AHCORG407
Manage a landless organic production system


Application

This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to manage a landless production system such as urban beekeeping, rooftop gardens, log-based mushrooms, aquaponics, worm farming or small scale fish farming.

All work must be carried out to comply with workplace procedures, work health and safety, animal welfare and biosecurity legislation and codes, and sustainability practices.

This unit applies to managers who work according to the principles of organic and ecological agriculture. Work is likely to be done independently and according to the requirements of the National Standard for Organic and Biodynamic Produce or agro-ecological principles.

This unit applies to individuals who take responsibility for their own work and for the quality of the work of others within know parameters and use discretion and judgment in the selection, allocation and use of available resources.

No occupational licensing, legislative or certification requirements are known to apply to this unit at the time of publication.


Elements and Performance Criteria

Element

Performance criteria

Elements describe the essential outcomes.

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element.

1. Manage health and welfare in the enterprise

1.1. Consider the requirements for the enterprise being managed to ensure optimal health and welfare and implement an optimal growing environment based on Organic Standards or agro-ecological principles

1.2 Select and use varieties and genetics for the enterprise to optimise health and that match environmental conditions

1.3 Implement a nutrition program for optimal enterprise health

1.4 Monitor the enterprise constantly for health and welfare and keep records

1.5 Develop preventative health strategies for the enterprise, communicate to others working in the enterprise and implement

1.6 Use pest and disease inputs that meet relevant Organic Standards or agro-ecological principles where required

1.7 Document use of any inputs for pest and disease management. Follow restrictions if applicable on prohibited or restricted inputs for organic systems

1.8 Ensure transport and handling of organisms or produce is in compliance with organic certification requirements and animal welfare where applicable

1.9 Maintain enterprise records required for organic certification where required

2. Develop and implement enterprise nutrition requirements

2.1 Determine nutrition requirements for the enterprise that takes into account seasonal variability and biological needs

2.2 Implement a nutritional strategy that ensures optimal enterprise health at all times

2.3 Use nutritional inputs in the nutrition program that meets relevant Organic Standards or agro-ecological principles

2.4 Implement good storage practises for inputs to ensure quality is maintained

2.5 Where applicable, integrate resources and nutrients from local and complementary biomass sources as part of the nutritional strategy

2.6 Keep feed records for enterprise management and to ensure compliance to Organic Standards where applicable

3. Develop and manage a suitable growing environment for the enterprise

3.1 Undertake planning to ensure a suitable growing environment for the enterprise that takes into account all biological needs for the organisms

3.2 Implement and manage enterprise infrastructure to ensure optimal growing conditions and enterprise welfare at all times

3.3 Minimise waste and outputs from the enterprise by reusing and recycling by-products where possible

3.4 Monitor the growing environment and infrastructure and improve where applicable

3.5 Keep records on activities where applicable

4. Implement a suitable restocking or breeding program for the enterprise

4.1 Identify suitable source of organisms or genetics for the enterprise

4.2 Ensure requirements for replacement stock for the enterprise are being met

4.3 Select and use varieties and genetics for the enterprise that match business objectives

4.4 Ensure the breeding or restocking strategy is meeting all animal welfare needs at all times where applicable

4.5 Ensure transport and handling of any source stock is in compliance with organic certification requirements and animal welfare where applicable

4.6 Implement enterprise animal welfare polices

Evidence of Performance

The candidate must be assessed on their ability to integrate and apply the performance requirements of this unit in a workplace setting. Performance must be demonstrated consistently over time and in a suitable range of contexts.

The candidate must provide evidence that they can:

implement and manage a landless organic production system

provide suitable nutrition and living environment for a landless based biological enterprise based on the relevant Organic Standards or agro-ecological principles

manage health and welfare for a landless enterprise based on organic or agro-ecological principles

manage breeding or restocking for a landless enterprise based on organic or agro-ecological principles

maintain recording systems for production system

implement biosecurity requirements

implement organic or agro-ecological principles

implement enterprise animal welfare policies


Evidence of Knowledge

The candidate must demonstrate knowledge of:

organic certification requirements

organic and agro-ecological principles

enterprise relevant pests and diseases

relevant animal welfare legislation and code of practices

nutrition management, including feed types and assessment, feed budgeting and feeding strategies

management options for preventative health based on an understanding of nutrition, life cycles, genetic selection, environmental conditions and acquired immunity

management options for feeding and breeding based on organic and agro-ecological principles

environmental conditions and infrastructure requirements for optimal enterprise performance and welfare

work health and safety practices

record keeping requirements

relevant principles, practices and inputs allowable under the National Standard for Organic and Biodynamic Produce


Assessment Conditions

Competency is to be assessed in the workplace and/or a simulated environment that accurately reflects performance in a real workplace setting.

Assessors must satisfy current standards for RTOs


Foundation Skills

Foundation Skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency.


Range Statement


Sectors

Organic Production (ORG)