Companions in Agroecology Erasmus Project

Project Title

Companions in Agroecology

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 adult education

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2020

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Integration of refugees; Agriculture, forestry and fisheries; Pedagogy and didactics

Project Summary

The agro-industrial dominant model in the EU is degrading farmer’s and consumers’ quality of life, as well as the environment. Agriculture influences food quality, water quality, and biodiversity protection, but there are currently not enough funds allocated to addressing these challenges. The European Commission’s objective for a climate-neutral Europe by 2050 requires the development of a greater number of locally-rooted and resilient farms. In addition, the generational renewal of the agricultural workforce requires massive training efforts. Only 5.6% of all European farms are run by farmers younger than 35 years.

In this context, we urgently need to (a) improve the position of farmers in the food supply chain and (b) re-enchant farmers’ jobs and train the next generation of farmers.
Inspired by a training program developed by Fermes d’Avenir, the “Companionship Program”, this project aims at putting on-farm training at the center of the learning process of tomorrow’s farmers, with farms applying sustainable farming practices. More specifically, the project aims at sharing and improving agroecology training practices across several countries in Europe through work-based training accessible to all and facilitating the recognition of formal and informal skills.

The project is managed by four partners with long-lasting experience in training the next generation of farmers with on-farm training. It is structured around four training events where each partner share its expertise on specific topics: on-farm training and recognition of skills with numerical badges, management of educational farms, transfer of soil fertility assessment methodologies and didactical approaches on agroforestry horticulture and syntrophy. Participants include training managers amongst partner organizations, and trainers or tutors on agroecological farms (non-vocational adult education) in Belgium, France, and Italy. Up to 24 trainers participate in the exchange of practices and over 100 adult learners are directly benefiting from a new pedagogy.

The project also creates opportunities to learn from farming practices in different environments and pedoclimatic conditions. It develops and strengthen the network of agroecology initiatives in Europe, laying the ground for adult learners to be trained on sustainable farming outside their home country.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 104579 Eur

Project Coordinator

Transition Ecologique France & Country: FR

Project Partners

• Mouvement d’Action Paysanne-Ecole Paysanne Indépendante
• Humus, rete agricola sociale per la bioagricoltura italiana
• Vert d’Iris International