Conference Agenda

The planetary boundaries and other socio-economic challenges are calling for a paradigm shift of the agri-food systems towards resilience and sustainability. Digital and green skills of the workforce are emerging determinants to promote the innovation and progress of the food value chains within a fluid job market where skills and capabilities of the human capital become the focal elements for employability. While skills gap supply vs. demand in the food sector exists, skills intelligence along with Artificial Intelligence (A.I.)-based tools could help both in skills needs identification and trends and in the development of modern training matching the “fluidity” of the job market demands.

GEEK4Food (www.geek4food.com), an Erasmus+ Forward looking project has developed a cross-sectorial framework to support the agri-food system transition towards sustainable and green solutions by an integrated approach applying (A.I.) tools coupled with reactive and fast responding educational modules design and delivery. An interactive learner-centric virtual platform for green skill mapping to merge learners' needs with training offers and agri-food job opportunities has been designed and set where the agri-food system's actors (learners, HE institutions, business and policymakers) collaborate to shape educational offerings aligned with the job market needs and based on timely identified trends.

The European agrifood sector is undergoing profound structural transformation driven by demographic challenges and the green and digital transitions. Ensuring workforce resilience requires high-resolution labour market intelligence. This paper introduces a multi-scalar monitoring methodology established by the Agrifood Pact for Skills Observatory to evaluate the collective impact of human capital investment. The framework integrates macro-level indicators from authoritative European sources, such as Eurostat and Cedefop, with primary granular data collected via an annual survey of Agrifood Pact for Skills signatories. While institutional data provide structural benchmarks for employment trends and vocational education and training (VET) participation, the signatory survey captures high-resolution insights into training completion rates, digital skill penetration, and the formation of multi-stakeholder partnerships. By bridging the gap between broad statistical aggregates and organizational-level actionable intelligence, this framework facilitates the identification of critical skill gaps. This integrated approach establishes a sustainable, evidence-based monitoring system as an integral part of the Agrifood Pact for Skills Observatory. It provides a robust tool for stakeholders to inform resource allocation and the strategic alignment of sectoral competencies within the agrifood community of practice.

The transition to carbon farming requires more than the adoption of sustainable practices; it demands a significant upgrade in farmers’ digital skillsets to enable data-driven decision making and credible carbon accounting. This contribution discusses the critical digital competencies needed to support the implementation, monitoring, and verification of carbon farming systems, with a particular focus on data management within Farm Management Information Systems (FMIS). Key challenges include the integration and interoperability of heterogeneous data sources, from user data to automated monitoring with sensors and automated machinery, to generate reliable carbon metrics aligned with certification and carbon crediting schemes. Beyond basic tool usage, farmers and advisors must develop skills in data interpretation and system integration that shift farm management from observation to prediction.

The discussion also addresses barriers to adoption, including the digital divide, data ownership concerns, and the complexity of carbon farming frameworks. Emphasis is placed on the role of targeted upskilling approaches, everaging the framework developed by the AGRIFOODSKILLS project. By utilizing its innovative micro-credentials, we can rapidly equip farmers and advisory services with practical, application-oriented competencies. Ultimately, enabling farmers to effectively manage and leverage data is a prerequisite for scaling carbon farming and ensuring its economic and environmental viability.

A functioning One Health approach requires more than coordination between human, animal, and environmental health systems: it requires a workforce that can move, adapt, and operate across them. Yet veterinary specialist skills remain fragmented across national systems, limiting mobility and the effective deployment of expertise.

This presentation asserts that One Health demands a coherent workforce strategy in which veterinary skills mobility is treated as core infrastructure. Europe is well positioned to lead this effort, with the Pact for Skills, the One Health Joint Plan of Action, and established professional standards providing a strong foundation.

The European Agrifood Skills Observatory is presented as a mechanism to support this strategy by aligning skills recognition, training pathways, and labour market intelligence. By connecting evolving skills needs with education and professional standards, it enables more consistent recognition of specialist competences and supports their movement across borders.

Strengthening veterinary skills mobility is therefore essential to operationalising One Health in practice; ensuring that the right expertise is available, where and when it is needed, to respond to interconnected health challenges.

The agri-food and veterinary sectors are undergoing profound structural changes, shaped by the twin transitions of digital innovation and sustainability, alongside shifting workforce requirements. The Erasmus+ I‑RESTART project addresses these challenges through the development of modular training content designed to support inclusive upskilling and reskilling pathways.

The training programme adopts a micro‑credential approach and comprises 12 occupational profiles across five thematic areas: One Health, Food Industry and Processing, Animal Production, Veterinary Activities, and Entrepreneurial Skills. The content totals over 1,070 hours and is structured into modules and lessons with clearly defined learning outcomes aligned with EQF levels 4–8 and EQAVET standards.

Developed collaboratively by academic, vocational, and sectoral partners, the training integrates newly created materials with existing resources to ensure relevance and quality. Its modular and flexible design enables learners to personalise learning pathways, responding to diverse professional needs.

Delivered through an online learning management system, the I‑RESTART training supports accessibility and lifelong learning. The project provides a scalable model for competency-based training, contributing to European policy goals on sustainability, skills development, and sectoral resilience.

The European agri-food sector is undergoing rapid transformation due to digitalisation, sustainability requirements, climate change, and evolving market demands, creating the need to identify emerging job profiles and skills aligned with future labour market needs.

The AGRIFOODSKILLS Erasmus+ project addressed this challenge by identifying and validating new occupational profiles in four subsectors: plant production, animal production, food industry, and veterinary activities. An AI-supported process was used to identify and prioritise potential profiles based on criteria such as alignment with emerging sector trends, technological innovation, sustainability and circular economy relevance, labour market demand, and sectoral needs. Occupational profiles were considered new when not listed in the ESCO European occupational database.

Three profiles per subsector were selected and described following the ESCO format (general description, essential skills and knowledge, optional skills and knowledge).

The profiles were validated through national focus groups organised in 11 European countries, involving stakeholders across the agri-food value chain, including farmers, cooperatives, food companies, veterinarians, education providers, advisors, and sector representatives. This work presents the findings of the validation process, highlighting stakeholder feedback and the final set of validated occupational profiles. These outcomes provide a foundation for the subsequent development of curricula and learning materials within the project.