News - Training Advice & Education (36 articles)
For stories and links about training, advice and educational resources.
ORC OPEN DAYS
Added: 25th June 2010
Celebrating 30 years of the Organic Research Centre
The Organic Research Centre is holding two open days on the 16th & 17th of July as part of our 30th Anniversary programme.
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Sustainable Food Security
Added: 1st April 2010
Discussion & presentations from the ORC Producer Conference
The discussion on “Sustainable Food Security” was lead by presentations by Niels Halberg who presented a paper titled “Is Organic Farming an unjustified luxury in a world with too many hungry people?” and Lawrence Woodward with a paper titled “Organic Farming and Food Security – A UK Perspective”. Halberg spoke of how an increasing world population and climate change will be a challenge to food security but there is a need for a new production paradigm to integrate natural resource management with food and nutritional security. He suggested that organic (both certified and non-certified) can significantly contribute to this new approach. Woodward raised the questions of why UK governments and policy makers do not see organic farming as being part of the solution and conclude that it was probably due to the focus on yields rather than total productivity. He concluded that organic farming does have a role to play in food security but that the real challenge is shifting the policy debate from more food at any cost. We need to embrace food sovereignty and this will allow us to call for and make fundamental change.
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ORC Producer Conference 2010 proceedings now available online
Added: 1st April 2010
Session summaries & presentations from this years conference
We are pleased to be able to offer content from the 2010 Organic Research Centre's Producer Conference online.
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2010 Organic Producer's Conference
Added: 22nd October 2009
The Organic Reserch Centre's producer conference January 7-8
The Organic Reserch Centre's annual producer conference will be taking place in January 2010 at Harper Adams and there will be a full and exciting programme. This year the conference has been extended to two full days with more workshops and contributions. This will allow us to explore the full range of issues and challenges which organic producers need to grapple with in developing their systems.
Download the conference flyer with the full programme and the Booking and registration form here.
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PhD Studentship offer from ORC and the University of Reading
Added: 16th October 2009
Multiple biodiversity benefits from legume based mixtures
The Organic Research Centre and Reading University are currently offering the oppurtunity for a PhD Studentship entitled - Multiple biodiversity benefits from diverse legume based mixtures
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2010 ORGANIC PRODUCERS’ CONFERENCE
Added: 24th September 2009
CALL FOR PAPERS AND WORKSHOP PROPOSALS
CALL FOR PAPERS AND WORKSHOP PROPOSALS
7th and 8th January 2010 Harper Adams University, Shropshire, TF10 8NB
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Organic farming conversion scheme opening in Wales
Added: 10th September 2009
Scheme opens to applications from 15/9/09 to 30/9/09
The Welsh Assembly Government has announced the opening of an Organic Farming Conversion Scheme.
Farmers will be able to apply to join the scheme between 15 September 2009 and 30 September 2009.
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Making the low carbon economy work
Added: 18th June 2009
Insider accounts of low carbon initiatives
Technological and economic initiatives alone will not be enough to bring about the radical change needed to combat runaway global warming. Human relationships and social interactions are critical to initiating and driving innovation. “Lowcarbonworks” is a five year project that has been studying how industry and local authorities have managed low carbon initiatives. A conference; “Insider Voices: Human dimensions of low carbon technology” is being held on 14th July where 7 examples of successful and unsuccessful initiatives will be presented to highlight practical ways forward.
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Bid for EU money to overcome “weak and misunderstood” organic brand
Added: 12th June 2009
Organic sector bid for EU promotion funds is being set up
A UK organic sector initiative is being established to access EU funds set aside to promote awareness of organic food and farming. There is a view that the organic brand is weak and misunderstood in the UK and a national programme is needed to address this. Other EU countries have been accessing these funds since 2004 and now a sector wide initiative, co-ordinated by Sustain and supported by ORC and others, is preparing a bid for Defra to submit to the EU later this year. The initial core group is actively seeking the involvement of all parts of the sector to ensure that the bid and the subsequent campaign are successful.
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Good news for Farming Futures
Added: 29th April 2009
Defra gives £150,000 towards the Farming Futures project.
From facing shut down in March, the fortunes of Farming Futures have been turned around by a Defra grant which means the project can run on for another year until March 2010.
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New initiative to secure EU funding
Added: 13th March 2009
Calls for a public information campaign on organic food
New initiative for EU funding gathers pace.
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New green farming guide launched
Added: 27th January 2009
A new one-stop shop practical guide
New booklet offering free advice to help farmers, growers and land managers protect the environment effectively is now available.
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The Organic Research Centre Producer Conference
Added: 22nd January 2009
Proceedings, slides and notes from the January conference
Conference Proceedings
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Extension of the Vocational Training Scheme (VTS)
Added: 21st January 2009
Financial support for your training needs
South West farmers and producers: financial support for your training needs.
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Organic Apprenticeship Scheme
Added: 20th January 2009
Find out what it’s really like to be an organic apprentice –
Read the apprentice blog.
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Organic Farm Management Handbook 2009
Added: 20th January 2009
2009 edition of the Organic Farm Management Handbook
The new edition of the Organic Farm Management Handbook is now available.
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Organic Movement or Market?
Added: 16th January 2009
Organic farmers and producers in hot debate
Lively discussions at the recent Organic Research Centre Producer Conference.
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Facing the future
Added: 5th November 2008
Report from the Welsh Organic Producer’s conference
Thursday 23 October 2008, Llanelwedd, Builth Wells
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Organic Apprenticeship Scheme
Added: 24th October 2008
Soil Assn., Organic Apprenticeship Scheme launched
After a one year pilot phase, the Soil Association launches its Organic Apprenticeship Scheme.
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Help and advice in Northern England
Added: 24th October 2008
Northern organic programmes, help and advice available
Funding changes have meant a new structure for the Northern organic programmes, but help and advice is still available.
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Welsh organic gathering
Added: 3rd October 2008
Welsh Organic Prod Conference Oct 2008
This year's Organic Centre Wales conference is entitled 'Preparing for a challenging future'
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The rise and fall in organic conversion
Added: 9th June 2008
Roger Hitchings discusses the Organic Advisory Service
Roger Hitchings of the Organic Research Centre discusses the new government organic advisory service for famers and growers on Farming Today.
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New round of grants for biomass fuel
Added: 9th June 2008
Grants available for producers of biomass fuel
Farmers, foresters and biomass producers can now apply for up to £200,000 to boost biomass fuel for heat and electricity generation.
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Biodynamic: a new approach to organic?
Added: 4th June 2008
Workshops run by the Biodynamic Agriculture Association
Workshops throughout April and May run by the Biodynamic Agricultural Association have provided an on-farm introduction to biodynamic farming.
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Open Farm Sunday
Added: 3rd June 2008
2008 Open Farm Sunday described as best yet
More than 400 farms involved in this year's event.
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The Louis Bolk Institute (LBI) and Agro Eco merge
Added: 3rd June 2008
The LBI and Agro Eco to merge
The two organisations will be merging, combining research and advice and improving the transfer of knowledge.
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Making more use of research
Added: 2nd June 2008
Research information more accessible for farmers & growers
Mark Measures, Director of the Institute of Organic Training and Advice summarises the improved access to research information for farmers and advisers.
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OCIS: free advice for organic conversion
Added: 2nd May 2008
Service HELPLINE number 0800 980 0048
Free advice for farmers and growers thinking of converting to organic production.
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Front garden farmers of the cities
Added: 18th April 2008
Urban food growing network encourages locally grown food
Food up Front encourages more locally produced food to be grown in cities.
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Organic Growers Alliance launches new website
Added: 27th March 2008
OGA launched new website at its very first AGM
The new website aims to help the organisation become the voice of organic horticulture.
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Free organic conversion advice launched
Added: 26th March 2008
Defra launches free information and advice service
The new Defra service will provide free information and advice for English farmers considering organic conversion.
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Machinery rings
Added: 10th March 2008
Newsletter outlines the benefits of machinery rings
The latest edition of the Northern Organic Newsletter highlights the work of the Machinery ring Association of England and Wales.
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Doing it right, Doing it better - proceedings
Added: 8th February 2008
The Organic Research Centre's 2nd Producer Conference
Proceedings from the conference, hosted in collaboration with Organic Inform, are now available online.
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Essays and thoughts on the organic movement
Added: 1st February 2008
A new book explores the growth of the organic movement
A collection of essays and thoughts from “Ernest Organic” looks at the growth of the organic movement with a critical eye.
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Organic Inform Newsletter
Added: 25th January 2008
Monthly Organic Inform newsletter with latest news & events
Each month, Organic Inform puts together a newsletter with the latest news and events. Register to ensure you receive your copy.
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New organic marketing opportunity
Added: 21st January 2008
Soil Association compiling new regional organic directories
Local businesses are being asked to request a listing in the directory.
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