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The Master Programme: One Academic Year  (60 ECTS)

The Master programme provides a one academic year curriculum the main objective of which is to direct students towards professional and academic careers thereby promoting the development of organic agriculture, with an emphasis on Mediterranean contexts.

The programme proposes a holistic view of the organic sector development presenting theoretical and methodological approaches to sustain transition to organic agriculture through agroecological principles, and with a perspective of sustainable food systems development. The course provides deep insights into organic farming and food regulatory framework. Special emphasis is given to the range of on-farm technologies and practices to improve soil health and fertility and manage pests and diseases. Economic and marketing issues are also presented leading students through an understanding of food value chains sustainability.

Courses are addressed to graduate students and young professionals with a university background related to agronomic, horticultural, agricultural marketing and socio-economic issues.

At the end of the course students will have the following skills and competencies:

• Understand the importance of sustainable production and advocate for ecologically sound solutions at different levels;
• Know the organic legislative and policy frameworks and be able to drive farms to a transition towards organic farming and agroecological principles;
• Know how to produce safe, high quality and sustainable organic food;
• Understand economic and market issues being able to analyse and design organic food value chains;
• Facilitate multi-actors networking for the organic sector development;
• Have expertise to assess agricultural, environmental, and socio-economic opportunities and constraints of organic agriculture in different Mediterranean areas.

The Master of Science Programme: Two Academic Years  (120 ECTS)

During the second year, students who have successfully completed the first year and met all the prerequisites set by the Institute, draft a thesis based on experimental research work. 

The scientific results derived from research work are usually announced on the occasion of national and international conferences and/or published in scientific journals.

Topics generally available for Master of Science theses in organic agriculture are:

• Evaluating the impact of agricultural innovation on cropping systems and soil fertility management;
• Innovative biocontrol measures;
• Preventive and curative strategies to reduce the impact of new and emerging pests in Mediterranean climates;
• Quality valorisation of organic food through novel food products;
• Sustainability of agricultural and natural systems;
• Economic and market research;
• Socio-economic effects and impacts of support policies.

During the second year, some students will be guided towards PhD programmes jointly carried out by CIHEAM Bari and Italian Universities.

For further details, please download here the Information Sheet for 2020-2021 MOA Master and Master of Science Programmes.