Accreditation is backed by a CPD programme that identifies a range of courses and events for advisers and trainers, also open to other members. CPD activity is monitored by IOTA and has minimum requirements as part of maintaining Accredited Membership status.

As part of the IOTA CPD programme, IOTA provides training courses and workshops and participates in UK and European projects including:

• Fertility building leys and green manures: Field lab 3 at Abbey Home Farm 16th September 2014
• Farm Sustainable Training for Organic Advisers (STOAS)
• European Adviser Training (EAT) – a Europe-wide organic adviser training programme in which IOTA is the UK partner. Currently focusing on quality protein production and feeding. To join the group please contact Sarah Jameson iota@organicresearchcentre.com

This year the IOTA Annual Conference will be incorporated into the Organic Research Centre’s 9th Organic Producer’s Conference, which runs from Wednesday 26th to Thursday 27th November 2014 in Solihull. Reduced rates are available for IOTA members!

The IOTA strand will focus on sustainable farming assessment and management and conversion planning. This will make the most of new opportunities for organic advisers offering conversion planning services under the new organic support schemes being considered in Wales and which we have proposed in England.

This two day ORC Organic Producer and IOTA adviser conference is being run in collaboration with the Soil Association which will hold its Soil Symposium on 25th November at the same venue. More info here.

A list of other workshops and courses is available – see current events