The purpose of the interactive self-assessment tool is to offer the user of the NATURALITER training system a training ground to test him/herself on the know-how and skills needed to run a business.

The tool is set up in a progressive fashion, featuring a series of questions to which the best answers must be given.

If the answer given by the user is completely wrong, he/she must go back and try again; if the answer given is plausible but is not the best choice, windows open corresponding to the training package relating to the management issue to be explored, after which he/she can move on to the next level; lastly, if the answer given is the best choice, the user automatically goes to the next test. When the correct result is achieved, a file featuring the golden rules applying to the topic examined is delivered.

As the user passes the various tests, he/she is given a score. At the end of the process, the user is told whether or not he/she has passed the test and what his/her score is.

The virtual library contains a series of case studies selected among the eight countries involved in the research project and relating to the four areas concerned: organic productions, farm products, agritourism and nursery activities.

An attempt was made to draw attention to the significant cases in terms of innovation and success achieved.

The case studies were made based on a common model that illustrates the business’ history and features, highlights the main innovative aspects, and describes the activities developed and the related skills.

A database points out the activities carried out in the case studies and the skills required to perform them.

The skills, which are typically feminine, are highlighted and emphasized in the related cases stored in the virtual library.

Anytime while “surfing”, the user of the NATURALITER system can open case studies or examine activities and skills to see how they relate to and what implications they would have on the plan they have in mind.

In this way, thanks to the “computerized business platform” tool, it is possible to create

The training practice does not consist of a single tool; indeed, the user of the NATURALITER system can choose from four training packages that correspond to the four areas involved: organic productions, farm products, agritourism and nursery activities.

The training packages, which provide an introduction to the main aspects of such innovative activities in agriculture, feature a “short list” of modules that refer directly to the catalogue of the training offer of the partners involved in the project.

The user who is working on his/her business plan can consult and take descriptive passages from the training packages simply by means of cutting and pasting, which makes it easier for him/her to write out the plan.

The computerized business platform tool allows users to actually describe a corporate plan presenting all the elements required to set up a complete business plan.

Starting from a description of the company’s features, all the data required to examine the plan are introduced, from human to financial resources, from the corporate image to the type of activities whereby the business is to be innovated.

The financial forms are used to determine the finances needed and to set up a viable economic and financial corporate development plan.

In this way, it is possible to provide the technical expert in charge of drawing up the final project, the bank, or the body in charge of allocating public subsidies, with a complete and clear picture of the plan one has in mind.

During the process of building the business platform, aspects relating to occupational health and safety and access to agritourism businesses farms for disabled people are taken into account through specific training procedures that can be made available by the partners in the project.

The importance of corporate computerization and the possibility of developing e-commerce tools are also considered.

The set of interactive products available provides a training process the practical usefulness of which is proven by the final result of the business plan.

The possibility of selecting different languages allows the user to learn the technical jargon in a foreign language he or she has a basic or fairly good knowledge of.