AgTech7: An open, innovative interdisciplinary approach for the training of potential agrifood stakeholders
Despite the increase in agricultural production and the rapid development of agribusiness globally, many European smallholder farmers, entrepreneurs, and incubator managers are still not aware of the benefits of adopting innovative agritech solutions that can drastically improve their production and businesses.
For addressing this issue, AgTech7 developed a 7-module online training program that aimed to address the lack of interdisciplinary knowledge in the field of digital agriculture, as well as to improve the knowledge of European Higher Education Institutions, research institutes, students, incubator managers, entrepreneurs in agribusiness, business angels, and other stakeholders about a wide range of agritech concepts.
The lessons were delivered by experienced domain experts through the AgTech7 Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), which allows for both synchronous and asynchronous learning. The lessons enabled the participants to gain theoretical and practical knowledge skills in order to effectively implement the “Farm to Fork Strategy” in their work and business.
Training participants had the opportunity to improve their knowledge on the following includes topics:
- Food Value Chain and the Food System;
- IoT and Earth Observation for Growing Farm Yield and Improving Resource Efficiency;
- Data analytics in farm management information systems;
- Artificial intelligence in supply chain optimisation;
- Financial innovation in Agri-food systems;
- Lean startup for agri-tech ventures, and
- Neuro-science marketing techniques
The novelty of the AgTech7 approach is that for the first time, in addition to agricultural knowledge, the study program included the key innovations and skills necessary for the development of entrepreneurship, while on the other hand it offered the economy, investors and the start-up community the latest knowledge and discoveries in the field of digital agriculture. The trainings also provided an opportunity for networking between participants and for making important business contacts.
In total, the project organized 36 events (online and offline) that were attended by more than 2,000 people from different backgrounds. Regarding the trainings, participants expressed a high satisfaction level: According to the their feedback, 93% found the content of learning modules valuable, 87% evaluated the discussions during the trainings as engaging and relevant, and 92% of them would recommend the Training Programme to other interested parties.
The training modules as well as additional resources are still available to anyone interested on the AgTech7 VLE that can be accessed through the project’s official website www.agtech7.uns.ac.rs
About the project: AgTech7 – a Knowledge Alliance of Agri Businesses, Academia and Business Angels for Disruptive Farm-to-Work Agri-Tech Training (www.agtech7.uns.ac.rs) is an EU project funded by the Erasmus+ program, with 7 partners from Serbia, the Netherlands, Greece, Belgium and Turkey. It aims to improve knowledge about digital agriculture through a wide range of modern agro-technological concepts that can contribute to the modernization of curricula and programs of higher education institutions, as well as improve the development of business models.
