29/02/2024

OrganicAdviceNetwork project, the first Europe-wide network for organic advisors, starting soon!

As the EU Farm-to-Fork Strategy aims to achieve 25% of organic farmland in the EU by 2030, new organic farmers are expected to enter organic, and there is a need for more, better connected and skilled organic advisors. 

The OrganicAdviceNetwork project will create and animate a network of advisors and advisory services for the organic sector across Europe. In-person and online training will take place in various agricultural topics covering ruminants, arable, fruits, vegetables, and viticulture. In addition, courses introducing the principles of organic agriculture and addressing the frequently occurring issues in the conversion process will be provided to conventional advisors or young graduates interested in becoming organic advisors.  

Key to the establishment of the network will be the cross-visits foreseen in the project, which are unique opportunities for new or experienced organic advisors to connect and exchange with their peers from neighbouring countries.  

The project will also analyse and identify financing strategies and promising business models for a long-lasting and well-structured network of advisory services for organic across Europe. Advisory services from 14 European countries are involved in the project but all types of organic advisors and advisory services willing to join the network and/or attend the training are very welcome!  

The project kick-off meeting will take place in Brussels mid-April. You will hear from us very soon on our website. 

If you are interested in our project activities and would like to get further engaged, please contact [email protected] and [email protected].  

About the OrganicAdviceNetwork 

The OrganicAdviceNetwork project will create and animate a network of advisors and advisory services for the organic sector across Europe. It will do so via in-person and online trainings and courses on a wide variety or agricultural topics to help conventional advisors or young graduates interested in becoming organic advisors. To-be and seasoned organic advisors will exchange with their peers. The project will also research the finance and business-side of establishing a European network of organic advisory services.  

Advisory services from 14 European countries are involved in the project but all types of organic advisors and advisory services willing to join the network and/or attend the trainings are very welcome!  

As IFOAM Organics Europe we lead on this project. For more information, please contact [email protected] and [email protected]

Carmen Landuyt (CCBT) and Claire Morelle (IFOAM Organics Europe) presenting the OrganicAdviceNetwork project at the EU CAP NETWORK seminar “Lifelong learning skills for agricultural advisors and training providers”, February 2024, Vienna

OrganicAdviceNetwork is funded by the European Union (Grant no. 101134850) and by the Swiss State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI) (Grant no. tbd). Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union, European Research Executive Agency (REA) or Swiss State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI). Neither the European Union nor any other the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

 
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