WANT TO LEARN ALL ABOUT ORGANIC FOOD?

To support the burgeoning movement towards organic farming and the connection between organic food and health, students can now study it at university. Southern Cross University has launched a new course supporting the growing interest in organic food. Its Graduate Certificate in Organic Food and Nutrition is the first course of its kind in Australia solely dedicated to organic education.

The eight-month, part-time course will develop students’ knowledge of organic farming, sustainable and ethical food systems, the produce journey and connection between organic food and health.

Niki Ford, CEO of Australian Organic Ltd, says the course is a welcome development. “It is quite exciting that people can now study organic food and nutrition at a formal level. Such a qualification is an enormous signal of the progress the organics industry has made over many years. This course will no doubt pave the way for new research and diverse opportunities.”

The course, which is offered by Southern Cross’ new National Centre for Naturopathic Medicine (NCNM), has been 12 months in development. Professor Jon Wardle, director of the NCNM, says the university is still accepting applications and is anticipating a good response to the course. “Organics is a fast-growing industry, but there’s been little investment to date to support those working in the industry to deliver a critical and evidence-based understanding of organic principles and practicalities. The graduate certificate addresses this need.”