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Welcome to the Learning Paths

The Learning Paths provide an opportunity for advisors and other professionals to deepen their knowledge of organic farming practices and strengthen their advisory skills. They build on the basic course on the key principles of organic agriculture and allow participants to further explore specific technical topics, innovative farming approaches, and methods for supporting change in organic farming.

The Learning Paths cover a broad range of topics across five agricultural sectors: arable farming, ruminant husbandry, horticulture, fruit production, and viticulture. In addition, dedicated pathways focus on advisory methods and soft skills, supporting advisors in areas such as innovation processes, group facilitation, and collaborative learning.

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How to use the Learning Paths

The Learning Paths are designed for flexible, self-directed learning. The units follow a logical sequence, and we recommend completing them in the suggested order to build knowledge progressively. However, participants can also focus on individual topics that are most relevant to their work and return to other units when needed.

Participants can complete the pathways individually at their own pace or join learning groups to exchange experiences, discuss practical challenges, and reflect on how new knowledge can be applied in their advisory practice.

Each unit requires approximately 90–120 minutes to complete. Reflection activities support the transfer of knowledge into daily advisory practice, and participants can complete a final self-assessment to receive a certificate.

Language

The learning paths are currently available in English and mainly use English-language learning materials. Where materials in other languages are used, a summary is provided in English with the original sources referenced. AI-based translation tools may be used to support the translation of relevant materials.

Disclaimer

The Learning Paths are designed as educational resources to support knowledge exchange, learning, and professional development. They provide general information and learning materials related to organic farming practices and advisory methods.

While every effort has been made to ensure the quality and accuracy of the information provided, the content is intended for learning purposes only and does not replace professional advice or official regulations. The project partners cannot be held responsible for incomplete, outdated, or incorrect information, or for decisions made based on the content of the Learning Paths.

Participants should always verify applicable national and regional legislation, requirements, and official guidelines before applying the information in practice, as regulations and conditions may vary between countries and regions.

THEMATIC

Arable

Introduction to organic arable farming systems, including soil management, crop rotation, biodiversity, system approaches, crop health, and value chains to support resilient and productive organic farming systems.

  • Know the principles and main challenges of organic arable farming.
  • Understand the interactions between soil, crops, biodiversity, and farm management.
  • Get familiar with system approaches, nutrient and weed management, and crop health strategies.
  • Know the basics of variety choice, seed systems, and post-harvest management.
Target group:
  • Advisors and future advisors in organic arable farming
  • Professionals interested in organic crop production
Prerequisites for participants:
  • Basic agronomic knowledge and/or
  • Attendance of Basic course.
Start learning path
This learning pathway consists of 7 units.
Organic apple orchard with ripe fruit under protective hail netting.

THEMATIC

Fruits

Introduction to organic fruit growing systems and management, including soil management, choice of cultivar & rootstock, implementation of functional biodiversity, pest and disease management.

  • Know how system choice influences orchard management.
  • Know the importance of varieties, rootstocks, and functional biodiversity for organic fruit production.
  • Get familiar with the basics of soil management, pest and disease control.
Target group:
  • Advisors new to (organic) fruit production
  • Fruit advisors new to organic fruit production
Prerequisites for participants:
  • Agronomic basic knowledge and/or
  • Attendance of Basic course.
Start learning path
This learning pathway consists of 6 units.
Vegetable fields with irrigation sprinklers and a tractor in the background.

THEMATIC

Horticulture

Introduction to organic outdoor vegetable production, including crop rotation, soil and nutrient management, seeds, pest and disease control, and weed management to support sustainable vegetable production systems.

  • Understand the principles and framework of organic vegetable production.
  • Know the importance of seeds, varieties, and crop rotation for production systems.
  • Get familiar with soil, nutrient, pest, disease, and weed management strategies.
  • Apply practical approaches to support organic vegetable production.
Target group:
  • New and aspiring agricultural advisors
  • Arable advisors expanding their knowledge of organic vegetable production
Prerequisites for participants:
  • Basic agricultural knowledge and/or
  • Attendance of Basic course.
Start learning path
This learning pathway consists of 7 units.
Cattle and calves grazing and resting on a green pasture

THEMATIC

Ruminants

Introduction to organic dairy farming systems and feeding management, including organic principles, feed production, grazing, supplementation, and optimisation of feed rations to support sustainable and productive organic dairy systems.

  • Know the organic principles and rules related to feeding organic dairy cattle.
  • Know the main feed types used in organic dairy production.
  • Understand the basics of grazing, supplementation, and nutrient supply.
  • Get familiar with optimising feed rations for organic dairy farms.
Target group:
  • Advisors new to organic dairy production
  • Advisors supporting organic dairy farmers
Prerequisites for participants:
  • Basic livestock knowledge and/or
  • Attendance of Basic course.
Number of units to be confirmed.
Organic vineyard rows overlooking a green agricultural landscape.

THEMATIC

Viticulture

Content to be added.

To be added.
To be added.
Number of units to be confirmed.

 

 

 

 
Two people examining crops in a cereal field.

ADVISORY METHODS

Communication Skills

Introduction to effective communication in agricultural advisory, including communication patterns, speaking effectively, assertiveness, active listening, structuring advisory conversations, and persuasive argumentation.

  • Understand how communication patterns and perspectives influence advisory conversations.
  • Apply techniques for speaking clearly, assertively, and effectively.
  • Use active listening to better understand farmers’ needs and perspectives.
  • Structure advisory conversations and develop convincing, situation-appropriate arguments.
Target group:
  • Agricultural advisors and future advisors
  • Professionals working directly with farmers in advisory and support roles
Prerequisites for participants:
  • Basic advisory experience and/or
  • Attendance of Basic course.
This learning pathway consists of 6 units.
Group of agricultural advisors observing and discussing cattle on pasture.

ADVISORY METHODS

Group Advisory

Introduction to farmer group approaches, including peer learning, facilitation, demonstration formats, and collaborative innovation to support practical knowledge exchange in agriculture.

  • Understand the benefits of farmer groups for knowledge exchange and learning.
  • Know the role of advisors as facilitators of group processes.
  • Get familiar with key elements of effective farmer group activities.
  • Apply group advisory approaches to different advisory and training contexts.
Target group:
  • Agricultural advisors and future advisors
  • Professionals interested in participatory and collaborative advisory approaches
Prerequisites for participants:
  • Basic advisory knowledge and/or
  • Attendance of Basic course.
This learning pathway consists of 6 units.
Group of advisors discussing ideas around a table during a workshop.

ADVISORY METHODS

Innovation

Introduction to interactive innovation processes, including models, tools, and practical approaches to support advisors in facilitating innovation, managing change, and dealing with resistance and conflicts.

  • Understand the role and competences of an innovation advisor.
  • Know tools to analyse, design, and facilitate interactive innovation processes.
  • Reflect on own advisory roles and approaches.
  • Get familiar with strategies for managing change, conflicts, and resistance.
Target group:
  • Experienced rural advisors
  • Innovation advisors and EIP-Agri consultants
  • Advisors with different thematic backgrounds
Prerequisites for participants:
  • Experience with advisory work and group processes
This learning pathway consists of 6 units.
Group of women gathering and waving at an outdoor agricultural event.

ADVISORY METHODS

Women in Agriculture

Introduction to gender-responsive advisory practice, including women-led innovation, networks, entrepreneurship support, stakeholder engagement, care-related barriers, and the development of practical advisory responses.

  • Recognise women’s contributions to agriculture and rural innovation and identify relevant structural barriers.
  • Understand how networks, entrepreneurship support and stakeholder engagement can strengthen women-led initiatives.
  • Recognise how care responsibilities, maternity leave, mobility and social networks can affect participation and continuity.
  • Apply gender-responsive perspectives to analyse practical cases and develop realistic advisory responses.
Target group:
  • Agricultural and rural advisors and future advisors
  • Professionals supporting women farmers, entrepreneurs and rural innovators
  • Professionals interested in more inclusive and gender-responsive advisory approaches
Prerequisites for participants:
  • Basic knowledge of agriculture or rural advisory work and/or attendance of the Basic Course
  • No previous specialist knowledge of gender-responsive advisory practice is required.
This learning pathway consists of 6 units.
 
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OrganicAdviceNetwork is funded by the European Union (Grant no. 101134850) and by the Swiss State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (Grant no. 23.0639, 101134850). Views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or Swiss authorities.

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