This handbook is part of an educational package aiming at the training of farmers of North Macedonia, Serbia, Croatia and Bulgaria. It has been developed within the framework of the project Organic agriculture innovative platform.

Organic Agriculture Innovation Platform is a project funded by the European Commission’s Erasmus+ Programme (Key Action 2 - KA 204 - Strategic partnerships for adult education) and it brings organizations from different countries partnering together to develop new innovative resources to the benefit of the citizens, more specifically farmers, adult education providers and local CSOs working in the field of agriculture and environment. Educating adults about organic food production is the focus of this partnership project. Forum CSRD (North Macedonia) is the lead organization partnering with Serbia Organica (Serbia), Eko Zadar (Croatia), Bulgarian School of Politica “Dimitry Panitza” (Bulgaria), Macedonia Export (North Macedonia) and Good Earth (North Macedonia).

Modern agriculture in the world characterizesa great use of the non-renewable energy per product unit, a strong dependence from weather conditions which influences on quantity and quality of the plant yield and danger from the global change of environment and its degradation. In the coming period, negative consequences of the technical and technological development, above all, the use of agro-chemicals in the future agricultural development requires many adjustments in the use of natural, biological, technical and human resources.

The need for the healthier environment and many negativities caused by the current conventional agriculture have led to a numerous alternative trends of the future agricultural development, amongst which is organic agriculture. Organic agriculture is the movement in the agriculture based on the ecological principles, therefore many alterations of all agro-technical, pomo-technical and zoo-technical measures, use of apropriate species and breeds are necessary. This approach needs to be followed by the hollistic approach to life and development, as well as to the activities that should be adjuste to the agro and zoo-technical measures, varieties/breeds and all the other elements of the agricultural system to satisfy current, and future human needs and desires.

Organic agriculture popularly is defined as the agriculture that is not using fertilizers and pesticides. However, it is beyond that. According to the definition of the Council Regulation (EC) No 834/2007 of 28 June 2007 on organic production and labeling of organic products organic production is an overall system of farm management and food production that combines good agricultural practices, a high level of biodiversity, the preservation of natural resources, the application of high animal welfare standards and a production method in line with the preference of certain consumers for products produced using natural substances. Modifications in production technologies of interesting plants and animals require more subtle approach in organic agriculture. Possibilities of streaming agriculture toward sustainable development systems should be observed in the framework of the transition to market economy and from the aspect of technical, technological and economic possibilites. In that sense, setting these systems, especially quality and more diversified agricultural products, should be prioritized.

On the other hand, agronomic and economic flexibility of organic production should bring in a certain social function by overcoming gaps between rural and urban population, as well as by diminishing differences between producers and consumers. In that sense a great potential of the climate and soil characteristics for organic production should be used, not to forget all the available resources for development of organic livestock, having in mind large areas under pastures in the region. Development of the organic production is unimaginable without appropraite legislative framework, which should address safety in this area and secured market placement with appropriate certificates in hand, on domestic as well as on foregin markets.

This manual is writen mainly for trainers who would like to teach potential producers how to convert to organic production, and here they will find guideliness how to do it. They will find answers on: what organic production is, what is needed to convert to organic production, what is management of organic farm, how does system of control and certification look like, how to get organic product.

The main goal of this manual is to collect and outline importance of various modifications that need to be made in the future based on numerous postulates that are valid in thisabove all popular course of agriculture, and scientific results in one place.There is still not enough literature for trained people who would use it in that sense, from extension services in the field to individuals who would deal with it in practice.

Aware that our producers know little about the organic agriculture, we have tried to simplify some of the basic facts about this interesting agricultural production. Moreover, the significance of the scientific and advisory services should not be overlooked, they should be trained to work in the field, so that kowledge in this area would be conveyed in the shortest possible way to interested producers.

We hope this manual will partially fill this gap and besides general information, provide to all interested beneficiaries many specific knowledge about this type of agriculture that will serve them in their further work.