AGRI302086 Local knowledge and ethnobiology in organic farming

Type
Seminar
Semester hours
4
Lecturer (assistant)
Vogl, Christian R. , Schunko, Christoph
Organisation
Organic Farming
Offered in
Wintersemester 2025/26
Languages of instruction
Englisch
Content

Organic farmers' place-based knowledge of socio-ecological processes in agro-food systems is essential for setting up, continuously adapting and innovating organic farming. This knowledge goes beyond cognitive understanding but encompasses farmers’ culturally shaped knowledge, practices and beliefs, which is altogether called ‘local knowledge’.
In this seminar, we explore the multifaceted, local to global significance of local knowledge for organic farming and agroecology, its relationship with scientific knowledge, and its position in agricultural knowledge and innovation systems. Moreover, the seminar addresses the dynamics and trends of local knowledge systems and implications for agro-food systems, and ways forward for knowledge conservation and co-creation between local and scientific knowledge. Furthermore, we examine the (participatory) approaches and methods needed for conducting research with and on agricultural knowledge holders and students may make first steps towards their master theses in developing research proposals.
Previous knowledge expected

No specific previous knowledge expected.
Objective (expected results of study and acquired competences)

Upon completion of this course, students will be able to
•explain the characteristics of local knowledge systems and their local to global significance in organic farming and agroecology;
•locate local knowledge in agricultural knowledge and innovation systems;
•analyse knowledge co-creation processes;
•evaluate and design (participatory) research methodologies for investigating local knowledge systems;
You can find more details like the schedule or information about exams on the course-page in BOKUonline.