Sustainable Precision Agriculture: Research and Knowledge for Learning how to be an agri-Entrepreneur Erasmus Project

Project Title

Sustainable Precision Agriculture: Research and Knowledge for Learning how to be an agri-Entrepreneur

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Knowledge Alliances for higher education

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2017

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics:

Project Summary

<< Background >>

The project underlines the need to improve university education in the agricultural sector to train students on the relevant skills for becoming agripreneurs 4.0 (which is currently barely absent. It becomes fundamental for academics to develop new collaborations with other Universities, but also companies working in the sector (providers of Precision Agriculture services) and PA farmers, in order to have an overall vision on the field and being able to foresight technologic and market changes

<< Objectives >>

One of the aims of SPARKLE was to bring together research, Sustainable Precision Agriculture (SPA) farmers, and students to develop and fill the gap in the educational offer to prepare farmers and agriculture’s business managers of the future. The project aimed to develop and release an e-learning educational offer keeping together entrepreneurial competencies and SPA knowledge, thanks to the practical experience of SPA farmers, providers of SPA services and according to students’ needs.

<< Implementation >>

The pilot test phase let 206 students become “agripreuners 4.0” across Partner countries. Pilot actions executed in different Countries tested the flexibility, adaptability and transferability of the developed educational outputs enabling multiplication in various cultural environments, both in the Partnership and outside. Moreover, the quality of educational outputs was cross-validated among participants of various backgrounds and geographic settings and collectively improved when necessary.

<< Results >>

The main result of the project was the creation of a new training program for university students, agri-entrepreneurs, academics, service providers, school students in the form of an e-Learning course, in order­­ to enhance their technical, business-oriented skills and entrepreneurial activity in a smart environment. The course was composed of 12 modules on SPA-related topics, 8 hours of entrepreneurial education, 4 hours of on-field activities. Additional training resources were also provided.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 775566 Eur

Project Coordinator

UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI FIRENZE & Country: IT

Project Partners

• ARISTOTELIO PANEPISTIMIO THESSALONIKIS
• REZOS BRANDS ANONYMI EMPORIKI ETERIA IDON DIATROFIS
• ERRE QUADRO SOCIETA A RESPONSABILITA LIMITATA
• SOLUCIONES AGRICOLAS DE PRECISION S.L.
• VALUEDO SRL
• MARCHESI MAZZEI SPA SOCIETA AGRICOLA
• QUINTA DA CHOLADA SA