Organic Business Leadership Course
Why do we offer this course?
Organic businesses face a challenging period. Explosive market growth, tightening regulation and control, growing interests of multinationals and corporations, societal demand with critical citizens and the ongoing effects of the climate crisis offer us challenges as well as opportunities. To deal with these, organic businesses must stay in the lead.
This course is designed for those who are new in organic or already work in organic business and desire to expand their knowledge, expertise and network.
What do we aim?
Aim of the course is to create organic business leaders who can represent and promote the organic values and principles, challenge the persistent myths on organics and do so with leadership and authority.
What will you learn?
The OBLC Basic course takes attendees in 5 afternoons to organic from its history to its future. Every course offers 50% knowledge transfer and 50% interactive group work in smaller groups of 4 people.
Knowledge transfers and group work
In the course we address the following chapters:
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The Why, What and How of Organic Agriculture
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The Regulations and Standards: Why Standards?, ICS, PGS and Trade Agreements
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The Organic Market and Movement: Growth, Value-Supply Chain, Society, Consolidation, Consumers, CSA Initiatives
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The Organic Mission and Vision: Organic 3.0, True Cost Accounting, Food Systems, Advocacy and Lobbying
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The Organic Leadership: Global Movement, Capacity Building and Leadership towards Regenerative Culture
Myth busting
Per session we reflect on 1 out of the total 5 most persistent myths and framing strategies toward organic:
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"Organic cannot feed the world."
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"Organic is only for the happy few."
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"Organic is not as sustainable as believed."
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"Organic products are residue-free."
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"Organic is safer and healthier than..."
Previous participants about the course
Bert van Ruitenbeek, director Demeter Foundation:
“The OBLA course has led me to further internalize and firmly anchor the climate issue. It strengthens my motivation to work on a climate-friendly and socially fair agriculture based on the factual knowledge and new insights I gained.”
IJsbrand Snoeij, owner Farm 't Paradijs and chairman BioHuis (Dutch Association of Organic Farmers):
“I have learned that my leadership has become subservient to climate and biodiversity. Active hope has provided me with a key to a social movement that is willing to honor pain and look through different eyes, and that makes choices today with head, heart and hands for our new generations.
Organic farming and food are my love, my life and passion.”
The study materials and certificate
Attendees are expected to prepare the meetings by reading the required literature.
Additional in-depth readings, such as position papers, scientific articles, and reports are distributed after each meeting via our Dropbox account. Attendees receive an official Certificate, signed by the Organic Business Leadership Academy.
After this leadership course you can...
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represent, promote and lead organic businesses
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become an inspiring and educating expert within your own organization
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challenge the most common myths about organic
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critically reflect on organic movement, the market and its businesses
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participate in further development of the organic movement
Where and when?
The autumn course is held at Kraaybeekerhof in Driebergen.
OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2023
5 Thursday afternoons:
26 October 2023 12:00-17:00
2 November 2023 12:00-17:00
16 November 2023 12:00-17:00
30 November 2023 12:00-17:00
14 December 2023 12:00-17:00
What are the costs?
The costs for the total of the 5 afternoons are € 1.250,- per person. This includes: 5 days of lectures, all presentations in PDF, articles and study material prior to the course, in-depth articles and papers after every course, official Certificate at the end. Drinks, snacks and a small lunch at arrival is included as well.
For companies the above price is excluding 21% VAT. For private persons that cannot refund the VAT the above price is including VAT.
STUDENTS: Every course we invite 4 students that can attend the course for free. Interested to join? Apply for participation with a motivation letter at: obla@timeli.nl
How do you apply?
