in the SolACE project, where inoculation is tested as a possible method for better combined stress tolerance.

The Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (ÖMKI) is a public benefit non-profit limited liability company founded in 2011. The strategic goal of ÖMKI is to foster scientific research of an international standard in the field of organic agriculture and sustainable food production in Hungary. In cooperation with many actors of the sustainable agriculture movement, ÖMKI implements research and development projects and coordinates a nationwide on-farm experimentation network which includes a variety of field trials implemented in a participatory manner on organic farms (arable crops, horticulture, viticulture, animal husbadry). In frame of the network we test how new practices perform under the diversity of everyday farming. Participating farmers gain feedback directly from their own production experiences, land, and technology creating space for open innovation. The network is acknowledged as Living Laboratory by the European Network of Living Laboratories, ENoLL. The on-farm research is at the forefront of studying issues of soil management that benefit the farmer directly, making a direct impact on growing practices and cropping efficiency. The research contributes to the sustainability and resilience of farming systems, therefore having a positive impact on local climate adaptation of farmers.
Besides on-farm research, ÖMKI organizes various national and international conferences and workshops to inform and involve a broad range of stakeholders and provide publications so as to expand Hungarian sustainable farming expertise.
ÖMKI is also part of the BIOEAST, a Central-Eastern European intergovernmental initiative for knowledge-based agriculture, aquaculture and forestry in the bioeconomy which offers a shared strategic research and innovation framework for working towards sustainable bioeconomies in the Central and Eastern European countries. ÖMKI jointly coordinates the Agroecological intensification and sustainable yields thematic working group of BIOEAST together with the Hungarian Ministry of Agriculture.