Organization Name: The Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Bari (MAIB)
Training course: MSc Mediterranean Organic Agriculture
Place: Bari, Italy
Training language: English
Dates: Deadline: 31 August
Duration: 1 year
Cost: Tuition Fee depending on Status
Funding: Depending on Status
Target groups and admission requirements:
Selection of students is made by MAIB. MSc programmes are open to candidates of any nationality. A certain number of scholarships are granted every year; priority is given to applicants from Southern and Eastern Mediterranean, Balkan and Middle East Countries. Candidates should send application forms directly to MAIB. In particular, courses are addressed to:
- managers of national research centres or public administrations in agriculture-related fields;
- researchers or assistants from University institutions;
- officers of agricultural extension service bodies;
- graduate students not yet involved in production or research activities; professionals and farm managers.
Training objectives:
The Master of Science Programme in Mediterranean Organic Agriculture is designed to train graduated agronomists and agricultural engineers for future professional careers in the domain of Organic Agriculture. Within this framework, further goals are:
- to develop agronomic skills related to practices and techniques of Mediterranean Organic Agriculture production and management;
- to develop skills related to legislation, inspection, certification and labeling of organically-produced food and fibres;
- to build capacity in socio-economic analysis and market strategy for organic agriculture;
- to provide trainees with the necessary tools and expertise to assess the agricultural, environmental, and socio-economic opportunities and constraints of organic agriculture in different Mediterranean areas.
In the second year, students who have successfully completed the first year and who have met all the pre-requisites set by the Institute, develop a thesis based on experimental research work.
The scientific results derived from the research work are usually announced in International Conferences and/or published in scientific journals.
Training program:
Postgraduate Specialisation Programme, 60 ECTS (November’08 – June’09)Training is organized in 10 sections, preceded by an introductory module and including a Diploming Training Auditors in Organic Agriculture.
Introductory Disciplines
Introduction to Organic Agriculture
Soil Fertility Management
Pest, Disease and Weed Management
Quality, Safety and Post-Harvest Handling of Organic Crops
Organic Standards and Legislation
Global Markets and Marketing for Organic Agro-Food Products
Assessing Policy and Socio-Economic Impacts of Organic Farming
Farm Economics and Management
Mediterranean Commodities ProductionProject: Throughout the Course, participants carry out supervised group project on different topics of organic management introducing the approach to research in organic farming

Master of Science Programme – 60 ECTS (November’08-October’09)
Research Project and Theses (12 - month duration)
Topics generally available for Master of Science theses:
- Agro ecosystem management and organic cropping systems;
- Energy balance of agricultural production;
- Biodiversity protection, enhancement and preservation;
- Soil fertility management and evaluation of application of compost and compost tea in organic agriculture;
- Isolating and identifying the new biological control agents to be used in olive and grapevine production;
- Organic farm performance analysis;
- Consumer research and supply chain analysis;
- Organic policy analysis.
Contact details:
Course Coordinator
Maurizio Raeli
e-mail: raeli@iamb.it