1.          The organisation shall be known as the UK Colloquium of Organic Researchers (COR).

Objectives

2.          COR is a group whose objectives are:

2.1.            To instigate and encourage research to develop and improve organic systems along the lines of the IFOAM Principles of Organic Agriculture.

2.2.            To co-ordinate research, in collaboration with users and funders of research for the development of organic farming.

2.3.            To promote discussion of research methods and results relevant to organic farming on both a domestic and international level.

2.4.            To promote knowledge exchange within the organic farming industry integrating funders, users and intermediaries.

2.5.            To promote high quality, scientific research on organic farming to the wider scientific community.

Membership

3.          Membership will be open to anyone with an interest in organic farming research (in line with the IFOAM principles of organic farming).

4.          Membership is on an individual basis and not as a representative of an institute or other organisation.

5.          There will be no membership fee.

6.          Membership requests are to be e-mailed to the Secretary who will keep a data list of members.

6.1.            Membership will be renewed each year by opting in to an e-mail invitation to renew membership.

Committee

7.          The business of COR will be conducted by a Committee elected at the Biennial General Meeting (to be held at the COR Conference).

8.          The Committee will comprise:

8.1.            Convenor,

8.2.            Secretary,

8.3.            Treasurer,

8.4.            Four ordinary members.

8.          Chairmanship will rotate around members of the Committee.

9.          A quorum shall consist of four committee members.

10.      The Convenor should have the casting vote in the case of a split vote among the other Committee members.

11.      Committee members shall not hold office for longer than four years before offering themselves for re-election but must retire after six years. A minimum of two years must pass before the return to service of a past committee member.

12.      Election to the Committee will be by ballot at the Biennial General Meeting at which at least 20 members must be present.

13.      The Committee may form sub-committees as deemed necessary to the implementation of the Objectives of COR and may co-opt others to this end.

Funding

14.      Charges may be levied for attendance at meetings so as to cover reasonable costs and to allow some surplus funds to develop for future meetings and activities.

15.      The Committee will seek further funding to support the activities of COR. Committee members will not, individually, be held responsible for debts incurred by COR.

Accounts

16.      The Accounts for COR shall be prepared biennially and presented at the Biennial General Meeting.

17.      The Committee shall keep accounts at one Bank in the name of the Colloquium of Organic Researchers.

General Meeting

18.      A minimum of three weeks notice shall be given of the Biennial General Meeting or any Special General Meeting.

Publications

19.      COR will maintain a website to keep members updated on developments.

Changes to the Constitution

20.      This Constitution may be changed only by a two-thirds majority vote of those attending the Biennial General Meeting or a Special General Meeting called by the Committee on the request of at least twenty members of COR.

Winding up

21.      If at any time COR shall be dissolved, any surplus funds or property, after paying all liabilities, shall be transferred to organic farming related charities to be agreed at the time of the outgoing Committee.