Organic Agriculture and Organic Agribusiness

Objective and Target Participants
This course is organized to acquaint participants with the key concepts as well as the principles, skills, tools, and techniques of organic production, processing, certification, labeling, and marketing of organic agricultural and food products.

This course is designed for those who are:

• Interested in learning the concepts and different approaches to organic agriculture and organic agribusiness.
• Working in agriculture and agribusiness, government organizations, academic organizations, research institutes, and agricultural extension services of government organizations and non-government organizations.
• Keen in pursuing organic agriculture and organic agribusiness as a career, and have special interest in the subject.

Background

Organic agriculture performs multiple functions:

• Reducing the cost of cultivation
• Accessing premium organic markets
• Improving health of humans, animals, plants, and soil
• Conserving natural resources (land, water, biodiversity) and the environment.

Organic agricultural and food products remain niche products
Driven by growing consumer concerns about food safety and the need for healthier lifestyles, the global market for organic products is expanding fast, resulting in greater opportunities for Asian producers. Organic agricultural and food products, however, remain niche products, although they command premium price. Marketability at a premium depends on consumer confidence in the authenticity of organic products. Therefore, producers need a way of assuring consumers that a product has been grown using organic methods. This requires a credible system of organic standards, certification, and traceability in place.

Scope of organic agriculture
Organic agriculture is not just for more affluent countries but can be applied in other situations. In less developed countries especially, it can contribute to sustainable socioeconomic development through providing healthier food, conserving agricultural resource base (land, water, and biodiversity), mitigating impact of agriculture on climate change, increasing farm profitability, and contributing to foreign exchange earnings by exporting organics.

Course Content
This course consists of 10 modules as listed below
Module 1: Overview
Module 2: Conversion (to Organic Agriculture)
Module 3: Soil Fertility Management
Module 4: Insect, Disease and Weed Management
Quiz 1
Module 5: Organic Biomass and Resource Management
Module 6: Organic Plant, Animal and Aquaculture Production
Module 7: Food Processing
Quiz 2
Module 8: Organic Guarantee System
Module 9: Organic Marketing and Trade
Quiz 3
Module 10: Frequently Asked Questions
Exam