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Stock-Free Organic Farming Workshops 2018-2019

01 October 2018

Stock-free organic farming is a system of cultivation that views farms as part of the wider eco-system and excludes artificial chemicals (‘agrochemicals’: ‘pesticides’, ‘herbicides’, ‘chemical fertilizers’), livestock manures, animal remains from slaughterhouses, genetically modified material and anything of animal origin.

The overall objective of SAFE’s action is to increase the knowledge and use of the stock-free organic farming technique to contribute to the development of a more environmentally and climate friendly agricultural system.

As regards advocacy, SAFE is actively building a network of associations active in the field of stock-free organic farming, to coordinate and elaborate a common lobbying strategy at EU level. As regards awareness-raising, SAFE has organised, in collaboration with local partners, a European farmer-to-farmer training campaign on stock-free organic farming, to train up to 80 farmers from four EU countries. The trainings will raise the awareness of landowners and farmers and build their capacities on stock-free organic farming, allowing them to exchange information and best practices with other farmers under the supervision of a qualified trainer.


 

Countries Involved in SAFE’s Training Campaign on Stock-Free Organic Farming


2019

Training Days – ‘Grow Green – Transitioning to plant-based agriculture’ in Tolhurst Organic, United-Kingdom (September 6th, 2019)

On Friday 6 September, the Vegan Society, one of SAFE’s member, organised a on-farm knowledge building workshop at Tolhurst Organic, a 100% plant-based farm located in the Hardwick Estate in Whitchurch-on-Thames (UK).

More than 15 participants (among which farmers, think tank workers & NGOs representatives) had the opportunity to hear the plant-based organic success story of Iain Tolhurst, first plant-based grower in the UK and famous co-author of ‘Growing Green – Organic Techniques for a Sustainable Future‘.  Farmers could learn how to consider the challenges ahead in adopting this practice on their own land.

Participants also benefited from an relevant presentation made by Helen Harwatt, PhD and environmental social scientist with a focus on food systems shifts at Harvard University. This presentation was followed by Q&As.

Training Days – ‘Step by Step to Biocyclic-Vegan Farming’ in the Bürgerhaus Geithain in Saxony (June 5th-7th, 2019)

From 5 to 7 June 2019, the German Association for the Promotion of Biocyclic Vegan Agriculture (Förderkreis Biozyklisch-Veganer Anbau e.V.), held a seminar to introduce the theory and practice of stock-free organic agriculture to professionals working in the domain of agriculture and horticulture, agricultural students as well as other persons interested in this field. Given the increasing challenges with regard to climate, water, ecology and livestock husbandry, biocyclic vegan agriculture offers a promising option to practice purely plant-based organic farming.

30 participants from Germany and neighbouring countries were able to experience this for themselves during the three days of intensive work on the topic. Organised at the Bürgerhaus Geithain in Saxony, the training was sponsored by Safe Food Advocacy Europe and the “LUSH Charity Pot” and stood under the motto “Step by Step towards Biocyclic Vegan Agriculture, illustrated by the example of the organic operation Biohof Hausmann”.

On the first day of the seminar, the young vegetable farmer Daniel Hausmann, who is interested in getting inspected and certified according to the Biocyclic Vegan Standard, took the participants across his close-by farm and gave them an impressive insight into the practice of an organic farm which is already working according to vegan principles.
In the theoretical part of the seminar, Dr. agr. Johannes Eisenbach and Anja Bonzheim spoke on various topics such as the development of the Biocyclic Vegan Standard and the possibility of nutrient supply using biocyclic humus soil. In the practical part of the seminar, the participants drew direct links to Daniel Hausmann’s operation and worked out concrete recommendations for conversion and certification.
The seminar provided new, in-depth insights into the potentials and solutions offered by biocyclic vegan agriculture, an approach which at the moment is attracting increasing attention in the public debate. This can also be seen from the great interest shown in this event and the fact that more and more agricultural operations are convinced of the future viability of this approach and are seeking to be certified according to the Biocyclic Vegan Standard.

Training Day – ‘Step by Step to Biocyclic-Vegan Farming’ in Clemens Hund’s orchard farm (February 19th, 2019)

On February 19th 2019, SAFE’s member Föderkreis Biozyklisch-Veganer Anbau organized a training seminar about Stock-Free Organic farming in Meckenbeuren (Germany), supported by the LIFE programme and SAFE – Safe Food Advocacy Europe.

Programme:
The seminar included an introduction to the basic principles of biocyclic-vegan growing by Dr. Johannes Eisenbach and Anja Bonzheim, followed by a vegan lunch. In the afternoon, attendees learned about the importance of soil fertility and humic soil, as well as to implement these principles in real-life fruit-growing. The seminar was concluded by a guided farm tour of Clemens Hund’s orchard and a presentation of the marketing structures needed to convert to Biocyclic stock-free farming and of the certification process. This last topic was followed by a Q&A session.


2018

Training Day – ‘Gaietta’ Holistic Centre (November 10th, 2018)

On November 10th 2018, SONVE and Stile Consapevole organized an open day event around Stock-Free Organic farming in Rome (Italy), supported by the LIFE programme and SAFE – Safe Food Advocacy Europe.

Programme:

• Theory session: Stock-Free Organic Farming – history, principles and assumptions, experiences in Europe; situation in Italy: techniques and existing realities.

• Practical session: Demonstration of the principles of Stock-Free Organic Farming through two in-site stands, including involvement of participants in order to improve the assimilation of techniques.


Training Day –  Town Hall of Aradippou Municipality (October 11th, 2018)

On October 11th, our partner BNS Biocyclic Network Services Ltd. organized a training day on Stock-Free Organic in Aradippou (Cuprus) with the support of the LIFE programme and Safe Food Advocacy Europe.

The training was entitled “The Biocyclic-Vegan Standard, A New Approach Organic Agriculture”. The programme included an introduction to the basic principles of the Biocyclic-Vegan Standard; an exchange of best practices concerning compost producing techniques; a visit of the site; a presentation on the importance of humus soil for the environment, soil fertility and yields in stock-free agriculture; a presentation of examples of good agricultural practice in biocyclic vegan farming in Greece, Germany and Austria, Questions & Answers; a field visit at Economides Farm (biocyclic vegan production of oranges, potatoes and ginger).


Training Day – Vert d’Iris @ Betteraves enz. in Anderlecht (October 6th, 2018)

On October 6th, our partner Végétik organized a training day on Stock-Free Organic in Anderlecht (Belgium) with the support of the LIFE programme and Safe Food Advocacy Europe. The training day gathered together 21 Belgian producers and farmers, agrobiology students from ULB (Free University of Brussels) and UCL (Catholic University of Louvain-la-Neuve)

The trainer Benoît Noël provided the participants with all his expertise in the field of stock-free organic farming. Attendees followed the follwoing programme:  Introduction: Cornerstone and challenges of stock-free agriculture; Existing mission statement and fundamental principles; Technical visit of the site; Technical aspects of Vegan Farming.


Training Day – Biocyclic Park of Kalamata (October 4th, 2018)

On 4 October 2018, our partner BNS Biocyclic Network Services Ltd. organized a training day on Stock-Free Organic farming in Kalamata (Greece) with the support of the LIFE programme and Safe Food Advocacy Europe. The training day gathered together 20 Greek farmers, Agriculture consultants, auditors and director of control and certification of BIO HELLAS and DIO. Together, they could benefit from BNS great expertise on the subject of Stock-Free Organic Farming and could exchange best practices with fellow farmers.

The training was entitled “The Biocyclic-Vegan Standard, A New Approach Organic Agriculture”. The programme included an introduction to the basic principles of the Biocyclic-Vegan Standard, an exchange of best practices concerning compost producing techniques, a visit of the site in Kalamata and a presentation of examples of good agricultural practice in biocyclic vegan farming in Greece.