Integrating education, research, and business to drive sustainable agriculture

A new report from the EVECSA project outlines essential steps for transitioning to sustainable farming in the face of climate change. It emphasises that achieving Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) requires collaboration between education, research, and business sectors.
The report calls for urgent action to close the skills gap, overcome infrastructure barriers, and tailor practices to local needs for a more sustainable agricultural future.

Titled Overview of Needs, Resources, and Competence Profiles in Climate-Smart Agriculture, the report presents findings from the qualitative research and survey that the EVECSA partners led in 2024, comparing agricultural practices across the six regions involved: Catalonia (Spain), Central and Southern Ostrobothnia (Finland), Denmark, Poland, Sicily (Italy), and The Netherlands.

Key findings:

• CSA success depends on collaboration across education, research, business, and policymakers.
• The skills gap in digital tools like AI and precision farming hampers effective CSA adoption.
• CSA requires both technical expertise and soft skills, such as adaptability, change management, and teamwork.
• Agricultural practices must be adapted to local conditions for sustainability.
• Structural barriers, including outdated infrastructure and fragmented efforts, must be overcome through public-private partnerships and strong networks.

Building collaborative networks for sustainable agriculture

The research stresses that CSA cannot succeed without collaboration across education, research, and business. The report highlights that the Centres of Excellence for Vocational Education (CoVEs) established as part of the project will act as strategic hubs to bridge the gap between academic training and industry needs.

Additionally, public-private partnerships are essential to address structural barriers like outdated infrastructure and fragmented efforts, which the report identifies as significant obstacles to CSA.

Integrating digital tools with local practices

While digital tools like AI, sensors, and precision farming offer transformative potential, the research uncovered a significant gap in the skills required to implement these technologies effectively. The research emphasises the need to balance emerging technologies with traditional agricultural practices.

CSA solutions must be tailored to local conditions. For example, the report discusses the importance of region-specific approaches such as water management in Mediterranean areas facing drought, soil regeneration in other regions, and renewable energy solutions adapted to local climates.

Evolving skillsets for a changing agricultural landscape

CSA requires more than just technical skills: the report highlights that it also demands soft skills like adaptability, change management, and teamwork. The research advocates for an interdisciplinary approach to agricultural education, integrating technical training with knowledge in economics, environmental management, and digital innovation.

This comprehensive approach will better equip the agricultural workforce to tackle evolving challenges and ensure that they are prepared for the shifting demands of sustainable farming.

Overcoming structural barriers through strong networks

The report underscores the structural barriers that hinder the adoption of CSA, particularly outdated infrastructure, limited access to financing, and fragmented efforts across initiatives. These challenges, the research points out, can be overcome through the creation of robust public-private partnerships and strong networks.

Horizontal networks (between businesses) and transversal networks (connecting businesses, research institutions, and educational centres) are crucial for facilitating coordination, sharing knowledge, and driving the successful implementation of CSA across regions.

Next steps: A unified approach to sustainable agriculture

To ensure a smooth transition to CSA, policymakers, educational institutions, businesses, and researchers must work together to close the skills gap, address infrastructure challenges, and create effective networks.

For more information, please contact Margherita Rosi at margherita.rosi@impresasocialeland.org.