Digital and Entrepreneurial Competencies for the Bioeconomy: Perceptions and Training Needs of Agricultural Professionals in Greece, Italy, Portugal, and Sweden

Dimitrios Petropoulos (), Georgios A. Deirmentzoglou, Nikolaos Apostolopoulos, Bas Paris, Dimitris Michas, Athanasios T. Balafoutis, Elena Athanasopoulou, Leonardo Nibbi, Hailong Li, Lara Carvalho, Maria Helena Moreira da Silva and Joaquim Fernando Moreira da Silva
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Dimitrios Petropoulos: Department of Agriculture, University of Peloponnese, Antikalamos, 24100 Kalamata, Greece
Georgios A. Deirmentzoglou: Department of Agriculture, University of Peloponnese, Antikalamos, 24100 Kalamata, Greece
Nikolaos Apostolopoulos: Department of Management Science and Technology, University of Peloponnese, 22100 Tripoli, Greece
Bas Paris: Institute of Bio-Economy & Agro-Technology, Centre of Research & Technology Hellas, Dimarchou Georgiadou 118, 38333 Volos, Greece
Dimitris Michas: Institute of Bio-Economy & Agro-Technology, Centre of Research & Technology Hellas, Dimarchou Georgiadou 118, 38333 Volos, Greece
Athanasios T. Balafoutis: Institute of Bio-Economy & Agro-Technology, Centre of Research & Technology Hellas, Dimarchou Georgiadou 118, 38333 Volos, Greece
Elena Athanasopoulou: Department of Business and Organizations Administration, University of Peloponnese, Antikalamos, 24100 Kalamata, Greece
Leonardo Nibbi: Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Florence, 50139 Florence, Italy
Hailong Li: School of Business, Society and Engineering, Mälardalen University, 723 21 Västerås, Sweden
Lara Carvalho: School of Business, Society and Engineering, Mälardalen University, 723 21 Västerås, Sweden
Maria Helena Moreira da Silva: Department of Animal Reproduction, Faculty of Agrarian Sciences and Environment, University of the Azores, IITA-A, 9701-851 Angra do Heroísmo, Portugal
Joaquim Fernando Moreira da Silva: Department of Animal Reproduction, Faculty of Agrarian Sciences and Environment, University of the Azores, IITA-A, 9701-851 Angra do Heroísmo, Portugal

Agriculture, 2025, vol. 15, issue 10, 1-17

Abstract: As the European Union advances its bioeconomy strategy, the agricultural sector emerges as a key domain requiring targeted upskilling in digital and entrepreneurial competencies. This study examines how agricultural professionals perceive the importance of these competencies and identifies related training needs, drawing on the European Commission’s Digital Competence Framework (DigComp) and Entrepreneurship Competence Framework (EntreComp). Using a quantitative survey methodology, data were collected from 140 respondents, including farmers, agronomists, consultants, entrepreneurs, and policymakers, in four European countries: Greece, Italy, Portugal, and Sweden. Descriptive and non-parametric analyses (Mann–Whitney U and Kruskal–Wallis tests) revealed strong recognition of digital competencies across all groups, with significant variation by country, while perceptions of entrepreneurial competencies differed mainly by professional role. Moreover, a significant lack of formal bioeconomy-related education was identified. The findings underscore the need for targeted, competence-based education and policy interventions to equip professionals with the skills required for a sustainable and innovation-driven agricultural sector.

Keywords: bioeconomy; agriculture; agricultural professionals; digital skills; entrepreneurial skills; DigComp; EntreComp (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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