Organics Europe Youth Event 2022 | The Organic Europe’s Youth Event (OEYE), taking place on 31 August-1 September in Frick, Switzerland

The Organic Europe’s Youth Event (OEYE), taking place on 31 August-1 September in Frick, Switzerland, is an event for youth interested and active in organic. It will provide a platform to discuss and learn about the potential and challenges of organic production and its role as a sustainable food system. The youth event will bring together youth with diverse backgrounds: from farmers to retailers and processors, from activists to politicians. 

The event will foster cross-fertilisation between different disciplines and generate innovative ideas for the future of organic production. Participants to the OEYE will grow their professional network, marking the starting point of a permanent network for European organic youth.

Save the Date 10 mag 2022 11:00 AM in Eastern Time (Stati Uniti e Canada)Webinar | Agritourism Networking Session Meeting Registration - Zoom

This session will have facilitated breakout rooms in Zoom meeting focused on different topics. Come ready to share and meet others working with agritourism! Moderators: Lisa Chase, University of Vermont Extension Lori Dickes, Clemson University Claudia Gil Arroyo, North Carolina State University Trevor Jonas Benson, Bannikin Nikki Rose, Crete’s Culinary Sanctuaries David Rust, Sagra Farms Claudia Schmidt, Pennsylvania State University Shiva Soroushnia, Researcher and Tour Guide 

FOOD WASTE SURVEY AMONG CONSUMERS AT HOUSEHOLDS LEVEL 

Good morning, I am a student at the Faculty of Economics of the Poznań University of Life Sciences. At the moment, the Poznań University of Life Sciences (from Poland) is performing a survey among consumers on food wastage. The survey is being carried out for the purposes of a scientific study. Please take a few minutes and answer the questions in the survey.

Link : 

https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=rOYVx3B3Mk6HQTvpdZdm8BvXc0KQtMFGqyemHbz62hhURVBLVFFIUTRZN0c4R0UxRjFFOTAwMEdWTiQlQCNjPTEu&web=1&wdLOR=cFC8D06AF-5730-4B8C-8262-D983E132268D

UniClaD updates from Moldavian partner 

On 15 December 2021, an online management meeting (Stc) was held on the project "Capacity Building of Universities in Starting and Participating in the Development of Clusters with the Principles of Innovation and Sustainability" (UniClaD) implemented within the Erasmus + KA2 program in partnership with the Azerbaijan Technical University (AzTU). The meeting, organized by the Lithuanian Kaunas University of Applied Sciences, provided information on the development and financing of project activities. 

Tuesday, 26.10.2021 

Field trip organized by Food Valley At 9.30 it was organized meeting at the Scientific and methodologic center of higher and vocational education (Kyiv, str. Smilyanska, 11). All participants shortly presented themselves and their organizations. It was very useful, because all participants saw each other for the first time, despite the fact that the project has been working for 2 years. 

After the meeting, all participants went to the village of Ivky, Kyiv region. There we visited the farm "Good Farm" and the Cheese Museum. After the tour of the farm there was a cheese tasting. The farm adheres to the full production cycle. Goats grow only on real milk. No substitutes and powders. Here they sow and collect fodder for the whole year by themselves. Make a useful diet for goats. On the farm automatic milking with fast cooling, providing milk of extra class of the European level. Author's cheeses are cooked, gaining experience from the best cheesemakers in France, Germany, Holland, Georgia and Cyprus. The farm not only breeds goats, but also makes a variety of products : yogurt, kefir, cheese, sour cream, dairy products for children. The farm manager gave us a tasting of cheeses made on the farm. All the participants of the event liked the production very much. There is also a Cheese Museum on the farm. The museum was created to promote cheese in Ukraine, as the cheese culture in Ukraine is not yet developed. Therefore, the popularity of the Museum is remarkable. But the main purpose of this establishment was to unite producers. After all, the Association of Cheesemakers can offer retail chains not only a much wider range, but also set their own conditions, jointly solve problems, organize training, and, ultimately, lobby their interests in state institutions. Also, the union of manufacturers "SHE FARM" was presented here. The participants of the event were offered a tasting of craft products from this union. 

At the end of the day we visited another family business that makes Ukrainian carpets. These carpets are handmade by Ukrainian craftswomen, which aims to show the national color of carpet making and preserve ancient traditions. The participants of the event had the opportunity not only to hear the history of the enterprise, to see how carpets are made by hand, but also to try to do it themselves. 

Wednesday, 27.10.202 

Workshop devoted to clusters development and the role of universities The first day of the workshop was organized in Bila Tserkva National Agrarian University. The day was opened by the welcome speech of the rector of BNAU Olena Shust. After that, the workshop participants were greeted by the project coordinator Irma Servaite and the project manager of BNAU Olga Varchenko. 

The first half of the day was online, as not all participants were able to come to Ukraine due to the pandemic. The first presentation was “Urban Agriculture: Cities and Universities as Living Laboratories of Food System Transformation” presented by Uyam Fatiha Buharta from UVA, Spain. She made her report online. 

Next was the online presentation "Individual differences in the team. Opportunities and obstacles in project implementation", presented by Olga Grabowska, PULS, Poland. And completed a series of online presentations by Vincenzo Fucilli and Arcangelo Siron (Bari, Italy) with the presentation "Farm clustering: the example of southeastern Italy". 

All presentations were very interesting, caused a number of questions and discussions. 

The second half of the day was devoted to a visit to the “Skvira Rybprom” fishing enterprise. This is a full-fledged fishery, which has the status of "Breeding breeder". Here are bred fish such as Grass carp, Scaly carp, Small-scale carp. The company has several types of ponds: spawning, where they spend spawning of different breeds of fish in natural conditions; Summer-uterine growths for Growing fish planting material, Feeding for Growing commercial fish and Wintering for wintering of fish. The company is not only engaged in practical and commercial activities, but also scientific. Their partners are NUBiP of Ukraine, Bila Tserkva National Agrarian University, the Institute of Fisheries of Ukraine and National Shevchenko University.  

Thursday, 28.10.2021 

Workshop devoted to clusters development and the role of universities This day was opened be the presentation-training “From applied research to innovation and entrepreneurship. How to implement it?” of Giedrius Gecevičius from KUAS, Lithuania. he speaker's speech had not only a theoretical part, but also elements of practical training. It was group work. All participants were divided into groups, each group had its own expert - a representative of the European University. Each group had to find a solution to the problem and present this solution to the audience. Everyone liked this kind of presentation, because it was both useful and interesting. 18 19 The presentation of Peter Barsoni, UD, Hungary "New opportunities in pond fish farming" was very interesting too. It was very interesting to hear about pond fish farming in Hungary especially after the visit to “Skvira Rybprom” fishing enterprise. 

Also on this day was the presentation of Veronica Hager from UCAEP, Austria "Competence orientation in the development of training programmes and courses based on the concept of "green pedagogy, " and the presentation " Higher Education Impact Assessment” of Noureddin Driouech from CIHEAM Bari, Italy. In the afternoon, all participants visited the aquaculture laboratory and the Expertise Center of BNAU. 

 We finally got the opportunity to see the university, the faculty where the project will be implemented and meet the people who create the Expertise Center. In addition, we saw equipment purchased under the UniClaD project, which is already used by both students and teachers. 

The presentation “Clusters and Practical Experiences in Ecotourism, Forest and Outdoor Activities”, presented by Georg Wiesinger, (BAB, Austria) has finished the program of the workshop. In his presentation he told which organizations are involved in cluster, what kind of activities do they propose. It was useful to know that they have programs for people with special needs (it isn’t developed in Ukraine). The forest kindergarten is a new and good idea for us too. It was interesting to learn about the medical aspect of the agritourism cluster (Forest Therapy for Mental and Psychiatric Clients, Drug Addicts). 

 For additional information, please call (8 37) 35 23 12 or e-mail ingrida.kraujutiene@go.kauko.lt. 

 You can get acquainted with the regulations of the competition “AgroTechnologist 2021” herehttps://www.kaunokolegija.lt/kk_wp_content/uploads/sites/5/2021/12/Provisions.AT_.contest.2021-1.pdf

Project “Enhancing Capacity Of Universities To Initiate And To Participate In Clusters Development On Innovation And Sustainability Principles” (UniClaD)

If you want to know more from them please visit our website: http://uniclad.net and meet our partners 

http://uniclad.net/

General objective: Development of the potential of universities as an integral part of agro-industrial clusters. Creation of the innovative centers as pre-conditions for the development and successful functioning of agro-industrial clusters. Main tasks: - development of the chain: master - PhD - researcher as a primary part and researcher - projector - executor as a secondary part; - sensibilisation of business, local authorities, science and education to the cooperation in the framework of clusters based on win- win principles; - enhancing capacities of business, science and education to develop and to work within the cluster (through special trainings and special modules included into master and PhD curricula); - implementation of special structural measures at the universities as a base for activities performed within clusters; - enhancing of practical value of researches, theses and students' master works as well as students employability; - creation of conditions for better integration of innovations into agro-industrial production on the sustainability principles. Activities: - to develop special modules for master and PhD students such as: statistics, project development, econometrics, modules aimed to up-to-date challenges: climate changes, COP 21 commitment, food security, fight against poverty. - to study EU experience of universities activity within clusters and to disseminate this information among stakeholders; - to organize special trainings, study visits for business, science and education representatives in order to show advantages and to create the capacity for the cooperation within the cluster; - to develop the legal base defining rules, modalities for universities functioning within clusters in compliance with the national legislation; - to create preconditions for the creation of four cluster (water management and aquaculture, new technologies (IT) in agriculture, agro-tourist cluster and milk production and processing with the focus on traditional local products, biotechnologies in poultry production); - development of master works and PhD thesis in line with the pilot projects.

UniClaD Newsletter no 3_EU Programme ErasmusPlus KA2 I “Enhancing capacity of universities to initiate and to participate in clusters development on innovation and sustainability principles” April-May 2021

UniClaD: un progetto per migliorare la capacità delle Università di sviluppare cluster innovativi e sostenibili

 English version: http://www.iamb.it/uploads/attachments/1508/ENG_C_S_Progetto_UniClaD.pdf

Roundtable: Youth Collaborating with Educational Leaders on Climate Education, Hosted online, 19th of May | Humanitix

Event description Join youth and education decision makers from around the world in a virtual roundtable on climate education in higher education. The aim is to strengthen collaborations among youth, higher education leaders and key decision-makers to embed climate education in higher education institutions.

Youth leaders will present their manifesto for climate education, endorsed by multiple international youth organisations, and stories of successful collaboration with policymakers. This will be followed by reactions from national education commissions and a discussion on ways to strengthen collaborations around the demands of youth. This roundtable is part of the UNESCO World Higher Education Conference (WHEC) for which you can register separately here. 

 The roundtable is organized by the Youth for Climate Education community, a global community of youth who are advocating for climate education in higher education.

You can register to join this community in addition to joining the roundtable here: https://sos.earth/collaborate-with-ministries/ ;

This is made possible by a collaboration between UNEP and Students Organizing for Sustainability (SOS) International. 

The work of SOS International is also supported by UNESCO World Higher Education Conference (WHEC) Youth Strategy, Fridays for Future Climate Education, Change the Chamber*Lobby for Climate, and USPESD.

Learn morte: https://events.humanitix.com/climate-education-roundtable

The application campaign for CIHEAM Bari Master Programmes AY 2022/23 will start on April 1st, 2022. 

It will be possible to apply online until May 31st, 2022 for the following Masters: Sustainable Water and Land Management in Agriculture Innovative Approaches to IPM of Mediterranean Fruit and Vegetable Crops Mediterranean Organic Agriculture Sustainable Agro-Ecosystems and Resilience Open Innovation and Youth Entrepreneurship in the Mediterranean Agrifood System Courses will start in October 2022 at CIHEAM Bari campus. According to the pandemic evolution, the blended learning approach might be confirmed (first few months classes held in remote).

Full or partial scholarships will be granted. 

Please take a look at our dedicated website sections to collect more info about course programmes and apply online (EDUCATION | MASTERS | ADMISSION PROCEDURE).

Learn more: https://www.iamb.it/en/news_and_events/one?event=online-applications-for-the-2022-23-master-programmes&id=651

The European Green Deal and universities WEBINAR ONLINE | 15 MARCH 2022 14.00-15.45 CET

As universities across Europe reflect on their role in the green transition, as well as its impact on their various missions, EUA is organising this online event to discuss the sector’s vision for the future of the European Green Deal – and how it might be taken forward. The Green Deal is a politically ambitious framework that deepens Europe’s long-standing quest for sustainability. As societal actors committed to this goal, and as sources of the research and innovation that can enable it, universities welcome the breadth of initiatives undertaken by the European Commission. With numerous policies now being devised across different fields, the Green Deal is at a critical juncture – systemic ways of thinking are needed to ensure Europe’s success. Co-creation with universities is therefore essential, as their interdisciplinary expertise, local knowledge and community engagement can provide a truly holistic approach to the climate challenge. 

On 15 March, EUA will initiate this co-creation by presenting the university sector’s vision for the Green Deal. Together with representatives of EU institutions and the think tank sector, participants will discuss how to turn the vision into reality and how to ensure universities are recognised as critical stakeholders in the green transition. 

Registrations are now open and free of charge for anyone interested in this topic Participants can sign up until the start of the online event. https://www.bigmarker.com/european-university-associat3/The-European-Green-Deal-and-universities?show_live_page=true

Programme 15 March 2022, 14.00-15.45

 Welcome and technical introduction by EUA 

Presentation of position – Stephane Berghmans, EUA Director for Research and Innovation 

Showcasing a university contribution to the Green Deal 

– Chris Foulds, Anglia Ruskin University 

 Q&A session 

Panel discussion: how to turn the vision into reality? 

-  Ivanka Popovic, EUA Board member 

- Simone Tagliapietra, Senior fellow at Bruegel and Adjunct Professor at the Catholic University of Milan 

- Cathy Maguire, Environmental Sustainability Assessments and Learning Expert, European Environment Agency 

Moderated by Douglas Halliday, Chair of EUA Energy and Environment Steering Committee 

Q&A session Main takeaways and concluding remarks by Douglas Halliday

Learn more: https://eua.eu/events/222-the-european-green-deal-and-universities.html

https://events.humanitix.com/sos-solutions-dating-january2021

Clusters driving the twin transitions: key learnings | Policy Learning Platform

Learn more https://www.interregeurope.eu/policylearning/news/13598/clusters-driving-the-twin-transitions-key-learnings/?no_cache=1&cHash=548b4e17204487af189c1b3aef0f9c58

[Scholarship opportunities] PlantHealth - European Master's Degree in Sustainable Cropping Systems | Deadline for application: 15 January 2021.

PlantHealth - European Master's Degree in Sustainable Cropping Systems | Deadline for application: 15 January 202

The Erasmus Mundus Joint master’s degree PlantHealth recruits up to 30 well-motivated students from all over the world. The application process is very selective and only the best candidates will be admitted to the programme.

There are 20 Erasmus Mundus scholarships available for the best candidates, and two of them are for European students. 

 More info is available on the PlantHealth website. https://planthealth.upv.es/web/

Contact: planthealth@upv.es

Application procedure

https://planthealth.upv.es/web/apply/application-procedure/

Cilento workshop, first transnational event of SysOrg project 09 July 2021 CIHEAM Bari - One event

SysOrg project, started in January 2021, is coordinated by the University of Kassel (Germany) and the consortium includes the University of Applied Sciences Muenster (Germany), University of Copenhagen (Denmark), Warsaw University of Life Sciences (Poland), Council for agricultural research and economics (CREA, Italy), Ibn Tofail University (Morocco), and CIHEAM Bari. SysOrg is funded by transnational bodies associated with H2020 ERA-NETs SUSFOOD2 and the CORE Organic Co-Fund, under the Joint SUSFOOD2/CORE Organic Call 2019. The activities of Italian partners and territorial actors are financed by the Italian Ministry of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policies (MiPAAF).

Learn more: https://www.iamb.it/en/news_and_events/one?event=cilento-workshop-first-transnational-event-of-sysorg-project&id=576

Today 31st May 2021, from 09:00 to 11:00 am Brussels time, UniClaD Steering Committee and Consortium Partners had performed a Zoominar. The project coordinator, WPs, and related tasks leaders had presented and discussed respectively the works progress activities focusing on the following issues: 

- Project progress and Work plan 

- Technical report for #EACEA 

- Project development overview: Study tours aimed to learn of #EU experience in the development of clusters and the participation of #HEIs in this activity; Development of the legal framework for clusters functioning; Creation of expertise centers at universities/future #clusters; Activity “Elaboration and launching of new courses for master and PhD students; Launching of pilot projects 

- Project #dissemination activities 

Learn more about UniClaD partners http://uniclad.net/node/16 Project Website: http://uniclad.net/

VERBESSERUNG DER UNIVERSITÄREN KAPAZITÄTEN ZUR CLUSTERENTWICKLUNG BEI DEN THEMEN INNOVATION UND NACHHALTIGKEIT (ERASMUS PROJEKT UNICLAD)

Ausgangssituation Die Teilnahme an Clustern ermöglicht es Höheren Bildungseinrichtungen, Studierenden verschiedener Leistungsebenen praktische Aktivitäten in verschiedenen Projekten zu vermitteln. Daneben entstehen durch den Bezug zu konkreten Projekten für die Studierenden auch Perspektiven für nachfolgende Beschäftigungsverhältnisse. Zusätzlich kann sich die angewandte Forschung besser an den realen Bedürfnissen der Unternehmen orientieren und eventuell auch zusätzliche finanzielle Ressourcen eröffnen. Viele Höhere Bildungseinrichtungen sind bereits in Clusterstrukturen involviert, die jedoch oft nur in theoretischen Verbindungen bestehen und keine echten Aktivitäten aufweisen. Sie bestehen oft nur in Zusammenschlüssen innerhalb einzelner Sektoren, thematisch und auch räumlich sehr beschränkt und nicht dem eigentlichen Zweck folgend. Zielsetzung Übergeordnetes Ziel des Projektes ist die Entwicklung von Potentialen an Höheren Bildungseinrichtungen zur vermehrten Teilnahme an Clustern mit Agrarwirtschaftlichen Unternehmen. Dies soll auf verschiedenen Ausbildungsebenen geschehen (Master – PhD). Unternehmen, Wissenschaft und Bildung sollen diesbezüglich sensibilisiert werden, um innerhalb von Clustern interessante Bildungsangebote zu schaffen. Dazu bedarf es auch angepasster Verwaltungsstrukturen, den realen Bedürfnissen möglichst angepasste Forschungsarbeiten sowie innovationsfördernder und auf Nachhaltigkeitsprinzipien aufbauender Organisationsformen. Stand des Projektes Im ersten Projektjahr wurden die vorgesehenen Arbeitsabläufe konkretisiert und infolge der COVID Krise versucht anzupassen. Da das Projekt besonders auf Informationsaustausch ausgelegt ist, stellt dies eine besondere Herausforderung dar. Bisherige Meetings konnten nur online abgehalten werden. Die BAB, zuständig für das Arbeitspaket 2 – Entwicklung – hat gemeinsam mit den zweiten österreichischen Partner HAUP Informationen zu verschiedenen österreichischen Clusteraktivitäten gesammelt und diese auch präsentiert. In Interviews mit Clustermanagern wurden für einzelne Cluster detaillierte Informationen zur Funktionsweise von Clustern eingeholt, auch diese wurden den Projektpartnern präsentiert diskutiert. Arbeiten 2021 Im Jahr 2021 wird weiter an der Vermittlung und Diskussion von Informationen gearbeitet. Im Projekt insgesamt werden spezielle Module für Master und Doktorats Studien entwickelt (z.B. Statistik, Projektentwicklung, Ökonometrie mit Berücksichtigung gegenwärtiger Herausforderungen wie Klimawandel, Ernährungssicherung oder Armutsbekämpfung), spezielle Trainings und Study Visits von RepräsentantInnen aus Unternehmen, Wissenschaft und Forschung werden arrangiert. Wie weit die COVID Krise dies zulässt und für Verzögerungen sorgt, kann derzeit noch nicht abgeschätzt werden. Die Vorbedingungen für die Schaffung von Clustern in Landwirtschaft, Verarbeitungsindustrie wie Milchproduktion, Verarbeitung mit Fokus auf lokalen Produkten, Biotechnologie und Geflügelhaltung, ländlicher Tourismus, Aquakultur und Wassermanagement sollen gemeinsam mit den Projektpartnern analysiert und aufbereitet werden, um dann gegen Projektende in verschiedenen Universitäten in der Ukraine, Aserbeidschan und Moldau sogenannte Expertise Centers und Cluster zu installieren. Durch Verzögerungen im Arbeitsablauf infolge der COVID Krise wird eine Projektverlängerung um 12 Monate angedacht, ist aber noch nicht konkret fixiert. Zeitplan Projektbeginn: Jänner 2020 

Projektende: Dezember 2022 mehr lesen Erasmus+ Projekt UniClaD

English Version: https://j1dev.agrarforschung.at/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=260:bab-033-20-enhancing-capacity-of-universities-to-initiate-and-participate-in-clusters-development-on-innovation-and-sustainability-principles-erasmus-project-uniclad&catid=112&lang=en&Itemid=516

Project Summary UniClad aims to enhance the development of the potential of universities as an integral part of agro-industrial clusters by the creation of expertise centres as pre-conditions for the development and successful functioning of agro-industrial clusters. These objectives will be achieved through the following activities: Organization of workshops, consultations, round-tables in order to present the concept of clusters and to share ideas concerning creation of expertise centers supposed to be transformed into the cluster; Training of HEIs and enterprises staff by workshops and study tours; Development of legal framework for expertise centres creation: Statutes of expertise centers, post cards, work regulations. Amendments will be done in development strategies of participating HEIs and enterprises; Creation expertise centers on following areas: water management and aquaculture, new technologies (IT) in machinery, rural tourism, milk production and processing with the focus on traditional local products, biotechnologies in poultry farming; Development and launching of new modules for Master and PhD students as added value; Launching of pilot projects: the projects will be defined according to enterprises needs and universities possibilities for scientific elaborations and their application on practice; The students’ mobility will be organized in two ways from partner countries to EU and from EU to partner countries; In addition to traditional dissemination activities the project foresees the information and promotion campaign among stakeholder to disseminate the EU experience of clusters activity. EXPECTED IMPACTS: creation of sustainable relations between HEIs and enterprises based on win-win principles, enhancing of practical value of researches; creation of conditions for better integration of innovations into production on the sustainability principles; development of entrepreneurial capacities of HEIs, contribution to the development of local area.