Kutztown, PA—Rodale Institute has released an online educational course available for free to anyone interested in learning about farming and organic agriculture."Being a Regenerative Consumer"will cover a variety of topics relating to farming, such as pesticides, nutrition, what growing organic means, and why soil matters.

When speaking about the new virtual class, Maria Pop, Director of Education at Rodale Institute stated: "We wanted to create a resource for anyone seeking out information about what the labels on their food mean, or the true impacts of farming on our health and planet. This course provides all the basics someone would need to begin to change their food habits or get involved in organic. As a leader in the regenerative organic space, Rodale Institute is proud to offer the world-class knowledge of our experts free of charge to ensure that the regenerative organic movement is accessible for all."

The class will led by three professionals: Dr. Yichao Rui, Director of Rodale Institute's 40-year-old Farming Systems Trial; Emily Newman Gantz, Organic Consulting Program Manager; and Scott Stoll, M.D., Co-Founder of The Plantrician Project.

According to the press release, the curriculum will include:
  • Definitions of organic, regenerative, and regenerative organic farming and food
  • What lives in the soil and why soil health matters
  • The impact of eating organic food on combating disease and human health
  • Regenerative organic agriculture's capacity to mitigate climate change
  • How to make a difference as a consumer with 5 action steps
The course material will be available to access at any time, to be viewed at the participant's pace, and participants can view the modules as often as they'd like. The modules will include videos, case studies, resources, and assessments put together by Rodale Institute staff, scientists, partners, and farmers. Upon completion of the course, students will receive a Certificate of Completion.

Related: Perspectives: Cutting Down on Degrees of Separation with Rodale Institute Rodale Launches Certified Advisor Program Regenerative Organic Certified: Setting the Standard for Soil Health, Animal Welfare, and Farmworker Fairness

The Institute has been a leader in researching regenerative agriculture for over 70 years and is hoping this online platform will allow the public to better understand the benefits of organic farming. Other courses offered include Transition to Certified Organic, Hobby Beekeeping, and Getting Your Organic Certification.

To learn more about this and other course offerings, visitRodaleInstitute.org/Online-Courses.