Digital Education on the Farm to Fork strategy

Although there has been a positive development in the adoption of digital learning solutions in European countries, the Covid-19 pandemic has limited the ability of VET professionals and educators...

The project will develop a training toolkit (result 1) and a self-assessment (result 2) of trainees' skills in sustainable agriculture in digital form, which will form the main content of the Farm to Fork e-learning platform (result 3). Train and educate VET professionals in the agri-food sector in the use of innovative digital tools; - Promote digital education ; - Promote the Farm to Fork strategy and other EU policies related to agriculture to further disseminate knowledge and education; - Promote practices based on sustainable, smart and inclusive growth of the agri-food sector; - Equip target groups with innovative working tools; - Raise awareness of the systematic link between human well-being and biodiversity conservation.

Monitoring and evaluation activities: The consortium organized the project planning, implementation and evaluation functions by applying a logic model throughout the project. The basic logic model that will be used in project development defines the following five key areas: Resources/Inputs <lock>></lock> Activities <lock>></lock> Project Outcomes <lock>></lock> Outcomes <lock>></lock> Impact. These five key areas of the logic model are applied to each project activity: 1. activities: The planned project activity and the tasks to be completed are described in detail. 2. Results: The desired/expected results to be achieved as a result of the planned activity are stated. 3. Resources/Inputs: Data and resources required to support the implementation of the activity. These include human resources, expertise, feedback and input from stakeholders, etc. 4. outcomes: Identification of the short and long-term outcomes expected/desired for the activity. 5. Impacts: Description of the long-term impacts expected at local, national, European and international level as a result of the project and how each activity will contribute to achieving these impacts. Implementation activities: A Project Steering Committee (PSC) is formed at the start of the project to oversee the progress of the project and consists of one representative from each partner appointed to this project. A project work plan is developed at the beginning of the project to guide the execution of the work throughout the implementation period to ensure that the roles, responsibilities, rights and obligations of the partners are clearly defined and to ensure consensus and clarity within the consortium on reporting processes, technical and financial management, means of communication, decision-making processes, conflicts and other issues. The roles and responsibilities of each partner are formalised and confirmed in comprehensive partnership agreements signed between the lead applicant and each partner. The results managers have been selected on the basis of their expertise, capacity and relevant experience. The lead deliverable manager was responsible for the coordination of activities and allocation of resources as well as for the quality assurance of the deliverable and reports to the project coordinator. A set of specific tools are developed and applied throughout the project duration, including a) a project contact list, b) a project folder on Google Drive.

The DG FARMER project developed innovative curricula and digital learning methods. More specifically, the project developed a training toolkit and a self-assessment of trainees’ skills in sustainable agriculture in digital form, which form the main content of the Farm to Fork e-learning platform. The following results were achieved: Development of an e-learning toolkit 'The Farm to Fork: Towards SustainableAgricultural Systems'; self-assessment of trainees’ sustainable agriculture skills; and Farm to Fork e-learning platform. The following objectives were achieved: - Promote motivation, skills and attitudes to develop sustainable agriculture with regard to the Farm to Fork strategy; - Raise farmers' awareness of the benefits of switching to sustainable food production practices and running an environmentally friendly farm; - Innovate and create a digital learning system for the agri-food sector to improve the quality of education and training; Create an online network for farmers, VET professionals and trainees to collaborate with educational institutions, local authorities and the agri-food industry; - Providing a comprehensive online learning environment linking theory and practice; - Strengthening capacities within partner organizations to promote digital education for sustainable agricultural development and the importance of the 'Farm to Fork' strategy; - Raising public awareness of local, unsustainable agricultural production practices and consumption patterns; - Raising awareness of the systematic link between human well-being and biodiversity conservation for European society and economy. In addition to the outputs, the partners also delivered: - A concrete overall work plan and activity-specific work plans describing all necessary steps and procedures for the smooth implementation of the project (structure, tasks per partner and responsibilities, project milestones, communication arrangements and reporting); - Minutes after each partner meeting, written and submitted by the organization hosting the meeting in collaboration with the project leader; - A quality assurance plan for the whole project process, covering the entire course of the project, to ensure that all activities are carried out effectively and lead to the desired results based on the quality standards agreed in the partnership; - A dissemination strategy with a detailed description of the dissemination tools and activities needed to reach the target groups and a final report on the dissemination activities at the end of the project; - Lists of participants of all local national events; - Project logo; - Production of informative printed material (brochures, posters, etc.); - 4 newsletters were developed after key project milestones in the partners' languages and distributed to relevant stakeholders. - Feedback questionnaires from members of the target group who participated in the local events and trainings; - 5 multiplier events (HR, GR, BE, ES, CY) for the target group and project stakeholders as part of the dissemination and exploitation activities in each country; - Local pilot workshops.