SOAR is a research school. In addition to the focus on PhD students, SOAR also includes graduates, postdocs and supervisors in the activities and networks. This is important because they also constitute the research environment, in which the PhD student is under education. SOAR wants to contribute to the professional discussions with a special focus on the organic food and farming systems.
Organic Agriculture
Organic agriculture has its own values, principles and regulations. The International Federation of Organic Agricultural Movements IFOAM has agreed on the four principles of Health, Ecology, Fairness and Care as underlying principles for organic agriculture
SOAR participates in the organisation of various courses and seminars:
Thematic courses
Every year, SOAR organises a thematic course in collaboration with our Nordic partners in Agroasis, the NOVA Network in Agro-Ecology. The aim of these courses is to broaden the perspectives on the wider context of the research in organic food and farming, and help PhD students see their own research in that perspective. We therefore choose thematic topics with relevance to all PhD students working within organic agriculture and food systems. The thematic course in 2011 will be held and is about climate change.
SOAR organises 1-2 annual seminars with topics related to the Ph.D.studies connected to SOAR, with focus on exchange and discussion of issues important to the students, and e.g. discussions on the values and principles of organic farming as the basis for research, and encourage a critical attitude to the practices, policies and research of organic farming. The seminars are open for Ph.D.students, post docs and supervisors. The spring seminar in 2011 will be held (DATE) and will touch research methodologies.
SOAR organises and co-organises other courses together with other research education programs and projects. In 2011, special courses will e.g. be organised in relation to a large project about organic farming in East Africa (ProGRoV), and other courses are under planning.
SOAR provides national and international activities and courses where PhD students and their supervisors can
develop, stimulate and challenge their understanding of the organic principles and values
develop competences in interdisciplinary and systemic research approaches
network and stimulate mobility of researchers
The research interests of SOAR cover a wide range of subjects within organic agriculture and food systems:
