Starting the first European network of organic advisors
Last April, 18 European project partners of the OrganicAdviceNetwork project met for three days planning the first steps to set-up and roll out a European network of advisors specialised in organic to strengthen organic advisory services.
Creating and animating a European network
OrganicAdviceNetwork will organise 30 cross-visits with seasoned organic advisors and advisors interested in organic. They will visit sites relevant to advisors across five geographical zones and across topics: 20 visits for arable and ruminant and 10 for vegetable, fruit and viticulture sectors. The network will also develop continuous knowledge exchange activities ranging from soft skills trainings to online training modules on diverse agricultural topics to support both new and experienced organic advisors.
The project will pay attention to conventional advisors and young graduates interested in acquiring skills in organic practices and advice.
Strengthening organic advisory services
Besides building a network and exchanging, the project will identify and promote successful business models for structuring and financing organic advisory services through an “Organic Advice Contest”.
Read more in the project’s press release and watch the OrganicAdviceNetwork launch video.
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. Organic advisors with different levels of experience 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].
OrganicAdviceNetwork is funded by the European Union (Grant no. 101134850) and by the Swiss State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI) (Grant no. 23.0639, 101134850). 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.”