GENERAL OBJECTIVE

To integrate theoretical and practical knowledge related to the management of organic production systems, required for the education and training of professionals to work in teaching, research, rural extension, technical consulting, and management, thereby contributing to the expansion of Organic Agriculture in Brazil.

TEACHING OBJECTIVES

To qualify professionals working in organic production by integrating philosophical, conceptual, and technical foundations, as well as innovations, aiming to achieve higher levels of performance in their work, ultimately benefiting society;

To contribute to the expansion of organic production in Brazil through the development, application, and transfer of technical and scientific knowledge that can promote the production of food with economic, social, and environmental sustainability;

To encourage the generation of new knowledge aimed at optimizing organic production, supporting agroecological transition and conversion to organic systems, with an emphasis on family farming and participatory guarantee processes.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

To understand the scientific method and its application in practices related to organic production;

To develop skills for sourcing technical and scientific references for the development of projects and research in organic agriculture;

To correlate the epistemological and philosophical foundations of agroecology and relate them to organic agriculture;

To interpret norms, regulations, and concepts applied to organic agriculture concerning soil and water use, production, and agro-industrialization;

To present, develop, and interrelate, in an interdisciplinary way, public policies on agroecology and organic production, food and nutritional security, commercialization, and the consumption of products with specific quality attributes;

To experience the reality of organic agriculture by engaging with the entire production chain, including production systems, certification processes, and institutional and organizational environments.

SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES OF THE MASTER IN ORGANIC AGRICULTURE

Regarding the profile of the professional to be trained, there is a noticeable lack in the job market of professionals with expertise in the field of Organic Agriculture to work in the public and private sectors as well as non-governmental organizations, in activities related to the management and promotion of organic production systems. This topic was identified as the main bottleneck for the 2024 innovation agenda in organic agriculture. Given this context, the aim is to train professionals with the following knowledge, skills, and attitudes:
1) With understanding of the principles, philosophy, and concepts of organic agriculture;
2) Equipped with scientific and technological knowledge related to organic agriculture to produce and disseminate scientific and technological knowledge regarding the development and management of organic production systems, contributing to the efficiency and competitiveness of organic agriculture;

3) Capable of planning, managing, assisting, and executing research projects and organic production systems;
4) With theoretical and practical tools to consolidate and advance available knowledge, contributing directly at scientific and technological levels as well as political, economic, sociocultural, and environmental levels for the expansion of organic agriculture;
5) Qualified to support the formulation, planning, and execution of public policies, especially at the local level, that promote the expansion of production systems based on the principles of Organic Agriculture applied to agricultural production;
6) With the ability to incorporate an investigative dimension into their social practice, adding value, quality, and competitiveness to organic products, discouraging agroecological transition and the conversion of production systems.