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Launch of the e-learning module on sustainable water management

Capacity building for better use of water resources

Tom Mitschi and Wiebke Gebler, Naturland e.V.

April 2026

Service & Expertise

A new e-learning module on sustainable water management has been launched on the Naturland Academy platform. The course is available in four languages and is particularly relevant for farms located in areas with water risks.

Against a backdrop of rapid climate change and over-exploitation, the sustainable use of water resources is a critical issue today, as evidenced by the latest UN report of 2026, which declares an "era of global water bankruptcy". Agriculture is both a driver and a victim of the increasing scarcity and pollution of freshwater resources. A change in water management in the agricultural sector is therefore necessary in order to adapt to new climatic conditions and to protect water resources from depletion.

During World Water Day on 22 March, Naturland launched an e-learning course on water management on the Naturland Academy platform. With this course, Naturland wants to support its members, especially those in areas facing water risks, to improve their water management and to become more resilient to water scarcity and extreme events.

An interactive course in five parts

The course is available in English, Spanish, Italian and French. It takes approximately 2.5 hours to complete and is divided into five parts:

  • The first module of the course presents figures on water and agriculture on a global scale. It also emphasizes the importance of sustainable water management by highlighting the threats to water quality and quantity.
  • The second module presents the principles and practices of sustainable water management. It provides some theoretical input on agricultural hydrology and lists some practical agroecological methods to increase resilience and reduce water demand.
  • The third module focuses on irrigation management, from planning to monitoring, including the choice of the irrigation system. It also describes the possible sources of irrigation water.
  • The fourth module examines the impacts of irrigation with poor water quality on crops and soil and proposes some amendments to compensate for them. It also addresses the issue of overexploitation and the legality of water withdrawals.
  • The fifth and final module describes in detail the steps and documents needed to properly fill out the Water Management Plan.
Extract from module 1

on the relevance of irrigated agriculture for food security

Extract from module 2

on possible soil conservation measures to foster water retention

Extract from module 3

describing the features of different irrigation systems

Extract from module 4

giving the thresholds recommended by the FAO for major toxic ions in irrigation water

Extract from module 5

to explain the requirements of the Water Management Plan in terms of legality

    E-learning modules and requirements for Naturland producers

    The interactive course is addressed to farmers and technicians. For the time being, the course is not mandatory, but it is highly recommended, especially for operators in areas with water risks. A certificate of participation with the name of the learner and the name of the operator or group for which he works will be automatically issued by the Naturland Academy platform after the course is completed. This certificate should be sent with the other documents of the Water Management Plan in the inspection report.

    Changes in the Naturland standards regarding water management

    We would also like to draw your attention to a recent article in which we explored the changes in Naturland standards regarding the water management guidelines introduced in 2026. 

    How to get started

    To access the free course, please register on the Naturland Academy platform. You will also find other courses and documentation on a variety of topics related to organic farming there.

    Authors

    Tom Mitschi is responsible for water management at Naturland e.V. He is developing water-related topics in the organization and evaluates water management plans (WMP).

    Wiebke Gebler works as an education manager at Naturland e.V., where she specializes in developing digital learning solutions on agricultural and sustainability topics.

    Header image: Tom Mitschi. Growing onions using drip irrigation in Egypt.