GOOD PRACTICES FOR PROMOTING TRANSFER OF INNOVATIONS IN ORGANIC AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION AND ORGANIC FOOD RETAILING AGRO –START CONFERENCE: TRANSNATIONAL CONFERENCE FOR SME BUSINESS SUPPORT SERVICES IN THE ANIMAL BREEDING AND HORTICULTURE SECTORS 14 November 2013, Sheraton Sofia Hotel Balkan, Sofia, Bulgaria Prof. Dr. Mariana Ivanova University of Agribusiness and Rural Development

UNIVERSITY OF AGRIBUSINESS AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT /UARD/ - PLOVDIV 21 YEARS UARD

University of Agribusiness and rural development through its Institute of Regional Studies, Section "Organic Farming“ is a member of IFOAM GOOD PRACTICES IN TRAINING IN ORGANIC FARMING AND ORGANIC FOOD RETAILING Based on the example of the implementation of national and international projects

ECOQUALIFY III: IMPLEMENTATION OF A QUALITY ASSURANCE SYSTEM FOR TRAINING IN ORGANIC FOOD RETAIL LIFELONG LEARNING PROGRAMME LEONARDO DA VINCI Transfer of innovation GR1-LEO

EcoQualify - European system of quality assurance in education and training in the field of organic food retailing What is "EcoQualify"?

European system of quality assurance "E (co)- Qualify" is aimed at training and education of: managers personnel workers in the field of trade in organic products.

Coordinator: University of Thessaly, Greece In project E ​​ (co)-Qualify III nine partners from Austria, Bulgaria, Germany, Greece, Romania and Turkey have developed a general framework of a European quality assurance system for continuous training in the field of organic food retailing.

Establishing of a European IT-based Learning Platform for further education in organic food retailing

E-Training for organic food retailers

The Modules cover the following issues: Basics of organic food production Organic Farming Organic Food Production Trading organic food Retailing organic food Handling and merchandise of goods Marketing and communication Economic viability Organic fresh food Fruits and vegetables Milk and dairy products Cheese Organic dried products Grains and cereals, bread and bakery products Oils and fat Soya, legumes and pulses The 12 modules have been translated into the languages of the partner countries: Austria Bulgaria Czech Republic France Germany Italy Poland The 12 modules have been translated into the languages of the partner countries: Austria Bulgaria Czech Republic France Germany Italy Poland

Priority areas of work of the partners in the Western Balkans: organic livestock organic horticulture, organic vegetables, field crops plant protection soils ecology environment, management in organic production, incl. risk management, and certification.

UARD role as a partner is to provide training of university teachers in three areas : - Entrepreneurship; - Communications with end users and creating science-business relationship in organic farming; - Assistance in the development and testing of the curricula.

NEWCAP: „New European Standards in the Context of Reformed Common Agricultural Policy“

Project partnership Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra Agroinštitút Nitra, štátny podnik, Slovakia The Confederazione Italiana Agricoltori Toscana (CIA Toscana), Florence, Italy University of Agribusiness and Rural Development, Plovdiv, Bulgaria

Organizing and conducting long-term and short- term courses (in Plovdiv, Rousse and Veliko Tarnovo) and information sessions (in 36 municipalities) Training under Measure 111 "Vocational training, information and diffusion of knowledge" from the Rural Development Program for the period of , supported by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development.

Trained farmers: Information sessions: 517 Long-term and short-term courses: 255 Total: 772

Feedback from trainees: Access to literature, information about production technologies, control methods of pests and diseases; crop rotation schemes, etc.; Of possible qualification courses, undergraduate and graduate programs; Access to a database of organic seeds, biological agents, etc..; Access to markets for organic agricultural products and organic food; Access to support services – advice services, counseling, European programs and funds, etc.

The main objectives of this kind of training are: To acquaint students with the nature and characteristics of organic farming, identifying the key principles of such production; application of various environmentally friendly technologies and practices; To motivate trainees to apply the principles, rules and requirements of organic farming; To encourage the implementation of innovative methods and technologies of production and protection of environment, combining economic interests with those of environmental preservation. To raise the interest of those involved in organic agriculture to continuously improving their skills - to generate new knowledge corresponding to the dynamic development in this sector. / Knowledge of the market, the benefits of organic food, the principles in trade with them, etc.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION! PROF. DR. MARIANA IVANOVA Vice Rector of UARD 4003 Plovdiv 78 Dunav Blvd. Tel ;