Presentation
The Master’s Degree Course in Organic Agriculture at the School of Agriculture, Polytechnic University of Viana do Castelo (ESA-IPVC), running for its 13th consecutive year in 2020/21, is a course that projects the future. This course aims to integrate the study and application of agricultural sciences in understanding the functioning of agro-ecosystems, their physical and biological components and their environmental, social and economic impact, as they underpin the organic production system. The aim is to develop skills in designing projects, products and services; the technical management of production, management and commercialisation systems; as well as communication skills and attitudes towards research and innovation, product quality and new technologies.
Around 70 MAB theses have been completed, in the areas of Horticulture, Fruit Growing, Viticulture, Animal Production, Fertilisation, Crop Protection, Economy and Market, Environmental Impact and Social Agriculture. To date, numerous scientific articles have been published and around 200 oral and poster communications have been presented at national and international congresses and symposia, making it a unique experience for the students.
In Europe, as in Portugal, Organic Agriculture is today being advocated as a sustainable crop management system and a way of adapting agriculture to higher temperatures and lower rainfall as a result of climate change (ENAB, 2017; EEA, 2019). Other farm-level measures recommended for adapting to climate change (EC-LIFE, 2019) are essentially strategies that Organic Agriculture has always adopted. The strategy ‘From farm to fork – Towards a fair, healthy and environmentally friendly food system’ is also an essential component of the European Green Deal for 2021-2027 and, alongside climate change mitigation actions, aims to expand Organic Agriculture to 25% of the EU’s agricultural land by 2030.’
Worldwide, in 2018, Organic Agriculture was already being practised in 186 countries by more than 2.8 million farmers. The total area of organic farmland in the EU-28 was 13.4 million ha in 2018, representing 7.5% of utilised agricultural area (UAA), and 5.6% in Portugal. Between 2012 and 2018, the area of organic farmland increased by 34% on average in the EU-28, while this increase was only 6% in Portugal, which had an area of 213,118 ha and 5,213 producers in 2018 (Eurostat, 2020, Willer et al., 2020).
Organic Agriculture has a lower impact on climate change compared to conventional farming as a result of its low energy consumption and soil management practices. These help to reduce GHG emissions and sequester carbon in the soil by incorporating organic matter, integrating leguminous plants into crop rotation and as cover crops and using mixed animal and plant production farming systems. Conversion to Organic Agriculture is only part of the solution, however, and a more general change in economic and social development is essential, particularly with regard to energy consumption and natural resources in general, including a change in behaviour and structural changes in food systems, supply chains and food consumption.
In addition, Organic Agriculture systems provide other ecosystem services and socioeconomic and sustainability benefits that are inherent to them and that need to be properly valued. Organic Agriculture provides services for the environment (reducing the use of fossil fuels, conserving soil fertility and water quality, reducing pollution and preserving biodiversity); for human health (limiting exposure to harmful chemicals); and for preserving biodiversity and the landscape (by eliminating synthetic agrochemicals).
The greater sustainability of Organic Agriculture is based on diversification strategies (multiple activities/uses/functionalities, such as services and commerce); differentiation (certification, native breeds and cultivars, traditions); verticalisation (own processing and distribution) and efficiency (professional management, knowledge, technology) (Sendim, 2011).
Career progression
This course is recognised by the DGAE | Directorate General for School Administration for progression in a teaching career.
Education level: Primary, Middle, and Secondary School
Recruitment Groups: 560
