Author: Alec AMARIEI

Bulletin 2026 Agricultural Association of the Czech Republic ZSCR

The AGRITECH project continues to make significant progress in transforming agricultural education through the integration of Deep Tech technologies and the development of the innovative AgriTech Manager profile. During the international consortium meeting held in Nicosia, Cyprus, in June 2026, project partners reviewed the progress of pilot activities, exchanged experiences, and agreed on the next implementation steps. The Agricultural Association of the Czech Republic (ZSCR) actively contributes to the project through work focused on certification procedures and the evaluation of feedback from ongoing pilot programmes. AGRITECH aims to equip current and future agricultural professionals with the digital, technological, and management skills needed to address the challenges of modern agriculture and support the sector’s green and digital transition across Europe. Progress report in Agritech Project

AGRITECH project was represented at the VIII International Agricultural, Biological & Life Science Conference, AGBIOL 2026, held from 7-9 September 2026 in Istanbul, Türkiye.

AGBIOL brings together researchers, academics and practitioners working across agriculture, biology, life sciences, agricultural engineering, food science, environmental science, biotechnology and related fields. For AGRITECH, the conference offered a relevant setting to present evidence linked to digital agriculture, skills development and the future professional profile of the AgriTech Manager.

Within the conference programme, PAMEA contributed to the scientific dissemination of project-related results through conference papers addressing the skills needs of climate-smart agriculture and the definition of the AgriTech Manager profile. The AGRITECH-related contribution, “Defining the Agritech Manager: European multi-stakeholder evidence for digital agriculture, AKIS and rural development”, presented by Dr.Eng. Daniel Dumitru Amariei, focused on the evidence base supporting the development of this emerging professional role.

PAMEA’s participation at AGBIOL 2026 continues in this way its work in preparing, presenting and publishing scientific outputs connected to AGRITECH tasks and achievements. These activities help communicate project findings beyond the consortium and support wider discussion on how education, digital technologies and agricultural practice can be better connected.

The presentation also included a related contribution on digital, green and technical skills gaps in climate-smart agriculture, further supporting the project’s wider dissemination of evidence on skills, sustainability and agricultural innovation.

🙌 We are pleased to share that Dr. Georgios K. Ntinas, Head of SASRER Lab, participated in the CIGR–EurAgEng World Congress 2026, held on 24–26 June 2026 at the Politecnico di Torino, Turin, Italy.

🤝 Together with Luca Ghiotto, Maria Ravani, Paolo Chiabert, and Georgios K. Ntinas, our team presented the work entitled: “Navigating the Digital and Green Transition: A Framework for the Future AgriTech Manager.”

👀 The study explores the emerging role of the AgriTech Manager as a multidisciplinary professional who bridges technological innovation, agricultural production, business management, and environmental sustainability.

🌱 Developed within the framework of the ERASMUS+ AGRITECH project, coordinated by ΕΛΓΟ ΔΗΜΗΤΡΑ ELGO DΙΜITRA, our work emphasizes the importance of building a structured learning ecosystem that connects Vocational Education and Training (VET) with Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). The framework is supported by an applied case study on sensor-based water resource management in controlled environment agriculture, demonstrating how digital technologies can enhance resource efficiency and sustainable food production.

✨ As agriculture evolves, so must the skills of the people shaping its future. We are committed to contributing to this transition by developing innovative educational approaches and practical solutions that empower the next generation of AgriTech professionals.

🌍 Together, we are building a more digital, resilient, and sustainable agri-food sector.

The AGRITECH Manager training programme combined theory, hands-on exercises and mentoring sessions, giving participants the chance to dig into the key topics of the agricultural world: deep tech technologies, project management and innovation, artificial intelligence, sensor technologies, data processing and blockchain. To wrap things up, everyone had the opportunity to develop their own capstone project and develop a practical pilot project. During the programme, study visits and practical activities were organised to complement the theoretical sessions. Overall, participants really enjoyed the programme, and also appreciated the precision with which the training was delivered. The first round of the programme will be officially closed with a study visit on the 27th of June where students will have the opportunity to explore together a case study which applies sensor technology for water management in agricultural fields.

AGRITECH consortium held its Transnational Project Meeting in Cyprus from 10 to 12 June 2026, in hybrid format. The meeting brought partners together to review project progress, assess current achievements, identify remaining gaps, and agree on the next workplan leading to the Interim Report.

The first two days were dedicated to a structured inventory of project implementation. Partners reviewed the overall project work packages, timeline, milestones achieved, pending deliverables, reporting needs, and the practical steps required for the next implementation period. The meeting created space for both progress presentation and operational discussion, with a clear focus on what has already been realised but much more on what still needs to be completed.

During the first day, the consortium reviewed project coordination, management and reporting issues, followed by a detailed session on WP2 – Innovative Learning Environment. This session addressed progress on the AgriTech Manager competence profile, the learning ecosystem, the curriculum, educational hubs, gamified materials, pending inputs, and finalisation points. The AGRITECH eLearning Platform was also presented, including its current functionalities, content structure and assessment elements. Partners then discussed the minimum technical and pedagogical requirements needed for piloting. The day concluded with an update on WP3 – Competences Validation and Recognition, including the certification framework, digital credentials, validation model and next deliverables.

The second day focused on pilot implementation, policy uptake, communication, dissemination, quality assurance and coordination. WP4 discussions addressed pilot readiness, partner roles, pilot methodology, target groups, trainer needs, learner recruitment, timelines and support requirements. WP5 presented the future positioning of the AgriTech Manager profile and the policy-related work ahead. WP6 reviewed dissemination progress, visibility obligations, website and social media activity, newsletters, partner evidence gaps and upcoming communication actions. The quality assurance and monitoring session focused on internal evaluation, feedback loops, KPI tracking and evidence collection for the next reporting period.

A key conclusion of the meeting was that AGRITECH has moved from design and development into active implementation. The consortium has produced core project outputs, advanced the learning ecosystem, launched educational hubs, implemented MSc and VET pilot activities, and prepared the basis for certification and micro-credential recognition. At the same time, several important tasks remain open and require coordinated action: finalisation of pilot evidence, completion of capstone project submissions, evaluation of pilot results, preparation of remaining deliverables, completion of certification steps, and consolidation of documentation for the Interim Report.

The partners also discussed the need for stronger coordination and timely contribution from all organisations. AGRITECH is entering a phase where individual partner inputs directly affect common project results. Evidence collection, reporting data, pilot documentation, dissemination records, platform feedback and quality assurance materials must be provided on time and in a consistent format. Full partner involvement is essential to ensure that the planned results are achieved and that the project remains aligned with its objectives, timeline and reporting obligations.

The third day had an applicative format and focused on practical activity on the AGRITECH eLearning Platform. Partners explored the platform from an implementation perspective, with attention to learning content, user experience, pilot use and next steps for practical deployment. This hands-on session helped connect previous discussions on curriculum, piloting, assessment and digital delivery with the actual tools that learners and trainers will use.

The Cyprus TPM confirmed the importance of maintaining a clear, evidence-based workplan until the Interim Report. The next period will focus on completing pilot implementation, collecting and analysing feedback, finalising pending deliverables, preparing certification and micro-credential procedures, strengthening dissemination evidence, and ensuring that all work packages remain aligned.AGRITECH continues to build an innovative learning environment for advanced agriculture by connecting higher education, vocational education and training, enterprises, digital tools and sustainability-oriented competences. The Cyprus meeting marked an important coordination point in this process and set the direction for the next stage of implementation.

AGRITECH project was represented during The 7th China-Central and Eastern European Countries Local Leaders’ Meeting and the 2026 Shandong International Friendship Cities Cooperation and Exchange Week, held in Jinan and Tai’an, Shandong Province, China.

PAMEA participated in the event as AGRITECH Co-cordinator and Communication Manager, presenting the project’s contribution to digital and sustainable agriculture, advanced agricultural education, and practical skills development. The participation focused on positioning AGRITECH as a bridge between the AGRITECH knowledge hubs created and the China-CEEC Modern Agricultural Science and Education Innovation Alliance.

A central message presented during the meetings was that cooperation should move from formal partnership to practical implementation. AGRITECH offers a concrete basis for this through its AgriTech Manager competence profile, e-learning platform, training modules, pilot activities, digital toolkit, and network of knowledge hubs. These assets can support joint learning, pilot exchange, student engagement, and cooperation between European and Chinese institutions active in smart and sustainable agriculture.

A key result of the visit was the election of PAMEA as a Council Member of the China-CEEC Modern Agricultural Science and Education Innovation Alliance. This role strengthens the connection between AGRITECH and the Alliance and creates a stronger framework for future cooperation in agricultural education, digitalisation, innovation transfer, and capacity building.

During the exchanges, representatives of Shandong Agricultural University / SDAU expressed strong interest in enabling students to use the AGRITECH platform. As a follow-up, further concrete measures are expected to be discussed, including access to selected AGRITECH learning resources, possible student testing of the platform, feedback collection, and the development of joint activities connected to digital agriculture education.

The proposed cooperation model includes hub-to-hub exchanges, joint training actions, pilot pairing between European and Shandong-based cases, and the involvement of universities, farms, SMEs, and innovation actors. This approach reflects AGRITECH’s practical objective: turning digital agriculture technologies, training, and stakeholder cooperation into usable solutions for learners, farms, and regions.

AGRITECH warmly thanks the organisers, host institutions, and partners for their hospitality, professional coordination, and openness to future cooperation.

More information and photos from the event are available here:
https://live.photoplus.cn/live/pc/38729274/#/live