Advancing organic farming in Europe
The EU-funded OrganicAdviceNetwork(opens in new window) project has launched OrganicAdviceNetwork.space(opens in new window), an online exchange and learning platform for organic farming advice. The platform provides various e-learning modules and opportunities for in-person exchange and networking. This will enable users to enhance their technical knowledge about organic farming and learn about effective advisory methods and soft skills. The platform is open to advisors, newcomers to the field, students and anyone interested in organic farming advice, regardless of profession, organisational affiliation or background. Users will have the opportunity to seek advice, get informed and exchange views with other advisors from all over Europe in the space’s different thematic networks dedicated to five agricultural sectors: arable production, viticulture, ruminant husbandry, fruit production and vegetable production. Each network has a forum where users can ask questions, start and reply to discussions, and share information and events.
Cross-border visits
OrganicAdviceNetwork plans to host a total of 30 cross visits(opens in new window) across the five agricultural sectors in different geographical zones of Europe. Held over 2 to 3 days, these visits will provide opportunities for cross-border knowledge exchange and peer-to-peer learning within agricultural sectors, giving participants valuable insights into innovative organic farming practices. Registration for the 15 cross visits organised for 2025 is already open. Events focusing on fruit production include ‘Organic Cherry & Olive Farming’ (Croatia) and ‘Converting Apples & Cherries to Organic’ (Switzerland). Five cross visits will be dealing with arable production: ‘Resilient Organic Arable Farming & Value Chains’ (Romania), ‘Organic Arable Crops and Farming’ (Portugal), ‘Resilience of arable farms: Organic selection, Diversification & Cooperation’ (France), ‘Water Management & Visit to Organic Field Days’ (Germany), and ‘Soil, Nutrients & Weeds in Organic Arable Farming’ (Denmark). Another five events will focus on topics relating to ruminant husbandry: ‘Organic Dairy Sheep Production Challenges’ (Bulgaria), ‘Grass-fed organic cattle production’ (central Estonia), ‘Mixed Farming & Climate Change’ (France), ‘Improving Feed Supply in Climate-Affected Regions’ (Hungary) and ‘Organic Milk Production in a Vulnerable Climate’ (Spain). The final two available cross visits will be on ‘Resilient Market Gardening’ (Austria) and ‘Resilient Vegetable Production & Visit to Tech&Bio’ (France). The only event dedicated to viticulture for 2025 – ‘Organic viticultural systems’ (Italy) – is already fully booked. The working language of these cross visits will be English.
Learning the basics
In November 2025, the project is starting an online basic course(opens in new window) on the principles of organic farming. In 12 weekly live sessions, experts will offer insights into the legal context of organic agriculture, soil, fertility and nutrient management. They will also share knowledge on system approaches, such as biodiversity management and agroforestry. Registration will be opening soon. Soft skills training is also part of the OrganicAdviceNetwork (Reaching 25% organic farmland in the EU by stronger and better-connected organic advisors and organic advisory services) strategy. On 29 January, the project organised a joint workshop(opens in new window) on soft skills for farm advisors together with sister projects Stratus(opens in new window) and AdvisoryNetPEST(opens in new window). The key insights from the workshop will inform future training activities. For more information, please see: OrganicAdviceNetwork project website(opens in new window)
