<< Background >>Climate change is one of the most important issues facing the world. The risk of climate change is now at an irreversible point. After this stage, it is important to reduce, mitigate and adapt its effects.On February 24, 2021, the European Commission adopted the new EU strategy for climate change adaptation. This strategy explains how the European Union can prepare for the unavoidable effects of climate change and become climate resilient by 2050. This strategy suggests that compliance be smarter, faster, and more systemic and that international action on climate change adaptation is stepped up.Agriculture is one of the most vulnerable sectors to climate change. Climate change affects agricultural production and food supply due to the atmospheric effects of elevated CO2; rising temperatures; altered precipitation and transpiration regimes; increased frequency of extreme events; and altered plants with diseases and other pathogenic risks. It is estimated that climate change will result in a reduction of around 16% in EU agricultural production by 2050. The countries most affected by climate change are central European and Mediterranean countries. Disadvantaged people, particularly those who live in rural areas and work in agricultural production, will suffer as a result of this. If no action is taken, the income level of these people will fall, making it difficult for them to maintain their lifestyles. Some of them will migrate. As a result of migration and the abandonment of rural people from agriculture, we will face a faster decline in agricultural output. Furthermore, cities will experience a variety of migration-related issues.Furthermore, the FAO predicts that by 2050, the global population will have increased to 9.6 billion, resulting in 70% more food requirements than in 2013. When the negative effects of climate change on agriculture are considered, it is possible that the world will face a complete food crisis. This situation will disproportionately affect disadvantaged groups, such as low-income individuals, women, and children.The world may continue to be habitable, but agricultural production can also be maintained in a planned, conscious, and efficient manner under climate change conditions.Agricultural professionals are critical to the long-term viability of agriculture in the face of climate change. Training agricultural professionals who will advise and train farmers, as well as agricultural students who will enter the sector as graduates, can be the start of a rapid adaptation process. As a result, the project's goal is to train trainers.Climate change's effects are beginning to be felt. This topic has been the subject of reports from international institutions and researchers. However, there was no way to incorporate these studies and research into agricultural vocational education. Agricultural vocational education needs to be modernized to meet the needs of the agricultural sector's equipped labor force and to be able to train individuals equipped for agricultural production under climate change conditions. This is the focus of the project.<< Objectives >>Three universities and three research institutes from Central European and Mediterranean countries collaborated on the project. Each of them is a powerful and influential organization in the field of vocational education. They provide training to the project's target groups of agricultural students and agricultural professionals. Furthermore, the countries of Central Europe and the Mediterranean are the most vulnerable to the effects of climate change on agriculture. In these areas, negative effects are expected to be the most severe. A consortium has been formed with the participation of institutions from countries that will face similar risks in order to develop the solution more effectively.When providing education, the agricultural sector differs from other sectors in that it must take into account factors such as regional climate, soil, and agricultural culture. The truth of science is universal. However, the solution you suggest for one region may not be appropriate for another. As a result, the project took regional characteristics into account. The project's Vocational Education Partnership will develop training modules for agricultural vocational education that focus on agriculture under climate change conditions. Agricultural vocational education will be modernized in this way to meet the sector's labor needs.The training modules will primarily be used by project partners to train their own students and agricultural professionals. An online education platform, on the other hand, will be developed. The Learning Management System on this platform will make training modules available online. Project dissemination-supported training modules will also be used for vocational training outside of the partnership.The project's implementation is aimed at achieving the following goals.•Development of agricultural vocational training capacities of partner institutions through the project•Providing training modules focused on climate change in agricultural vocational education•Ensuring that students who have graduated from partner institutions and agricultural professionals who have received training are better prepared to work in climate-change-affected agriculture•Extending the positive impact area by ensuring that people who benefit from online education are better prepared for agriculture in the face of climate change•Ensuring that farmers are better prepared for climate change conditions through training of trainers •Training the equipped workforce needed by the agricultural sector to cope with climate change•Contribute to the adaptation of the agricultural sector and the solution of problems related to the food supply for disadvantaged individuals living in rural areas •Contribute to the adaptation of the agricultural sector and the solution of problems related to the food supply<< Implementation >>•Surveys will be conducted to assess countries' understanding of agricultural production and the risks associated with climate change conditions •The survey results will be analyzed, and key findings will be incorporated into the training modules•Partner institutions will organize training for target groups using modules.•Some of the partner institutions' trainings will be supplemented by thematic practical trainings held in the facilities of the partner institutions•Pilot trainings will be organized by partners, and online use of training modules will be encouraged•The project partners will receive and evaluate feedback as a result of the trainings held. In response to this feedback, training modules will be updated. •For dissemination, opening and closing events with a large audience will be organized•A minimum of six multiplier events will be held to disseminate and promote the project's outcomes•At all events, a brochure describing the project results presentation and the use of the online training platform will be prepared and distribute•Project partners will provide participation in agricultural activities that can reach the target audience, such as exhibitions, fairs, and conferences. Promotion and dissemination of the project will be provided•Other vocational education institutions will be informed about the project's findings•Promotional activities will be held online and in person to share the project's results with people outside the partnership•Promotional materials will be created and distributed in accordance with project visibility rules•Work will be done to share training modules on online sharing platforms like Coursera and SlideShare so that they can be used in more places.<< Results >>The following are the results of the project that will be prepared within the project's scope. Partner institutions will use the prepared training modules in vocational training. Simultaneously, it will be shared with other professional educational institutions and made available for online use via a Learning Management System (LMS). It is hoped that by doing so, it will have a greater positive impact•PR-1 CLIAVE Learning Management System (C-LMS)•PR-2 Climate Resilient Cropping Systems Learning Module•PR-3 Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Land and Fertilizer Use and Protection Measures Against Climate Change Learning Module•PR- 4 Use of New technologies in Irrigation for Sustainable Production and Protection of Water Resources Under Climate Change Conditions Learning Module•PR-5 Integrated Pest Management Recommendations to Cope Climate Change Challenges Learning Module•PR-6 Livestock Under Climate Change Conditions: Impacts, Mitigation and Adaptation Learning Module•PR-7 Energy Efficiency Improvements and Renewable Energy Supply into The Agricultural Sector Learning Module•PR-8 Green Toolbox.The project is expected to produce the following outcomes:•Assisting in the modernization of agricultural vocational education •Expanding the vocational training capacities of partner institutions •Growing the number of graduates with better skills, assisting in the professional development of agricultural professionals •Providing the agricultural sector with a qualified labor force requires•Contributing to the agricultural sector's adaptation to climate change •Contributing to the long-term sustainability of efficient agricultural production and food supply under climate change conditions•Assist people living in rural areas in maintaining their standard of living in the face of climate change•Raising awareness of climate change's consequences

The Agriculture Report published by FAO 2015/2030 estimates that many environmental issues related to agriculture will continue to be severe over the next 30 years. It is stated that agriculture has a great impact on the earth and 70% of clean water resources are used in agriculture.The EU has made regulations on this issue, and legislation on the protection of soil and water resources has been imposed. Among the strategic objectives of the EU rural development policy are increasing the competitive capacity in agriculture and ensuring sustainable management of natural resources.It is important to train stakeholders in order to support general policies and transmit the practice to the base. By bringing a new approach to education, awareness can be raised and appropriate behaviors can be adopted.E-COFARM aims to create a resource where agricultural information about sustainable use of soil and water resources can be found together. Providing educational resources online through a learning management system is important for broad and easy access to the training curriculum, supporting professional development and developing ICT skills of the target group.Our target group is producers, technical staff, researchers and students of agriculture.For this project, highly effective organizations from Turkey, Spain, Croatia, Portugal and Slovenia who have experience in their own fields and in project implementation have come together. Seven intellectual outputs have been developed in the project which are;O2 Designing of web-based platform and Learning Management SystemO3 E-Learning Training Module on the EU LegislationO4 E-Learning Training Module on Accurate Behavior for Environment and Sustainable AgricultureO5 E-Learning Training Module on IrrigatonO6 E-Learning Training Module on Plant ProtectionO7 E-Learning Training Module on FertilizationO8 Farmer's HandbookProject outputs have been prepared in six languages including Turkish, English, Slovenian, Croatian, Portuguese and Spanish and made available through web platform (https://ecofarmproject.com/lms/).The training modules created within the scope of the project can be used by anyone who wants to access information. In addition, all institutions providing agricultural education, especially the partner institutions, can benefit from the project outputs.Thanks to the implemented project, awareness was raised about the relationship between agricultural practices and the environment. With the training activities, it was ensured that the target group was trained on good agricultural practices. After the project, the positive effect will be maintained as the multiplier events continue.The project has set an example for new studies aiming to expand environmentally friendly practices. It has been a positive example for developing new projects on similar topics and training the target group on good agricultural practices. The project has contributed to the international experience of institutions and participants. The cooperation developed between the project partner institutions has created opportunities for the upcoming collaborative studies.

Safe drinking water is vital for human health. Diffuse pollution of nitrogen and pesticides from agriculture is the main obstacle to meet drinking water quality targets. Policies to protect drinking water resources have not achieved a consistent effectiveness in all member states. The objective of FAIRWAY is to review policy, governance and farm water management approaches to protect drinking water resources in the EU and to identify and further develop innovative measures and governance approaches which will simultaneously increase the sustainability of agriculture. The FAIRWAY partners form a unique blend of researchers, farm advisers and consultancies and is built on 13 case studies (‘living labs’) in 11 different EU countries, which will form the core of a multi-actor platform, underpinning all FAIRWAY work packages. Equally important is the upscaling of successful practices from case studies to the regional, national, and EU scales, emphasising the role of effective communication and extension tools developed in FAIRWAY. The outputs will provide a blueprint for multi-actor engagement across different scales, which will allow agriculture and water policies to be addressed in a more integrated way. FAIRWAY will i) increase the scientific understanding of the relationship between agriculture and drinking water protection, ii) increase the understanding for the social, technical and economic barriers to practical implementing of measures (iii) deliver innovative measures and tools to overcome these barriers, iv) develop protocols and data-sets for monitoring of farming practices and water quality, v) develop effective governance approaches for small to large water supplies, and vi) increase awareness and involvement of farmers and other citizens in the monitoring and governance of water supplies. The FAIRWAY results will be widely disseminated to a range of targeted audiences using state-of-the-art technologies, social media and workshops.

Natural/Small Water Retention Measures (NSWRMs) can help mitigate the conflicts between agricultural water uses (e.g. plant production, animals) and other human and environmental demands for water, including drinking water or maintaining environmental flow. This is crucial, since these conflicts will be probably exacerbated by an increasing number of extreme events such as droughts and heavy rainfall. A more careful management of head watersheds will significantly contribute to a more resilient agriculture and society. Moreover, NSWRMs are contributing simultaneously to the achievement of different Sustainable Development Goals and environmental targets formulated in several water- and agriculture-related European Union policies. Despite a comprehensive set of techniques available to increase water retention on both catchment and farm levels, knowledge is still lacking on the effectiveness of different scale- and region-specific measures across various soil-climatic regions and agricultural systems, especially under changing climate conditions. OPTAIN aims to (i) identify efficient techniques for the retention and reuse of water and nutrients in small agricultural catchments across Continental, Pannonian and Boreal biogeographical regions of Europe, taking into account potential synergies with existing drainage-irrigation systems, and - in close cooperation with local actors - (ii) select NSWRMs at farm and catchment level and optimize their spatial allocation and combination, based on environmental and economic sustainability indicators. By building on existing knowledge and addressing these objectives, OPTAIN will improve the Technological Readiness Level of NSWRMs for the benefit of both humans and ecosystems. All gained knowledge will be translated into a learning environment allowing analysis of trade-offs and synergies between multiple values/goals in the management and design of NSWRMs.

In European countries, the cultivation of fertigated crops experience scarcity of water, and the intensity of cultivation poses significant risks to water quality. The main objective of the FERTINNOWA thematic network is to create a meta-knowledge database on innovative technologies and practices for fertigation of horticultural crops. FERTINNOWA will also build a knowledge exchange platform to evaluate existing and novel technologies (innovation potential, synergies, gaps, barriers) for fertigated crops and ensure wide dissemination to all stakeholders involved of the most promising technologies and best practices. A multi-actor integrated approach will be used through the FERTINNOWA platform which will involve various stakeholders (researchers, growers, policy-makers, industry, environmental groups etc.) at several levels including the socio-economic and regulatory level (national and European) with a special focus on the EU Water Framework Directive and Nitrate Directive. Information will be gathered at national level to feed a European benchmark study that will evaluate and compare existing technologies used at various horticulture sectors, including vegetables, fruit and ornamentals in different climate zones. All tools, databases and other resources generated will be shared within the consortium and the stakeholders’ group and will be made available to the broader scientific community, policy-makers, the industry and the public at large. FERTINNOWA will help the growers to implement innovative technologies in order to optimize water and nutrient use efficiency thus reducing the environmental impact.