New service for organic advisers launched

A new organisation supporting the work of organic advisers and trainers will be launched at the Soil Association's annual conference in January. The Institute for Organic Training and Advice is a professional body, which aims to help advisers provide a better service to farmers and further the development of organic farming.

The Institute will ensure that its members meet certain professional standards and will offer advisers and trainers assistance by giving them access to a single source of information collated from its partner organisations.

It will provide the following services:

· an accreditation scheme for organic advisers and trainers enabling potential clients, including farmers and DEFRA, to identify suitable advisers and trainers

· access to technical, research, business, environment and market information through its website, which will draw on Europe-wide organic research and maintain a register of organic standards changes

· operate a continuing professional development programme and provide members with training in advisory and training techniques, organic farming, the environment and business management

· a professional network in which to work.

Founder, Mark Measures, has spent the last two years developing the Institute on behalf of the Soil Association, Organic Centre Wales, the Agricultural Development and Advisory Service (ADAS) and Elm Farm Research Centre (EFRC) with funding from English Nature and support from ABACUS. These organisations will help deliver the services that the Institute will provide.

Members of the Institute will have access to the Soil Association's helpline and will receive technical guides, the annual Organic Food and Farming Report and a subscription to the Soil Association's quarterly Organic Farming magazine.

Mark has twenty years' experience of organic advisory work, having established the EFRC Organic Advisory Service. Currently, he is head of the Organic Systems Development Programme at EFRC and Farm Project Manager for Project Carrot at Holme Lacy Centre in Herefordshire. He is also a partner in a mixed organic farm and is involved with an organic shop in Shropshire.

Mark says, "2005 sees the coming together of organic advisers and trainers to establish a unique professional body. The Institute of Organic Training and Advice will improve access to information, particularly drawing on the considerable organic research base in Europe and will set a standard of competence, which will help farmers and others find the right adviser or trainer for their needs."

Experienced advisers and trainers will be eligible for full, accredited membership while less experienced extension workers and other professionals working in all fields of organic farming, including researchers and inspectors, may join as subscribers and receive all the technical services offered.

The Institute will be launched at 3pm on Friday 7 January at the Soil Association's annual conference in Newcastle.