Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is required by agricultural professionals to navigate innovations that are rebuilding the agriculture sector. It helps them remain skilled, knowledgeable and competent in the industry.
Agriculture is our wisest pursuit because it will in the end contribute most to real wealth, good morals, and happiness.” Thomas Jefferson
In this blog, we will explore how continuing professional development (CPD) helps professionals drive success in the agriculture industry.
Key takeaways
Agricultural professionals stay competent and adapt to industry advancements through continuous development, with region-specific requirements.
Technical skills in areas like soil health, crop management, and livestock care are enhanced, while training via tailored programmes address industry challenges and promote sustainability.
Professionals are equipped to tackle challenges like climate change, economic instability, and food security with practical, relevant skills.
Smart farming and technology adoption shape the future of agriculture, ensuring sustainability and innovation.
Global Variations in Agricultural CPD Requirements
Agricultural professionals must continually develop their skills and knowledge to keep pace with industry changes. CPD standards set by professional bodies worldwide ensure that they remain equipped to address challenges and advancements. These requirements differ globally, with each country setting specific standards for professional development. Here’s how CPD requirements vary for agricultural professionals in different countries:
These standards, varying by country and organization, emphasize the importance of ongoing learning and development to maintain professional competence and contribute to the growth and innovation within the agricultural sector.
| Country | Organization | CPD Requirements | Duration | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
United Kingdom |
British Institute of Agricultural Consultants (BIAC) |
80 CPD hours annually (20 structured + 60 unstructured) |
Annually |
Structured CPD includes training courses, workshops, conferences; unstructured includes reading and farm walks. |
|
United States |
American Society of Agronomy (ASA), Certified Crop Adviser (CCA) |
40 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) |
Every 2 years |
Focus on nutrient management, soil conservation, integrated pest management, precision agriculture. |
|
Australia |
Australian Institute of Agriculture (AIA) |
60 CPD points over three years |
Every 3 years |
Points can be earned through professional training, workshops, informal activities; excess points carry over. |
|
Philippines |
Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) |
45 CPD credit units |
Every 3 years |
Includes informal or non-formal learning, such as professional work experience. |
|
South Africa |
South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions (SACNASP) |
30 CPD credits |
Every 2 years |
CPD activities include workshops, seminars, conferences, and mentoring. Structured into developmental, work-based, and individual activities. |
These standards, varying by country and organization, emphasize the importance of ongoing learning and development to maintain professional competence and contribute to the growth and innovation within the agricultural sector.
How is CPD Helping Agriculture Professionals?
CPD helps agricultural professionals by enhancing their skills, expanding their knowledge, and fostering industry progress. Through targeted training, individuals improve their competencies, contributing to sector-wide growth. Here are some key examples. Here are some key ways CPD benefits those in agriculture:
Technical Knowledge
CPD equips professionals with essential technical knowledge, which is critical for implementing effective and sustainable practices in the agricultural industry. Personalised development of agricultural professionals enhance their skills to handle challenges effectively and drives innovation in the profession.
- Soil Health: CPD sessions focusing on soil health provide professionals with knowledge about soil compositions, mineral content, soil needs and conservation techniques. With these sessions, professionals learn how to run soil tests to identify deficiencies and strategise crop production effectively.
Example: Professional development training on cover cropping can significantly improve soil quality. Utilising cover cropping methods, farmers reduced soil erosion by 90%, and reduced sediment loading and pathogen loading by 75% and 60% respectively. - Crop Management: CPD helps individuals stay updated on the latest technologies in crop management, which is crucial for meeting the demands of a growing population. Training in areas like precision agriculture, biotechnology, and data-driven decision-making equips agricultural experts with the skills needed to manage crops effectively and efficiently.
Example: A farmer attending training on how to utilise drone technology for monitoring pest outbreaks and promptly take measures to prevent it from spreading. This will help them in the long run and improve the overall health of the crop. - Livestock Care: CPD programmes keep professionals up-to-date with the latest advancements in veterinary science. These programmes can be personalised to cover modern animal husbandry practices, enhancing overall animal care. By focusing on animal welfare, CPD plays a critical role in disease prevention through the implementation of the latest biosecurity measures.
Example: A CPD session on the latest vaccination protocols helps veterinarians to manage swiftly and administer proper vaccinations and reduce outbreaks. - Biodiversity Management: Sustainable farming practices that preserve ecosystems are vital for effective biodiversity management. CPD programmes focus on promoting biodiversity in agricultural settings by emphasising the importance of habitat conservation. These initiatives not only protect wildlife but also enhance pollination, improving the ecological health and long-term sustainability of farmlands.
Example: Professional development sessions that teach the benefits of planting hedgerows around farmlands. Hedgerows not only boost pollination but also create diverse habitats for wildlife, contributing to a healthier and more resilient ecosystem.
Tailored CPD Programmes
Tailored CPD programmes provide agricultural professionals with specialised training aligned with industry demands and their specific roles. These programmes ensure professionals acquire relevant skills for continuous growth and improvement:
- Targeted Knowledge and Skill Enhancement: Customised programmes focus on key areas like precision farming, soil health, or animal welfare, keeping professionals updated on the latest advancements.
Example: A course on precision farming teaches the use of data-driven tools to optimise crop yields. - Addressing Industry-Specific Challenges: CPD tackles emerging issues such as climate change, sustainability, and technology adoption, equipping professionals to handle evolving demands.
Example: A session on climate-smart farming trains participants in adaptive methods like conservation tillage. - Practical Application: CPD programmes are designed with a focus on practical, real-world application, ensuring that participants can implement what they have learned on the job. Example: Training in drip irrigation enables efficient water usage on farms.
- Flexible Learning: From online courses to in-field training, tailored CPD programmes offers flexible formats to suit different schedules and learning styles.
Example: Webinars on advanced breeding techniques allow learning from anywhere. - Sustainability and Innovation: CPD programme promotes eco-friendly practices, technological integration, and operational efficiency.
Example: A drone technology course shows farmers how to monitor crops and improve productivity.
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Regulatory Training
Agriculture operates within a framework of strict laws and standards designed to protect the environment and ensure economic viability. Continuing professional development (CPD) helps professionals stay informed about these regulations.
- Food Safety Standards: Compliance with food safety standards ensures the quality and safety of agricultural products. For example, in the UK, maintaining records of animal feed origins, pesticide usage, and animal health is vital to meet regulatory requirements.
Example: An agriculture consultant trains workers on Food Standards Agency guidelines, enabling smooth audits and building trust with retailers and consumers.
- Sustainable Agriculture Practices: CPD promotes eco-friendly farming by promoting adherence to environmental laws and reducing carbon footprints. Training on responsible waste management and renewable energy integration supports sustainable farm operations.
Example: Training on solar energy use encourages farmers to install solar panels, cutting energy costs and reducing dependence on non-renewable resources.
Agricultural Challenges
The agricultural industry faces numerous challenges across various sectors, ranging from effective resource management to enhancing production. CPD plays an important role in addressing all the challenges of the industry equipping professionals with skills and knowledge to combat them efficiently.
Climate Change
Climate change is one of the most persistent challenges in agriculture today. Climate change leads to unpredictable weather patterns, affecting the growing seasons. The rising temperature and scarcity of groundwater affect the crop yield and health of livestock. CPD provides trainings on adaptive practices to reduce these effects and improve crop production.
Example: CPD training on water conservation through drip irrigation teaches farmers how to make 90% of water applied to plants efficient, compared to 65%-75% efficiency with sprinkler systems.
Economic Instability
Fluctuation in the global market poses economic challenges with inflations and rising consumer demands. Professional development helps in the prediction of upcoming uncertainty. The training equips professionals with skills and knowledge to optimise the operational costs and diversify the income streams to manage the risk efficiently.
Example: An agriculture consultant learns about crop diversification through CPD session. He advises farmers to plant a mix of high-demand crops, mitigating the impact of market downturns.
Geopolitical Tensions
Geopolitical tension is a challenge for agriculture as it limits the market. This instability in nations leads to disruption in the supply chain and affects trading while increasing costs. Professional trainings keep agriculture contractors updated with global trends and adapts the political instability by finding alternative suppliers. It also highlights the importance of prioritising the local market while reducing imports.
Example: CPD sessions focusing on local sourcing that help in the establishment of a regional supply chain to mitigate the effects of any import restrictions.
Labour Shortage
The labour shortage is a main concern of the agriculture industry today due to urbanisation. It affects crop harvest season and in management of farmland. CPD training on mechanisation, robotics and workforce optimisation helps professionals adapt to labour shortages.
Example: Farm managers implement automated machinery for harvesting following training sessions that focus on reducing reliance on manual labour. This practice enhances efficiency and accelerates the harvesting process.
Food Security
The rise in population demands an increase in production to ensure food security. CPD sessions introduce professionals to techniques such as precision farming, crop diversification, crop rotation, aquaponics and agroforestry methods to overcome food insecurity effectively. Sessions on advanced breeding methods and reducing food waste further support food security initiatives.
Example: Implementation of effective post-harvest storage techniques helps in reducing food waste.
Technological Advancements
The agricultural industry is rapidly evolving with technological development. The introduction of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT) and drone technology is revolutionising traditional agricultural practices. Continuous professional development builds confidence in professionals to adopt these technologies and become a part of AgriTech.
Example: A CPD session on sensors technology integration helps in livestock tracking, monitoring their health, physical location and log performance. These sensors can identify sick animals which helps farmers in taking preventive measures by separating them from healthy animals.
Sustainability Concerns
Adopting sustainability is a challenge in the agricultural industry. Consumers and governments emphasise green practices by implementing eco-friendly methods such as organic farming, carbon sequestration, and renewable energy solutions.
Example: A CPD activity on crop rotation educates farmers on the soil nutrient balance by growing alternate crops. After a nutrient-consuming crop like corn, a nitrogen-fixing legume like beans can be planted to restore the soil’s balance.
The Future of Agriculture with CPD
Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is shaping the future of agriculture by equipping professionals with skills to adopt emerging technologies. Smart farming practices foster sustainability and enhance food security while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and conserving resources.
Vertical farming addresses urbanisation challenges, enabling year-round cultivation with lower transportation costs. Block-chain technology adds transparency, allowing consumers to trace their food’s journey and rewarding farmers for sustainable practices.
To meet challenges like climate change, food security, and resource conservation, the agriculture industry must embrace sustainability, adopt advanced technologies, and drive innovation, ensuring a thriving sector and a safeguarded planet for future generations.
Conclusion
There is continuous evolution in the agriculture sector, presenting both challenges and opportunities. Continuing professional development empowers professionals to adapt to these changes effectively. It equips professionals with essential skills and knowledge to handle the innovation and challenges of the industry. CPD empowers agricultural professionals to excel in their roles, overcoming challenges and driving sustainable progress across the industry.
