The FiBL Extension Service

Objectives and functions

• Extension and training of farmers in total farm concepts and in specific questions linked to organic farming
• Further training of teachers, consultants, experts and inspectors in organic agriculture and provision of support material and documentation
• Education in organic agriculture in Universities, technical and agricultural schools.
• Development of concepts for education, further training, extension servicing and quality assurance in organic agriculture.

To meet these objectives, the FIBL extension service fulfils the following functions:

Farm-extension services for Switzerland

In collaboration with and through mandates from the cantonal (state) extension services, FiBL completes the cantonal extension offer in conversion counselling, specific counselling and in selected training courses for organic farmers.

Depending on the objectives, demands and partners, the FiBL extension service uses different methods for implementation, such as:

• Information and documentation,
• Training (courses, excursions, seminars)
• group extension (small, regional and theme groups)
• individual counselling (farm visits, telephone counselling) …

The FiBL extension service also accompanies demonstration and practical trials in collaboration with the FiBL research and agricultural schools and cantonal extension services. The FiBL extension service encourages the participation of farmers into practical research and the development of organic farming methods.

Training

1.Conceptions and development of training; elaboration of concepts, methods and materials for training; specific services in training projects.

2. Offer of courses and curricula and collaboration of education in:

• agricultural schooling (agricultural apprenterships and schools)
• in agricultural technical schools and universities

Documentation, and material for consultants and experts

As mandated by the federal and cantonal governments, the central office of the FiBL-extension service supports teachers, trainers, extension workers and inspectors in organic agriculture with a large offer of specific services:

• elaboration of basis, concepts and methods for extension servicing and training,
• documentation and material (document packet organic agriculture)
• adapted and specific introduction and training courses coordination of organic farming extension and training.

Further Info on FiBL publications and documentation