Improving the Education and Training Policies of the Agri-Food and Forestry Sectors: Identifying New Strategies to Meet the Needs of the Sector and Farm-to-Fork Priorities

Yaprak Kurtsal (), Giacomo Maria Rinaldi, Federica Savini, Rubina Sirri, Martin Melin, Elena Pacetti, Alessandra De Cesare, Marialetizia Fioravanti, Elena Luppi, Gerardo Manfreda and Davide Viaggi
Additional contact information
Yaprak Kurtsal: Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences, University of Bologna, Viale Fanin 40-50, 40127 Bologna, Italy
Giacomo Maria Rinaldi: Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences, University of Bologna, Viale Fanin 40-50, 40127 Bologna, Italy
Federica Savini: Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra 50, 40064 Ozzano dell’Emilia, Italy
Rubina Sirri: Emilia-Romagna Region—Directorate General for Agriculture, Hunting and Fisheries, Viale Della Fiera, 8, 40127 Bologna, Italy
Martin Melin: Department of People and Society, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 190, 234 22 Lomma, Sweden
Elena Pacetti: Department of Education Studies “Giovanni Maria Bertin”, University of Bologna, Via Filippo Re 6, 40126 Bologna, Italy
Alessandra De Cesare: Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra 50, 40064 Ozzano dell’Emilia, Italy
Marialetizia Fioravanti: Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra 50, 40064 Ozzano dell’Emilia, Italy
Elena Luppi: Department of Education Studies “Giovanni Maria Bertin”, University of Bologna, Via Filippo Re 6, 40126 Bologna, Italy
Gerardo Manfreda: Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences, University of Bologna, Viale Fanin 40-50, 40127 Bologna, Italy

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 3, 1-20

Abstract: The current European agri-food and forestry (AFF) systems are perceived to be moving too slowly towards more sustainable agriculture, forestry, food and bio-based value chains. The European Green Deal and Farm to Fork (FtF) Strategy stress the importance of the sustainable transition of food systems that emphasize resilience and justice along food chains. In this direction, education and training (ET) are given a major role, constituting one of the pillars of the Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Systems (AKIS) framework. This study aims to propose an extended version of the AKIS framework to focus on the transition of policies concerning the ET pillar and to use this framework as a conceptual background with which to identify strategies for the improvement of ET policies in the AFF sectors. Data collection was undertaken through a round of workshops, and the data were analyzed using a thematic analysis approach. The results revealed that the need for a high-quality educational policy and the need to enhance collaboration, entrepreneurship and innovative learning methods were among the most important for the sector, where urgent changes in pace and an approach in ET are necessary for the entire value chain, from farm to fork. These results emphasize that pivoting the transition of ET systems toward achieving the Green Deal, FtF and new CAP objectives requires the development of policies that support student-centered and interdisciplinary education, while also being flexible and supported by non-formal and lifelong learning approaches.

Keywords: agri-food and forestry; education and training; AKIS; Farm to Fork Strategy; innovative learning approaches (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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