Training needs analysis of beneficieries interested in organic food retailing

Transcription

1 Training needs analysis of beneficieries interested in organic food retailing Part of Framework Analyses (Work Package 2) Bulgaria Greece Romania Turkey

2 Analysis of the current situation concerning organic food retailing and the respective qualification situation in the receiver countries Bulgaria, Greece, Romania and Turkey

3 Framework analyses on current situation of organic food retailing and the respective qualification situation Training need analysis of beneficiaries interested in organic food retailing The most important topics of training for the producers interested in organic retailing training; type of training tools preferred by the agricultural producers; The most important topics of training for the retailers interested in organic retailing training; type of training tools preferred by them.

4 Framework analyses on current situation of organic food retailing and the respective qualification situation Available training programs and courses List the institutions providing courses and level of education

5 A survey was carried out to identify the training needs of beneficieries interested in organic food retailing Two types of questionnaires were prepared for organic retailers and for organic producers. Each questionnaire contained three sections: General information Background information Educational background

6 Topics of training analyzed 1/2 Organic food retailing Organic agriculture Fair trade Food hygiene and safety Care of goods Storage Communication skills Computer science and technology Environmental protection Processing Nutrition science Organic food production

7 Topics of training analyzed 2/2 Organic food labeling Sales communications Retail structure Price policy Advertising Promotion / PR Legislative basics of retail Human resources management Others (to point)

8 Type of training tools analyzed Courses On-the-job training Short seminars Information sessions E-learning (Internet) Printed materials (handbooks, guides, etc.) Others (to point)

9 The most important topics of training for the producers interested in organic food retailing training and type of training tools preferred

10 Bulgaria Among the training topics of interest and importance in next five years 50% filled all stated in the question, 30% pointed organic trade, organic agriculture and processing. 90% prefer e-learning and printed materials. Only 25% are interested in training courses. Prefered Training Tools Training Courses On-job Training Short Seminars Information Sessions E-learning Training Printed Materials Other V. Popov, M. Ivanova Producers

11 Greece The most important topics of training for the interviewed Greek producers interested in organic retailing training S. Tzortzios, A. Tzortziou, N. Zacharoulis, V. Litsiou Producers

12 Greece Type of training tools preferred by Greek agricultural producers SS. Tzortzios, A. Tzortziou, N. Zacharoulis, V. Litsiou Producers

13 Romania The most important topics of training for the interviewed Romanian producers interested in organic retailing training D. Damian, M. Grigoras, T. Aldescu Producers

14 Romania The types of training tools preferred by the producers are: face to face training printed materials followed by on job training and short seminars D. Damian, M. Grigoras, T. Aldescu Producers

15 Turkey Legislative basics of retail Advertising Retail structure Sales communications Nutrition science Processing Satisfying environmental obligations Good storage Food hygiene and safety Fait trade The most important topics of training for the interviewed Turkish producers interested in organic retailing training N. Cevik, Producers

16 Turkey The types of training tools preferred by the producers are: printed materials E-learning followed by on job training and short seminars % Type of training tools preferred by Turkish agricultural producers N. Cevik, Producers

17 The most important topics of training for the retailers interested in organic retailing training and type of training tools preferred

18 Bulgaria Topics of Training Organic Trade Organic Agriculture Fair Trade Hygiene Care of Goods Storage Communication Skills Computing Technology Knowledge Environmental Protection Processing Nutrition Science Organic Food Production Organic Products Labeling Sales Communication Retail Structure Price Policy Advertising Promotion/PR Legislation Personnel Management Other As the most important topics of training in organic retailing in next five years the interviewees pointed the following: organic trade, organic agriculture, environmental protection, production and storage of organic products and advertising. 50% prefer e-learning training, 75% - face to face training courses and short seminars. V. Popov, M. Ivanova Retailers

19 Greece The most important topics of training for Greek retailers S. Tzortzios, A. Tzortziou, N. Zacharoulis, V. Litsiou Retailers

20 Greece Type of training tools preferred by Greek retailers S. Tzortzios, A. Tzortziou, N. Zacharoulis, V. Litsiou Retailers

21 Romania The results of the study show that the retailers are very interested in training related to organic agriculture topics in general and organic trade. Also organic food production is an important topic that is required by the retailers. Also the other topics, communication skills, nutrition science, has been required. All the rest of the topics are to be thought after the basic information related to organic production, because most of the shop owners have study in economics and marketing, but not in organic farming methods. D. Damian, M. Grigoras, T. Aldescu Retailers

22 Romania The preferred training tools are: printed materials and face to face courses Shops which sell organic products are requiring two levels of training: 1. for the shop managers 2. for the sales persons There is willingness to develop the specific knowledge and communication skills of the persons who sell organic products. D. Damian, M. Grigoras, T. Aldescu Retailers

23 Turkey Legislative basics of retail Promotion / public relations work Price policy Retail structure Sales communication Organic products labeling Organic food production Nutrition science Communication skills Hygiene Organic agriculture Organic trade The most important` topics of training for Turkish retailers N. Cevik, H. Altay, M. Özkan Retailers

24 Turkey Printed materials E-learning Information sessions Short seminars On-the-job-training Face to face training courses Type of training tools preferred by Turkish retailers N. Cevik, H. Altay, M. Özkan Retailers

25 Summary of training topics preferred Topics of training analyzed Bulgaria Greece Romania Turkey producers retailers producers retailers producers retailers producers retailers Organic food retailing X X X X X Organic agriculture X X X X X Fair trade X Food hygiene and safety X X Care of goods Storage X X X Communication skills X X Computer science and technology X Environmental protection X X Processing X X Nutrition science X Organic food production X X X X X Organic food labeling X Sales communications X X X Retail structure X X X Price policy X X Advertising X X X X X Promotion / PR X X X Legislative basics of retail X X Human resources management Others (to point)

26 Types of training tools Types of training tools analyzed Bulgaria Greece Romania Turkey producers retailers producers retailers producers retailers producers retailers Courses On-the-job training X X X X X X Short seminars X X X X X Information sessions E-learning (Internet) X X X Printed materials (handbooks, guides, etc.) X X X Others (to point)

27 Available training programs and courses

28 There are no specialised training programmes for salespersons or shop managers on organic food retailing. There are only short modules on organic marketing included in the training programmes of specialties Biological Agriculture and Ecological farming as a part of the curricula of the BSc courses at Agricultural University of Plovdiv, University of Forestry in Sofia, Thracian University of Stara Zagora. The curricula of the UARD also has Organic agriculture as a major subject since Some formal training is also executed as part of short-term (30-hour) or long-term (150 hour) courses in agroecology, sustainable and ecological plant husbandry or animal husbandry organized by Centers for Vocational Education or NGOs accredited to do such training within the framework of Measure 111 of the BG Rural Development Program

29 Pilot project: Training on European Standards for ecological agricultural production - EcoJob-AP University of Agribusiness and Rural Development - Plovdiv also offers online course in ecological agricultural production with 7 modules: Organic Principles, Organic Standards, Marketing Organic Produce, Legislation, Soils, Organic Crops, Organic Animals and Fodder Crops. The course is available in 6 languages (EN, BG, GR, SK, IT, ES) in 2 Levels according to the European Qualification Framework: Level 3 for EcoFarmers Level 5 for EcoExperts/Advisors. The module Marketing Organic Produce covers some aspects of the organic products retailing.

30 List the institutions providing courses level of education Universities: Almost all the Agricultural Faculties at Universities have included optional lectures on organic agriculture and animal production into their study programmes. Technological Educational Institute: In Greece there is the Technological Educational Institute of Ionian, Department of Ecological Agriculture & Food is aimed to promote the development and the transmission of knowledge in the production and management of ecological products and in the sector of organically food technology by the training and applied research. Vocational Training Centers: Many seminars on organic agriculture subsidised by the EU have been held all over the country up to now and were targeted at unemployed people.

31 There is no official body providing training in the sector of organic products retailing. However, the organizations that could offer training in this field and in the sector of sales in general also, in the frame of lifelong learning are the Vocational Training Centers all around Greece. The Vocational Training Centers have to be certified by Greek Authorities in specific fields in order to implement national programs.

32 Romania Currently the courses in organic farming are taught just in post university studies in Agricultural University of Bucharest and Iasi. National Council for Adult Vocational Training has developed vocational training standards which are providing basic knowledge related to organic farming and organic production methods. At the moment there is no certified vocational training provider that is authorized to provide trainings in organic farming topics.

33 Romania There are few on-line courses for organic farming provided by the National Federation for Organic Agriculture in Romania (FNAE) which are basically providing the background of organic farming rules for producing and complying requirements. These courses are structured as long distance programs on-line which are provided based on a EU funded program. At Bucharest University there is continuous concern to include a module of organic farming in the students curricula.

34 Turkey Currently, in all the faculties of agriculture in the Turkish universities there are (2-3 lecture hours/ week) organic farming courses taught at undergraduate or graduate (MSc and/or PhD level). Furthermore, in 2003 the first two-year program on Organic Agriculture was founded in the Atatürk University, Kelkit Aydın Doğan Vocational College (now in the Gümüşhane University).

35 There is a list of universities that offer two-year programs at vocational level 47 vocational colleges in 36 universities provide undergraduate two-year education mainly on organic farming. In general, courses dealing with the organic product marketing as well as quality control of organic production are taught within these two-year programs (2-3 hours per week in a 1 semester). Currently, a total of 1970 students are registered in these programs each year.

36 Conclusions and Recommendations Participation in this research of the key persons in the field gave an objective estimate of the needs and the expectations. It provided a solid basis for the project team in the adaptation of the EcoQualify QAS to national situations and requirements. The lack or the absence of specialized education and / or training courses and consulting in the receiver countries impede development of organic production, processing and trading sector. The need of the above stated was proved by the analyses made and the most important in training activities is the QAS. EcoQualify QAS provides: a unified framework for vocational training requirements; an international standard of accreditation and certified control of educational institutions.

37 Conclusions and Recommendations Once in hand we have the adapted EcoQualify framework, the integration between state, business, professional associations, educational institutions and stakeholders in the sector examined should be done for elaboration and adoption of specified training and other requirements towards the staff employed in organic production and retailing. The next step is the adoption of accredited (recognized) according to the national systems vocational training and / or specialized courses and in correspondence - certified training institutions. They need a reliable QAS. EcoQualify, being an international standard, will assure the external audit system of high effectiveness and the independent certification control in QAS. It will be the basis of the international unification and recognition of qualifications in organic products retailing.

38 Thank you for your attention!