Talousseminaarit

Koulutusta ja vertaistukea maaperää uudistaville maatiloille talous- ja rahamaailman murroksessa

Talousseminaarisarjaa tukemassa:

Seminar 1: 20.9.2025 at Niipalan farm, Hollola

Topic: The basics of biodynamic and regenerative farming in the light of modern science. Regenerative farming as an enabler of economically viable agriculture, and a maintaner of food security in a rapidly changing world

REGISTRATION OPENS SOON HERE

Visiting lecturer: Dr. Christopher Brock

The schedule of the day:

12-13 Lunch (optional, can be booked upon registration)
13.00 - 14.30 The farm as a living organism – towards a better understanding of a farm’s potential and limitations as a basis for sustainable management and development
14.30 - 15.00 Coffee break
15 - 16.30 Sustainable soil management in the farm organism – what soils can deliver and how we can support them.
16.30 - 17.30 Discussion
17.30 - Dinner (optional, can be booked upon registration)

Background to the seminar topic

In the modern world, farming is often considered as a technique to produce food. Farms are often perceived as industrial production units that can be designed according to the needs of the market and the entrepreneur. In this form of agriculture, production is based on technical solutions and external inputs to keep the system running. It is not very surprising that this system caused many problems and is not sustainable in itself…

A sustainable approach to farming must abandon the idea of independent production units and re-connect farming to the living world where it takes place. To consider the natural and environmental conditions and resources of Your farm and the opportunities and limitations they imply. To understand how to connect with natural processes and work with them to produce food in harmony with natural cycles. Further, sustainable farming must understand the role and importance of the individual humans on and around a farm and their social interactions. And last but definitely not least, one must consider the social and economic environment of a farm, as this has a fundamental impact.

To understand, develop and manage farms in this way, it may be helpful to imagine farms as living organism with certain physical and mental/social/cultural characteristics interacting with the natural, societal and economic environment. This concept considers that a farm has certain preconditions and a limited designability, but on the other hand the ability to adapt and develop. In the seminar, we want to explore the potential of the organism concept on the field and farm level and find out how it can help to create truly sustainable farms.

Dr. Christopher Brock

Christopher Brock studied geography and soil science at the Justus Liebig University in Gießen from 1998 to 2004 and then specialized in organic farming. In 2009, he defended his PhD in agricultural sciences with the thesis “Humus dynamics and humus reproduction in arable farming systems and their assessment using humus indicators and humus balance methods”.

In 2016, he moved to the Darmstadt Biodynamic Research Center (Forschungsring) and took up the position of research coordinator. Since 2017, he has been a member of the board of the Forschungsring.

Christopher Brock's work focuses on soil fertility, participatory practical research, research methods and scientific theory. At the Darmstadt Research Center, he is responsible for joint research coordination, international research cooperation and knowledge transfer.

More about Christopher Brock

https://www.forschungsring.de/de/der-forschungsring/mitarbeitende/christopher-brock

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Christopher-Brock-3

Seminar location:
Niipalan tila Kirkkotie 16, 15880 Hollola