What are some of the best online resources and platforms for sustainable agriculture education?

1️⃣ Dr. Elaine’s™ Soil Food Web School Variety of professional level courses: https://www.soilfoodweb.com/# 2️⃣ Rodale Institute Online Courses: https://courses.rodaleinstitute.org 3️⃣ World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), One Planet Business for Biodiversity (OP2B), Framework for Regenerative Agriculture https://www.wbcsd.org/Projects/OP2B/Resources/OP2B-s-Framework-for-Regenerative-Agriculture 4️⃣ Regen10 Framework: https://regen10.org/what-we-do/ (2-4 = Tips by Nicholas Fabre)

Don't use online resources. Most of these have been authored by people with no practical experience in agriculture but strong political bias. Mainly because of this, agriculture has gained bad reputation that it didn't have decades ago when there was no Internet. Speak to practitioners outside of the digital box and you will hear quite a different story of what you read online. This has been part of my work for decades.

Kiss the Ground, the non-profit that prioritizes soil health advocacy and regenerative farming education and support for farmers. The Rodale Institute is another resource I am familiar with and have learned from. The Soil Health Institute I do not know as well but looks to be a good resource. The Oxygen Project provides a climate change activism cohort. The content covered is impressive and provides great connections to other organizations. I am just learning about OneEarth, but their online resources for climate solutions is vast. Cornell University also has amazing affordable online courses, one specifically in soil health.

Numerous courses on sustainable agriculture are available on platforms such as Coursera, Udemy, FAO, edX, and FutureLearn. The courses cover a wide range of topics, from organic farming and agroecology to sustainable crop management. Also, Wageningen University offers a couple of MOOC courses, I found some too on the INRAE website recently.

For comprehensive sustainable agriculture education, explore MOOCs and courses on platforms like Coursera, edX, and FutureLearn. Courses like "Sustainable Agricultural Land Management" by the University of Florida and "Sustainable Food Security: Crop Production" by Wageningen University provide essential knowledge. Additionally, Oregon State University's "Introduction to Permaculture Design" and the University of Nairobi's "Organic Agriculture for Sustainable Development" are highly recommended. These courses cover agroecology, permaculture, and food systems, equipping you with practical skills and insights to drive sustainable farming practices.

Podcasts like The Sustainable Dish and blogs like Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education (SARE) offer insightful case studies and conversations with professionals in the field of sustainable agriculture. These resources are perfect for self-directed learning and staying up-to-date on the newest technologies and trends since they provide conveniently available information on a wide range of topics, from market trends and regulatory developments to regenerative agriculture approaches.

"Farmer to Farmer Podcast" by the National Center for Appropriate Technology offers firsthand farmer experiences and tips. "Sustainable World Radio" explores permaculture, regenerative agriculture, and ecological practices. The "No-Till Market Garden Podcast" focuses on profitable and sustainable farming methods without tillage. "Regenerative Agriculture Podcast" provides expert interviews on soil health and crop resilience. For blogs, "EcoFarming Daily" offers articles on sustainable farming techniques, while "The New Farm" from The Organic Center covers organic farming innovations. These resources provide fresh perspectives and practical advice for sustainable farming practices.

Here are some more inspiring people: Richard Perkins - Permaculture - CSA - Marketing Gardening - Author. Matt Powers -Author - Soil research - Permaculture - Educator. Greg Judy - Regenerative Grazier. Gabe Brown - Large Scale Regenerative Agriculture.

♾️ ♻️ Permaculture, Soil Health, Composting & Regen: Erin Wiedmer Soil Food Web School Gabe Brown John Rasic Tim Steckel John Roulac Francis Bosah 🚜 ♻️ Sustainable Ag & Regen: Regenified Regenerative Agriculture Alliance Regenerative Organic Alliance Régénération Canada European Alliance for Regenerative Agriculture Great Plains Regeneration Rich Bradbury Paul Greive Anthony Corsaro 💫 Syntropic Farming: recelio, Ursula Arztmann, Christian Fu Müller 🌲🌳 Agroforestry & Sustainable Farming: Festus Kiplagat reNature Agroforestry Regeneration Communities 🐝 🦋 🐦⬛ Biodiversity, Rewilding & Preservation: Oliver Dauert Debbie Dekleva Stephanie Biener Cain Blythe, Ecosulis Ian Redmond, Rebalance Earth Rewilding Europe, Rewilding Britain

Learning about sustainable agriculture online is also possible through blogs and podcasts. These engaging sources keep you updated on the latest trends, innovations, and practices. Websites like Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE), Rodale Institute, Farming Secrets, The Permaculture Podcast, and The Sustainable Ag Network offer valuable content. Notable examples include SARE Voices: Stories from the Field, Regenerative Organic Agriculture by Rodale Institute, How to Farm with Nature by Farming Secrets, The Soil Sponge by The Permaculture Podcast, and Sustainable Agriculture Spotlight by The Sustainable Ag Network.

Explore diverse webinars and events to enhance your understanding of sustainable agriculture. The Regenerative Agriculture Foundation offers webinars like "Soil Health Innovations Conference," featuring leading experts. The Rodale Institute's "Organic Field Day" showcases practical organic farming techniques. The Soil Health Academy provides events focused on regenerative grazing and soil health management. The Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Service (MOSES) hosts the annual Organic Farming Conference, a key networking and learning event. These platforms provide valuable insights, foster community connections, and keep you updated on the latest sustainable practices.

Webinars and events on sustainable agriculture are organised by organisations such as the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF). These events include panel discussions, presentations, and networking opportunities with top experts and practitioners. These online gatherings offer a forum for information sharing, skill development, and cooperation, enabling attendees to interact face-to-face and virtually with peers and professionals worldwide.

Learning about sustainable agriculture online is also possible through blogs and podcasts. These engaging sources keep you updated on the latest trends, innovations, and practices. Websites like SARE, Rodale Institute, Farming Secrets, The Permaculture Podcast, and The Sustainable Ag Network offer valuable content. Notable examples include SARE Voices, Regenerative Organic Agriculture, How to Farm with Nature, The Soil Sponge, and Sustainable Agriculture Spotlight.

Join the US Composting council or one of it's state chapters to learn more specifically about composting. Afterall composting is farming!

Agriculture communities are a powerful way for farmers to collaborate. Typically the farming community is bombarded with advocacy from numerous groups. Farmers respond well to advice and social proofing from others within agriculture who have tried and tested techniques creates confidence for others to try new initiatives.

The best is to visit a local agroecological / biodynamic / organic / regenerative farm and learn from them. If you're a farmer, chances are you'll encounter issues that these local farms have already experimented on and your best shot at learning is from their experiences.

Another way to learn about sustainable agriculture online is through forums and communities. These platforms allow you to interact with others interested in sustainable agriculture, ask questions, share ideas, seek advice, and network. Examples include r/sustainableagriculture on Reddit, the Sustainable Agriculture topic on Quora, Sustainable Living Stack Exchange, the Sustainable Agriculture Network group on Facebook, and the Sustainable Agriculture Professionals group on LinkedIn. These can be found on websites like Reddit, Quora, Stack Exchange, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

The non-profit organization A Greener World offers a number of very valuable free resources to both farmers and consumers. One is called Food Labels Exposed, a guide and also App, to educate on the wide range of certifications, terms and call outs on food labels. Another is Farm Health Online, which is is a free website for farmers, ranchers, advisors and veterinarians, including top-notch advice for supporting high-welfare systems. And Sustainable Farming Magazine, an online and print magazine featuring current topics and in-depth discussions of Sustainable Agriculture.

Leverage digital tools and apps to enhance your sustainable agriculture practices. The Land Institute's Agroforestry Design Tool helps plan agroforestry systems, while AgriApp Technologies' Organic Farming Assistant offers guidance on organic farming. USDA's SoilWeb app provides detailed soil information based on your location. FarmLogs assists with farm management by tracking field activities, and Agroecology Now's Agroecology in Practice app supports the application of agroecological principles. These resources, available on platforms like Google Play and the App Store, offer practical solutions for planning, managing, and improving sustainable agriculture.

Another way to learn about sustainable agriculture online is through tools and apps. These are applications that assist in planning, managing, monitoring, and improving sustainable agriculture practices. You can find them on websites like Google Play, App Store, Microsoft Store, and Chrome Web Store. Examples include The Land Institute's Agroforestry Design Tool, AgriApp Technologies' Organic Farming Assistant, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service's SoilWeb, FarmLogs' FarmLogs, and Agroecology Now's Agroecology in Practice.

- 📖 Book on Regen Ag “For the Love of Soil” by Nicole Masters (Philippe Birker tip) - “What Is Syntropic Farming? A Detailed Introduction” https://www.microfarmguide.com/syntropic-farming/ - My Favorite 2023 Wholistic #climatesmartagriculture Story (Post/Article): “#Agrivoltaics 🌞☂️ Rescues Declining Citron 🍋 Fruit #Farming 👩🌾 Community in 🇮🇹 Italy” https://lnkd.in/gtXQJ3WJ

Agroecology books by Omar Felipe Giraldo Books by Vandana Shiva (especially those on the importance of food sovereignty and saving seeds)

National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) - A non-profit organization advocating for policies that support sustainable agriculture in the United States. The NSAC website offers research reports, policy briefs, and educational materials. Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) - A U.S. Department of Agriculture program that supports research and education on sustainable agriculture. The SARE website offers a wealth of resources, including publications, webinars, and online courses. The Rodale Institute - A non-profit organization dedicated to organic farming research and education. The website offers articles, videos, and podcasts on a variety of sustainable agriculture topics.

For practical and interactive learning, consider participating in virtual farm tours and field days hosted by organizations like the Practical Farmers of Iowa and the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition. These events provide real-world examples and hands-on experiences. Additionally, platforms like YouTube offer channels such as "Justin Rhodes" and "Living Web Farms," which feature tutorials and case studies on sustainable farming techniques. Engaging with these dynamic resources allows for a deeper understanding of sustainable practices and fosters a sense of community among learners and practitioners in sustainable agriculture.