Learning within the organic sector

As demand for organic produce increases, there are strong incentives for industry participants to pursue additional knowledge and technical skills. In most instances, educational courses and training opportunities must accommodate the diversity of experience, expectations, and enthusiasm which individuals invariably bring to these situations. The likelihood of a successful outcome is greatly enhanced when the educational processes are sufficiently flexible to meet the unique requirements of each participant.

The majority of learning opportunities for the organic sector can be described within the framework of established educational categories. In summary, these are Tertiary Education, Apprenticeship or Internship, Integrated Systems Training (Biodynamics and Permaculture), and Self Directed Learning. Despite healthy levels of crossover, each category owns a unique potential to provide independent perspectives on organic agriculture.

Tertiary Education

An effective tertiary education should consolidate secondary educational pathways and practical experiences, enabling individuals to obtain formal qualifications. In addition to universities, and agricultural colleges, tertiary education courses can be sourced from a range of rural outreach programs and technical training institutions. While each of these providers may vary in course structure or mode of delivery, the emphasis should be on an educational content which is adequately informed by research and critical enquiry. Given the organic sector’s potential for ongoing change and improvement, it’s important that learning opportunities provide a foundation for evaluating contemporary research. Cautious appraisal of evidence based research is an essential skill for the development and sensitive application of new and innovative rural technologies. This also requires an understanding of the types of bias found in most scientific discourse.

In recent decades, several progressive tertiary institutions have shifted their teaching and research focus to accommodate renewed interest in organic and sustainable agricultural methodologies. The University of Kassel is internationally acclaimed for its Faculty of Organic Agricultural Sciences which is located in the city of Witzenhausen. Their undergraduate program is based on compulsory and optional modules which introduce foundation and advanced subjects with thematic perspectives on ecology, plant husbandry, animal husbandry, economics, and the social aspects of organic farming and production.

Studies coordinator, Holger Mittelstraß, describes undergraduate coursework and practical assignments which focus on the development of site-specific solutions with minimal use of non-renewable resources. Students are taught the importance of nutrient cycles and the relationships between productive land and unfarmed regions which protect biodiversity and ensure long term agricultural productivity. They also learn how positive agricultural practices influence regional markets and establish the platform for further rural development. The Faculty offers separate Masters programs for students wishing to specialise in European agriculture and those preferring to focus on international agriculture and rural development.

Charles Sturt University offers a Bachelor of Ecological Agriculture through its School of Rural Management. The campus operates from an important regional centre in Australia although distance education facilities ensure convenient access for many students. Major fields of study include Ecological Production and Marketing, Horticulture, and Community Development. Interdisciplinary vigour is encouraged and students can investigate their major subjects through the perspective of ecological philosophy and structured methodologies like Biodynamics, Permaculture, and Organic agriculture.

Course coordinator, Kerry Cochrane points to the challenge of providing a holistic platform for learning. The Faculty is keen to bridge some of the gaps between traditional science based approaches and those more responsive to subjective experience and the pursuit of creative solutions. On occasions, students might employ drawing or photography as a strategy for understanding the complex layers of interaction between themselves as human subjects and their environment. While the majority of students tend to focus on production related subjects, the school attempts to ensure that an ecological focus remains relevant and viable for those with alternative interests. Qualitative research techniques are utilised to investigate areas of Social Ecology which impact directly upon agricultural production. Examples of this would be studies evaluating change in rural communities: examining the values involved in changing from conventional to organic agriculture. 

Traditionally, most universities gained their reputations through an ability to attract highly qualified academics with research expertise in their specialist fields. In contemporary academia, this requirement is balanced against the need for effective industry consultations and the departmental flexibility required for multidisciplinary cooperation and analyses. University courses in Sustainable Agriculture are often enriched by inputs from experienced industry representatives and other stakeholders. This is evidenced by graduates who complete their studies with better awareness of the opportunities and limitations created through current practice.

Another advantage applicable to some courses is the emphasis placed on students developing a broad range of interpersonal, investigative, and higher level reasoning skills. For example, many undergraduates of the German Faculty participate in farm-conversion projects. The aim is to facilitate a complex interaction with conventional farmers who have some interest in organic agriculture. In cooperation with the participating farms, small groups of students analyse the current situation and working practices. With appropriate guidance and supervision, students proceed to develop reports which identify and schedule the processes required for converting these farms into organic and sustainable units.

Apprenticeship and Internship

Apprenticeships and Internships are highly valued within the organic sector. They enable individuals to gain practical agricultural experience and skills by engaging in supervised work activities. To be effective, supervising employers and trainees require a mutual understanding and commitment to the apprenticeship program. In some instances, this may involve a formal agreement outlining the basic conditions and expectations applying to each party. This will typically include information concerning duration of employment, an outline of the various tasks to be undertaken, levels of training and supervision, insurance and liability arrangements, remuneration if applicable, and resolution procedures in case of disagreement.

An important advantage of Apprenticeships is their ability to provide training within specific areas of the organics sector. Unlike a general agriculture course, apprenticeships are often focused upon particular rural industries such as organic dairy farming, or viticulture. This can assist individuals wishing to quickly acquire work skills within a defined industry. By contrast, it is also possible to undertake apprenticeships covering numerous facets of organic agriculture. These broader training opportunities are sometimes offered within Community and Rural Development Programs.

With recent expansion of the organic agricultural sector, the total number of apprenticeship opportunities appears to have increased. Some of these are provided by organic enterprises with limited experience in human resource management. For this reason, cautious applicants may prefer applying for positions advertised through larger organisations and those with a track record of managing employees. These will include most Local Councils, Organic Farming Associations, Rural Development Programs, and various Research Institutions engaged with organic agriculture.

In line with its commitment to education and human potential, Marin Organic provides two seasonal Internships each year. Marin County is widely recognised for its quality food and scenic beauty.

As a leading contributor to California’s organic revival, it’s an ideal choice for those seeking an organic sector internship. Marin Organic is the regions cooperative association of organic producers. It promotes the benefits of sustainable agriculture, resource protection, and equitable employment conditions. Members and staff are involved in a wide variety of projects and activities. These include the implementation of progressive environmental policies, educational workshops, a school lunch program, volunteer coordination, seasonal events, and local marketing campaigns. The success of each venture depends on community networking and cooperative planning with partner organisations and authorities. Candidates selected for the seasonal internships have opportunities to contribute to a number of these engagements.

Integrated Systems Training

Integrated systems like Permaculture and Biodynamic Agriculture contribute to the practical and philosophical development of the organic sector. While healthy soils, wholesome produce, and sustainability are fundamental concerns for most integrated approaches, they also incorporate strong elements of social and cultural awareness.

Permaculture offers a system of “permanently sustainable” agriculture which is based on establishing positive relationships between the natural and built components of a productive landscape. Many of the design principles are based on ecological theory and cross-cultural traditions of environmental responsibility and land stewardship. From a philosophical perspective, the long-term goal of permaculture is to reduce the developed world’s dependence on industrial scale production and distribution of agricultural food resources.

Biodynamic Agriculture is informed by a philosophy which values the humanistic and spiritual components of resource management. By emphasising the holistic and integrated nature of productive resources, the biodynamic approach seeks to establish properly nourished and vital agricultural systems. 

Principles of Biodynamic Agriculture can be applied across a wide range of farming, gardening, and food production activities. The enduring success and popularity of the biodynamic approach is maintained by several important factors. By combining the best traditional methods with modern management systems, Biodynamic Agriculture has the potential to promote sustainability in combination with productivity. This feature is particularly relevant for producers in developing countries where environmental and social benefits cannot necessarily be purchased at the expense of productive capacity. Another distinguishing feature of Biodynamic Agriculture is the widespread accessibility of high quality educational resources and training programs. Most countries have Biodynamic Agriculture Associations. In addition to providing industry certification and assistance to members, they compile information on educational programs, practical demonstrations, and other relevant events.

providing structured yet flexible training opportunities

Located in the United Kingdom and Australia, The Biodynamic Education Centre offers structured yet flexible training options. The courses are designed to address the theoretical and practical requirements of individuals participating in large scale agricultural systems as well as those engaged in various horticultural and gardening activities. The centre’s Introductory Workshop and Foundation Course are both available as short residential programs where students investigate integral aspects of the biodynamic approach while increasing their understanding of the benefits associated with a properly balanced ecological system. These can be followed by the Certificate Program, a comprehensive two year undertaking delivered through distance education.

Self Directed Learning

Self Directed Learning (SDL) is an approach which enables large numbers of individuals to gain additional knowledge about organic agriculture and closely associated subjects like sustainability, biodiversity, human nutrition, and wellbeing. SDL is extremely flexible and often provides unique opportunities for establishing dialogue and other forms of mutual exchange between diverse communities and groups. With the assistance of internet and email services, individuals from the United States or Australia can better understand the experiences of organic farmers and agricultural cooperatives practicing in isolated and marginal economies.

A framework of self directed learning can be developed through selective participation in short courses, farm visits, industry conferences, publications, and workshops. There are numerous educational and training organisations which provide special interest courses on organic agriculture and closely related subjects. These include Organic Advocacy and Certification Authorities, Agricultural Associations, Environmental Research Institutes, Community Development Programs, Gardening Clubs, Distance Learning and Adult Education Programs.    As these providers usually operate on a non-profit basis, they are heavily dependent upon charitable donations and financial support from their members. Their annual subscriptions represent a convenient and cost effective way to support the organic movement while increasing access to training and educational resources.

Individuals seeking to increase their participation in the organic movement can also benefit from gaining membership of a respected umbrella organisation such as IFOAM. With collaborative assistance from a wide range of industry participants, the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements is directly involved with the coordination and distribution of invaluable educational resources. While education and training represents only one aspect of their service, they have identified it as a critical factor for the global development of Organic Agriculture.

In addition to accessing the internet training platform, IFOAM members are invited to participate in a regular series of programs, conferences, and events. Many of these will be relevant to industry participants whose interests extend beyond primary production and agricultural methods. IFOAM is well recognised for its capacity to address the wider political and social implications of the international organic movement.

While the overall availability and quality of training and educational resources is a distinguishing feature of the organic sector, there is at least one area that might benefit from further consideration. Consumers frequently complain of the confusion surrounding Organic Certification Standards and Labeling. Despite ongoing efforts to establish recognised certification and market identities for organic produce, there will always be a number of Certifying Authorities who seek to establish an independent protocol. Given this, there is presently a demand for short courses to assist consumers wishing to discriminate beyond the level of organic versus not organic.

Continued growth of the organic sector depends upon increasing consumer awareness, particularly the ability to distinguish between the varying levels of quality represented by the generic “organic” label. To maintain balance, these courses could commence from the premise that delivering ecologically sustainable produce is more challenging than the majority of consumers might imagine.