Enhancing bioeconomy education for a sustainable European agriculture: RELIEF project's first policy brief & Upcoming Events

Upcoming Events

SwIdeas team is happy to announce that on the 15th of May we will participate on the agroecology day organized at the campus of the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) in Alnarp.

Agroecology Day is an annual day of learning, inspiration, connection, and food, brought to life by the students of the agroecology master’s program at SLU.

In the event, our team will be sharing more abut the RELIEF project and the interesting learning opportunities coming your way this Autumn. You can sign up through this link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSewjiabKBOaiUh3hDMgMY3kIs76f1X_D28RsCk4dsnByTDeqQ/viewform

RELIEF's First Policy Brief

The transition towards a more sustainable and resilient European agri-food system is a key priority on the current political agenda. In this context, the EU RELIEF project has placed particular emphasis on the importance of training in bioeconomy within the agricultural sector, as highlighted in its first Policy Brief. This document represents the result of an in-depth analysis of the training supply and needs within the sector, conducted at the European level.

RELIEF project partners have presented their inaugural policy brief titled "Promoting a practical and vocational interdisciplinary Bioeconomy education in farming framework for the EU" This document outlines the fundamental challenges, strategies, and key policy recommendations to steer the agricultural sector towards a more resilient and eco-friendly future.

The policy brief highlights the fundamental challenges faced by the agricultural sector in the EU, including climate change and dependence on non-renewable resources, emphasizing the urgent need for transformation within the sector to achieve the EU's sustainability goals for 2030 and 2050.

One of the main identified gaps is the lack of vocational training programs that delve into the topic of bioeconomy, as well as the absence of an interdisciplinary approach to address the complex challenges of the agricultural sector. The RELIEF project aims to bridge this gap by engaging various stakeholders and developing practical and interdisciplinary educational programs.

The policy brief provides key policy recommendations for higher education institutions, vocational training providers, and policymakers to promote the integration of bioeconomy into agricultural education, with the goal of increasing the adoption of sustainable and circular agricultural practices.

The policy recommendations included in the brief constitute a concrete action plan to address the current challenges facing the EU agricultural sector. To promote the implementation of practical and interdisciplinary educational programs in the agricultural sector, active involvement of political actors, along with the education and training system, is essential. This collaboration is crucial to support the agricultural workforce and ensure a sustainable future for the EU agricultural sector.

The complete policy brief is available on the RELIEF project website: https://relief.uop.gr/policy-brief

For further information: [email protected]