The EUs target to achieve 25% organic farmland by 2030, requires a threefold increase in the current organic area and the inclusion of 700,000 new farmers. To meet this goal, up to 20,000 more organic advisers in the EU are needed.
A diverse network of experienced advisors
The EU-funded OrganicAdviceNetwork (OAN) project (April 2024 to March 2028) will establish a network of 1,000 organic advisers across all EU Member States and seven other countries in Europe. Plant production and animal husbandry advisers will exchange knowledge and provide mutual support, fostering diversity of organic advisory services from private and public organisations or self-employed professionals. The project will develop an action plan to ensure the network’s long-term continuation, empower organic advisers to enhance the capacity of their organisations and create organic advisory services. The network welcomes experienced organic advisory services and advisors, but also conventional advisors and young graduates and newcomers willing to acquire skills in organic advice.
The project will ensure the animation of the network through various in-person and online opportunities for knowledge exchange and training. As part of the in-person exchange, 30 Cross Visits across five geographical zones will be organized for various agricultural sectors. The project goes beyond technical aspects of organic advice and will also give the opportunity to learn and discuss about different advisory methods by proposing 5 Soft Skills Trainings. Online animation of the network is also foreseen with e-learning modules, online networking opportunities to enable peer-to-peer exchange, providing online community spaces for the overall network and 5 thematic networks (Organic Arable Production, Organic Vegetable Production, Organic Fruit Production, Organic Viticulture, Organic Ruminant Husbandry).
Project Objectives
- Create a strong European-wide network of advisors with organic farming expertise
- Inspire and challenge the mindsets of advisors and farmers
- Enhance advisors’ knowledge about organic farming practices
- Improve advisory methods
- Contribute to building organisational capacity of advisory services
- Highlight specific needs for policy support for strengthening organic advisory services
More information
Project coordination: Claire Morelle, IFOAM Organics Europe, claire.morelle(at)organicseurope.bio
Project duration: April 2024 to March 2028
Further links
- organicadvicenetwork.eu: OrganicAdviceNetwork Project Website
- cordis.europa.eu: OrganicAdviceNetwork Cordis Project Entry
- youtube.com: Project Channel
Source: OAN – OrganicAdviceNetwork
