Successful HNEE format for knowledge building: successful online seminar series on organic field vegetable cultivation as a prelude
The EIP project Regional Organic Vegetables from Brandenburg at the Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development (HNEE) has just successfully completed a series of online seminars offered to practitioners and HNEE students in collaboration with the Fördergemeinschaft Ökologischer Landbau (FÖL). The special format with the topic of organic field vegetable cultivation met with an unexpectedly high level of interest. Further educational and advisory programmes will follow in the future. This programme will significantly advance the development of knowledge about organic field vegetable cultivation in the region.
The EIP project Regional Organic Vegetables from Brandenburg is a co-operation between HNEE and the Fördergemeinschaft Ökologischer Landbau Berlin-Brandenburg (FÖL) and has developed a new format for building knowledge about the cultivation of organic field vegetables. The aim is to establish and expand sustainable organic vegetable production in Brandenburg in order to close the gap between supply and demand from the region and for the region. An important component of the project is the development of knowledge in the region through new educational and advisory programmes. As part of this, a five-part online seminar series took place, which ended successfully on 15 April and met with unexpectedly high interest. Registrations came from Brandenburg as well as from neighbouring regions. The seminars were primarily aimed at practitioners who already grow field vegetables or would like to develop this line of business in the future. This allowed future gardeners and farmers to benefit from the practice-orientated exchange. "It was particularly pleasing that HNEE students were also able to take part in the seminar series alongside established producers," confirms Evelyn Juister. She was instrumental in designing the seminar series and is responsible for the educational and advisory programmes within the project.
The five events in the seminar series provided an in-depth insight into different crops and overarching topics in organic field vegetable cultivation. A particular highlight was the participation of Naturland consultant Holger Buck, who contributed his many years of experience in providing specialist advice on field vegetable cultivation. The first part of the event focussed on the cultivation of various crops - in particular carrots, onions, parsnips and beetroot. In the second part of the event series, the participants dealt with the topics of irrigation, fertilisation and strategies for weed control. The online format offered plenty of room for discussion and peer-to-peer dialogue between practitioners and students in addition to concentrated technical input. The seminar series was just the start of knowledge building in organic field vegetable cultivation. Several ring events on farms and individual farm consultations are planned for spring and summer 2021.
Project background:
Since 2018, the EIP project Regional Organic Vegetables from Brandenburg has been working to further expand the value chains for organic vegetables and potatoes in the capital region. Over 20 practice partners from the region are involved. These include farms of various sizes as well as companies in the downstream sector: processing, community catering and trade, which contribute their expertise in processing, community catering and trade.
- Together with the FÖL, the HNEE team designs the framework in which the practitioners develop ideas and implement concrete measures. The process is always orientated towards practical benefits. An important component is the development of knowledge through educational and advisory programmes. Some of these are also open to a broader specialist audience, as in the case of the new online seminar series.
- Project duration: 01/2018 to 12/2022
- More information about the EIP project
About the FÖL
The FÖL is the regional umbrella organisation for the organic food industry in the Berlin-Brandenburg region. As the organisation representing the interests of the industry and sustainably oriented consumers, it is the central point of contact for all questions relating to organic farming in the metropolitan region. As lead partner in the project, it is responsible in particular for the coordination and consolidation of sub-project tasks, administrative activities and communication within the Operational Group.