Project

C-Farming

Carbon Farming Alliance
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Topics

Entrepreneurship, local territory and sustainable development | Research and innovation

Date of implementation

Till 1 December 2024

Funding Institution

Webpage

https://cfarming-project.eu/

Info & Contact

Emiliano Mungiovino

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C-Farming is focused on the adoption of “Carbon Farming” as a sustainable farming model. The initiative aims to improve digital, entrepreneurial, and resilience skills of farmers, students, and trainers by promoting climate-smart and sustainable farming practices. The project involves 6 higher and vocational training institutes, 2 research centers, and 10 labor market actors in 7 European countries. C-Farming aims to develop two training programs a VOOC (Virtual Open Online Course) for farmers and students and MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) for educators based on European standards. Resources will be accessible via a digital learning ecosystem using an e-learning platform and a Virtual Farm. Activities include pilot courses and business incubators to ensure a lasting impact on the sustainable agricultural sector.

Beneficiaries

  • Farmers and agricultural entrepreneurs – Benefit from acquiring skills in Carbon Farming and sustainable agriculture to improve productivity and reduce environmental impact.
  • Agricultural students and vocational training students (VET/HE) – Participate in innovative educational programs (VOOC) to develop digital, entrepreneurial, and technical skills in sustainable agriculture.
  • Agricultural educators and trainers – Through the Train-the-Trainers program (MOOC), enhance their teaching abilities in Climate-smart Agriculture by integrating advanced teaching methodologies based on European standards.

Objectives

  • To promote the adoption of Carbon Farming by disseminating and encouraging sustainable farming practices focused on carbon capture and management in soil.
  • To improve the skills of agricultural operators by developing the digital and entrepreneurial capacities of farmers, students, and professionals, making them active participants in the ecological transition.
  • To innovate agricultural training by creating two educational programs (VOOC for farmers and students, MOOC for educators and professionals) aligned with European standards (ECVET/EQF/EQAVET) and the EU micro-credentials system.
  • To establish agricultural innovation incubators by creating C-Farming Learning & Business Incubators in six partner countries to support the development of new sustainable agricultural businesses.
  • To promote collaboration between education and the labor market by strengthening links between universities, training centers, research institutions, and market actors to accelerate Carbon Farming adoption.
  • To reduce the skills gap in agriculture by providing practical and theoretical training to update the skills of 420 beneficiaries through pilot courses, blended activities, and work-based learning.

Actions

  • Context analysis and skill definition by identifying training needs in the Carbon Farming sector and mapping required competencies according to ECVET/EQF/EQAVET standards.
  • Development of training programs by creating the VOOC for farmers, students, and agricultural entrepreneurs, and the MOOC for trainers, educators, and professionals.
  • Implementation of the digital platform and Virtual Farm by developing a digital learning ecosystem with interactive materials, open-source resources, and creating the C-Farming Virtual Farm for practical and immersive simulations.
  • Capacity building activities by organizing 6 capacity-building events for partners and stakeholders and conducting 6 blended courses and 1 asynchronous course to test training programs.
  • Organize 6 work-based learning activities in-person and 1 online by creating agricultural innovation incubators and establishing C-Farming Learning & Business Incubators in 6 partner countries.

Impact

  • Increased knowledge of Carbon Farming practices and Climate-smart Agriculture, as well as enhanced digital and entrepreneurial skills for farmers and students.
  • Training of educators and trainers in innovative teaching methodologies by creating customized educational paths aligned with European standards (ECVET/EQF/EQAVET) and integrating micro-certifications for recognizing acquired skills.
  • Increased competitiveness and innovation in the sustainable agricultural sector by creating new job opportunities for farmers and entrepreneurs in the Carbon Farming sector.
  • Establishment of C-Farming Learning & Business Incubators to support long-term adoption, also involving policymakers to promote the development of sustainable agricultural policies at the European level.
  • 420 participants (farmers and agricultural entrepreneurs) trained through pilot courses, blended learning, and work-based learning on Carbon Farming practices.
  • 6 C-Farming Learning & Business Incubators established in various countries.

Results

  • Labour Market & Learning Needs Report: Analysis of training needs and required competencies in the Carbon Farming sector.
  • ESCO Skills Package for farmer-related job profiles and one new job profile: Definition of key competencies for agricultural roles, including the creation of a new job profile.
  • L&D Incubators Portals: Digital platforms to support training and incubation of sustainable agricultural businesses.
  • L&B Incubators’ Operational Frameworks: Guidelines for the operation of agricultural innovation incubators.
  • C-Farming Training Programme (VOOC) Content: Training material for farmers, students, and agricultural entrepreneurs.
  • C-Farming Train-the-Trainers Content: Content for training educators and trainers in the agricultural sector.
  • C-Farming Digital Learning Ecosystem: Digital ecosystem with e-learning platform, virtual farm, digital library, and AI chatbot.
  • Policy Recommendations Paper: Document with policy recommendations to support the adoption of Carbon Farming.

Partners

Nº project

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.