Key Competences in Organic Production Management

Abstract

Management in organic production, as a method applying holistic approaches and answering the dimensions of sustainable development through an overall process management, requires a number of competences that should be considered in developing curricula in different types of training and educational institutions. The investigation takes into account strategic priorities for sustainable development, knowledge-based economy and smart specialization accenting the significance of provision of knowledge and skills, entrepreneurship encouragement and innovations’ transfer. The paper aims at exploring modern challenges to organic management and summarizing basic training needs. On that basis it tries to draw general conclusions about organic management competences and proposals of building competences in organic management. The study analyses the needs of training in organic sector, and particularly management of small and medium-size farms, in connection to the application of business continuity management. A portfolio of organic management competences is presented showing the need of providing broad and specialized knowledge in organic management curricula and especially assuring acquisition of soft skills. The paper proposes a framework and three model training programs in organic management – for colleges and universities, for vocational schools / centers and for life-long learning training programs. It concludes that competence-based learning should be applied through student-oriented and integrated approaches. The investigation considers the need of binding training to the innovation processes and transfer of innovations establishing a close connection to the scientific research – in needs’ analyses, development, evaluation, transfer of innovations into practice and permanent feedback. That way, the research lays down the bases of a common standard that could be developed and used to guarantee the quality of training in organic management as a process of planning, organization, implementation and evaluation answering trainees’ needs and establishing close links to practice. A future standardization will give competitive advantages to applying institutions and will provide trust in trainees.