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

Finanziato dall’Unione europea. Le opinioni espresse appartengono, tuttavia, al solo o ai soli autori e non riflettono necessariamente le opinioni dell’Unione europea o dell’Agenzia esecutiva europea per l’istruzione e la cultura (EACEA). Né l’Unione europea né l’EACEA possono esserne ritenute responsabili.