CONVERSION OF FARMS IN THE CITY COMMUNITY OF LJUBLJANA TO ORGANIC AGRICULTURE

The project 'Conversion of farms in the city community of Ljubljana to organic agriculture' started in the year 1998. The main aim of the programme is to stimulate the farmers in the community of Ljubljana to convert to organic farming and offer them relevant advisory services. Our Institute provides the support for farm conversion, future farm development and development of marketing strategies.

Why organic farming in the City Community of Ljubljana?

City community of Ljubljana is supporting development of organic farming because it has been recognized as a helpful tool for:

• protection of drinking water resources of the community which are endangered by pollution;

• the supply of the citizens of Ljubljana with high quality organic food;
• offering a better income to the farmers in the rural surroundings of the city, therefore contributing to the maintenance of inhabited rural areas and of the landscape that offers opportunities for leisure activities of the urban population;
• the protection of important nature protection areas, especially the Moor of Ljubljana.

Program activities

I. Work with the farmers

• stimulate farmers for conversion by presentations and events;
• help them in elaboration of conversion plans for the farms;
• individual ‘on farm’ advising;
• support them in development of new activities (connected to organic farming);
• organisation of training courses, seminars, excursions, presentations, workshops;
• encouraging cooperation between organic farmers.
• Since 2004 our work is additionally focused on farms on water protected areas.

II. Market development:

• building up the organic farmers’ market in Ljubljana (1999) – the first organic farmers’ market in Slovenia;
• coordination of operation and of further development of the organic farmers’ market;
• providing support for other market-related initiatives.
• III. Education and awareness raising
• educational and experience programmes on organic farms for primary schools’ children;
• ‘Organic festival’ (ECO-FESTIVAL) in Ljubljana (2^nd Saturday in September);
• organisation of other promotional activities and providing information.
• Within this programme we co-operate with several institutions/organisations:

Community of Ljubljana – Department for Economic Activities and Tourism/Service for Agriculture (financing the programme)

Community of Ljubljana – Department for Education,

Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning;

Organic Farmers’ Associations (Organic Farmers’ Association Central Slovenia);

Control and certification bodies for organic farming;

Agricultural Advisory Service;

DOPPS – Bird Life Slovenia;

Umanotera – Slovenian Foundation for Sustainable Development.