Date
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Organiser(s)
Biological Farming Systems Group, Wageningen University (Prof. dr. Ariena van Bruggen).
Scope
Production and consumption of organic agricultural products have risen dramatically in recent years. This trend is viewed with scepticism by many people, including scientists who wonder if organic agriculture is a more sustainable and environment-friendly form of agriculture than intensive agriculture. Organic agriculture is frequently more extensive than conventional agriculture; can this form of agriculture contribute to a reduction in global climate change, maintenance of biodiversity, and a stable and viable rural community? Is the quality of organic products different from that of conventional products, and how can the demand for high quality, trustworthy organic products be ascertained? Can people in the tropics benefit from the organic market? These questions will be addressed in this combined PhD / MSc course on the science of organic production: from ecology to socio-economics.
There will be 4 main themes (history and philosophy of organic agriculture, sustainability, biodiversity, and production chains). The first theme will be presented as a general introduction to organic agriculture. PhD's may skip this part. The course consists of plenary lectures by internationally well-known scientists, computer exercises, brief presentations of PhD research within the themes of each day, discussions in small groups, and plenary discussions.