“Agro-technological training methodology based on organic farming – Einkorn – Ancient innovation II” Erasmus Project

Project Title

“Agro-technological training methodology based on organic farming – Einkorn – Ancient innovation II”

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 : Strategic Partnerships for vocational education and training

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2014

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Research and innovation; New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses; Agriculture, forestry and fisheries

Project Summary

Einkorn is an ancient grain that dates back approximately a 10 000 years. Bulgarian einkorn, unlike other varieties found, contains higher than typically met nutrients. Unfortunately in Bulgaria and most of the world, no targeted studies have been conducted to understand, grow and cultivate einkorn and especially the Bulgarian variety. By conducting initial studies within the framework of our successfully ongoing 2013 “Transfer of innovation” project which was focused on malting and brewing einkorn, we came across several alternations which do not allow production of einkorn products with same taste and properties thus making them unfit for the high quality standards of the European market. In order to produce products with the same or similar properties and taste indicators it was necessary to develop a comprehensive study-based training methodology (main project output) for the cultivation of einkorn with the same taste and elemental indicators. The current proposal was focused precisely on that, transferring, adapting and further developing a training methodology for cultivating einkorn with the same elemental and flavor indicators of products independently of the harvest. The main target group which the training methodology addresses was agronomists (grain/cereal producers), and secondly stakeholders involved in the production of cereal food/beverage products and young farmers. The needs addressed are directly related to the fact that conventional agriculture does not apply modern methodologies for the cultivation of agricultural crops and especially this almost forgotten but extremely valuable variety. By successfully developing the foreseen outputs, the project contributes to the improvement of the level of key competences and skills of the target group with regard to their correspondence to the challenges of the labor market. The methodology helps improving the professional skills of agronomists in a highly developed economic sector but in a specific market niche. The overall outputs of the project leads to improvement of conventional agriculture and introduction and provision of innovative learning methods in the sector. By digitizing the entire agro-technological process the consortium developed several key outputs that will increase the attractiveness of the agricultural sector, mainly einkorn cultivation and usage of by-products of low gluten content suitable for people suffering from celiac disease. In order to achieve its objectives, the consortium of partners develop the above mentioned training methodology for agronomists and specialize scientifically developed and proved technological manual for production of einkorn with sustainable properties. This will enhance the professional qualifications of the interested parties and keeping it open up to grain-producers and brewers, allows them to implement and integrate it in their production process and to increase their competitiveness by involving qualified experts. Another important product, the Technological Glossary of terms contains a description of the specific terminology used in the projects and the corresponding sectors. It was produced in four languages – Bulgarian, English, Czech and German. In order to achieve sustainability and impact, the training methodology was introduced in the teaching process of partner organizations which will enhance their skills and knowledge in their training modules to date. The Agricultural Academy introduced an entirely new training course based on the project outputs in the curriculum of its educational system. As a whole, the agricultural industry is now able to adopt unknown to date, innovative high quality training methodology for agronomists and brewers providing a qualified vocational training within the framework of the participating organizations. Successful graduates will gain professional education for a little known grain such as the einkorn, with high content of nutrients, in a highly developed but with further potential for growth economic sector such as the Agricultural in a market niche with great potential. With the growing popularity and activities associated to the cultivation of einkorn the demand for highly qualified experts who can grow, process, treat, etc. this culture in a sustainable manor will grow proportionally. In other words those who successfully pass the developed within the project training will become integrated in the dynamic employment market with ease.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 239702,25 Eur

Project Coordinator

Agricultural Academy & Country: BG

Project Partners

• Petkom – Petko Angelov
• INI-NOVATION GMBH
• Institute of Plant genetic Resources “K.Malkov”-Sadovo
• Institute of Cryobiology and Food Technologies
• VYZKUMNY USTAV PIVOVARSKY A SLADARSKY AS