Articles
Education on multifunctional agriculture: keeping up with the rapidly changing world
Article number
1438_12
Pages
109 – 116
Language
English
Abstract
The agricultural sector is nowadays facing many challenges.
The global population is continuously growing, and extreme weather events are impacting agricultural production, resulting in land degradation and disrupting the entire supply chain.
In recent years, the increased input and labor costs, as well as the lack of a qualified workforce, have been emphasized, particularly in agriculture.
At the same time, new technologies are adopted and agricultural practices evolve.
Smart Agriculture (Agriculture 4.0) can achieve more productive and sustainable food production with a more precise and efficient approach.
Furthermore, the Multifunctional Agriculture (MA) maintains employment in rural areas, enhances the less favored areas, and manages biodiversity while conserving the environment.
However, with further rapid technological change, there is an increasing need for new skills.
Agricultural VET schools are trying to react to those changes but need further support, including the close collaboration with the world of work. In order to create learning environment that responds to the skill demand on the job market in the field of MA, the project AgriNext works on to: develop the Guidance service model (GSM) that continuously responds to the rapidly changing needs on the job market; integrate systematic changes on national levels for flexibilisation and responsiveness of the school system; empower teachers for a fast response to the job market demand; establish a collaboration system for continuous exchange between employers, teachers, trainers (skills ecosystem); create physical and virtual environment for interaction, demonstration, development, and individualisation; promote rural development and vitality, presenting opportunities of multifunctional agriculture; increase digital competences among students and teachers.
Green skills for MA include the ability and knowledge to act and adopt an adaptive approach and climate-resilient agricultural practices.
To create a resilient society of active citizens that can respond to the needs of our rapidly changing world, it is essential to raise awareness of the importance of lifelong learning, upskilling, and reskilling.
The global population is continuously growing, and extreme weather events are impacting agricultural production, resulting in land degradation and disrupting the entire supply chain.
In recent years, the increased input and labor costs, as well as the lack of a qualified workforce, have been emphasized, particularly in agriculture.
At the same time, new technologies are adopted and agricultural practices evolve.
Smart Agriculture (Agriculture 4.0) can achieve more productive and sustainable food production with a more precise and efficient approach.
Furthermore, the Multifunctional Agriculture (MA) maintains employment in rural areas, enhances the less favored areas, and manages biodiversity while conserving the environment.
However, with further rapid technological change, there is an increasing need for new skills.
Agricultural VET schools are trying to react to those changes but need further support, including the close collaboration with the world of work. In order to create learning environment that responds to the skill demand on the job market in the field of MA, the project AgriNext works on to: develop the Guidance service model (GSM) that continuously responds to the rapidly changing needs on the job market; integrate systematic changes on national levels for flexibilisation and responsiveness of the school system; empower teachers for a fast response to the job market demand; establish a collaboration system for continuous exchange between employers, teachers, trainers (skills ecosystem); create physical and virtual environment for interaction, demonstration, development, and individualisation; promote rural development and vitality, presenting opportunities of multifunctional agriculture; increase digital competences among students and teachers.
Green skills for MA include the ability and knowledge to act and adopt an adaptive approach and climate-resilient agricultural practices.
To create a resilient society of active citizens that can respond to the needs of our rapidly changing world, it is essential to raise awareness of the importance of lifelong learning, upskilling, and reskilling.
Authors
I. Prgomet, I. Varičak, M. avor, M. Blaić, . Prgomet
Keywords
multifunctional agriculture, education, sustainable development, rural development
Groups involved
- Division Ornamental Plants
- Division Temperate Tree Fruits
- Division Temperate Tree Nuts
- Division Tropical and Subtropical Fruit and Nuts
- Division Vine and Berry Fruits
- Division Vegetables, Roots and Tubers
- Division Horticulture for Development
- Division Horticulture for Human Health
- Division Landscape and Urban Horticulture
- Division Plant-Environment Interactions in Field Systems
- Division Plant Genetic Resources, Breeding and Biotechnology
- Division Postharvest and Quality Assurance
- Division Precision Horticulture and Engineering
- Division Greenhouse and Indoor Production Horticulture
- Commission Agroecology and Organic Farming Systems
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