Rodale: online farmer training in regenerative organic agriculture
Regenerative News · Presentation of 8 October 2026
Daily work on the farm often limits the time available for education. The Rodale Institute presents an online platform that allows growers to study at their own pace, combining farming knowledge with farm management.
From on-farm training to the online classroom
The Rodale Institute Farmer Training, RIFT programme has been training new growers for more than fifteen years.
Some of its educational material has been adapted into videos and online courses, making it accessible to people who cannot attend the nine-month programme in person.
What the courses cover
The topics connect crop production with running a farm:
- Soil health and crop rotation.
- Weed management.
- Organic certification.
- Financial record-keeping and production planning.
The platform includes assignments, discussions with instructors and fellow participants, and assessments. Learners can focus on the topics they need most.
Connection with our field work
At our Center, we draw on our training at Dr. Elaine Ingham’s Soil Food Web School, linking theory with compost production, microscopic observation and field applications. Dr. Ingham formerly served as Chief Scientist at the Rodale Institute. Our aim is to make this knowledge accessible to growers through seminars and practical training.
Source: Rodale Institute, Virtual Extension
Educational programmes: Rodale Institute, Education