GREENFIELD, MA – In cultivating the next generation of business and production leadership in the $60-billion global market for certified organic foods and other products, the world’s leading federation of organic producers, the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM), will present its first-ever North American Organic Leadership Course beginning in March 2013. The professional-level curriculum will include online and in-person learning into the world of organic food, agriculture, production, trade and the retail and consumer markets.
Led by IFOAM Academy Director Konrad Hauptfleisch, and featuring a number of eminent North American leaders, the leadership course will provide intensive training for executives, managers, entrepreneurs, producers and others seeking to gain deeper knowledge and understanding of the North American and world markets for organic food and agriculture.
“The 2013 leadership course is the IFOAM Academy’s first to focus on the burgeoning North American market for organic food and farming, valued at more than $30 billion and growing at more than 17% per year,” said Katherine DiMatteo, former president of IFOAM and North American liaison for the leadership course. “Participants will gain in-depth understanding of the organic sector, greater knowledge of the channels of distribution, and valuable tools to apply this information in their work and advocacy.”
Intensive Learning to Focus on Leadership Skills, Organic Value Chain
The course will include a series of 10 online webinars, and two in-person residential modules, held March 20-29 in Tampa, FL, and Baltimore, MD, Sept. 19-25, 2012.
Topics covered will include:
• Understanding the Organic World
• Institutional Management
• Networking and Communications
• Organic Value Chain
• Certification and Regulation
• Organic Services and Development
• Organic Leadership Skills
“Our planet needs people with the right skills and attitudes to make the shift we need toward a more sustainable future,” said course director Konrad Hauptfleisch. “The course presents an opportunity for professionals to gain a deeper knowledge of the North American market and resources to aid in organizational development, project management, and forging strategic alliances in the organic sector.”
Deadline to apply for the IFOAM Academy North American Organic Leadership Course is January 1, 2013. For details and information, visit www.ifoam.org/academy. To apply, submit a statement of motivation, a letter of support from the participant‘s employer and the completed application form, available at www.ifoam.org/academy, to academy@ifoam.org no later than January 1, 2013. Course fees of $4,500 cover residential housing and food, online seminars, and all course materials. Some funding may be available for participants who show the greatest need and commitment.
The Organic Leadership Course has promotional support from the International Organic Inspectors Association, California Certified Organic Farmers, Organic Trade Association and The Organic Summit. For more information about IFOAM’s Organic Leadership Course, contact Katherine DiMatteo, kdimatteo@organicspecialists.com, tel 413-624-5569.
About IFOAM, the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements
IFOAM's mission is to lead, unite and assist the organic movement in its full diversity. As an independent, global, non-profit organization with over 750 member organizations, IFOAM, based in Bonn, Germany, has a rich history that spans over three decades. The organization celebrated its 40th anniversary in November 2012. Learn more at www.ifoam.org.
Source: IFOAM, the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements
