<< Objectives >>1. development of entrepreneurial skills for at least 50 students from rural areas, during the 12 months of the project2. Increasing the attractiveness and efficiency of VET education by enhancing partnerships between VET training schools and European organizations specializing in the provision of training services3. Developing digital skills in at least 50 students with fewer opportunities<< Implementation >>1. Work session to exchange practices and develop results2. Preparation of work-shop participation of students and teachers3. Workshop carried out by the Cyprus partner - structured workshop with invited experts4. Exchange of practices (+ explanation and promotion of the project result) - visit to a school and visit companies example of good practices5. Exchange of practices (+ explaining and promoting the project result) with disadvantaged students from a rural high school<< Results >>- 70 students with reduced possibilities and 10 teachers who participate in the project activities- 70 students with reduced possibilities and 10 teachers who participate in the elaboration of some Business Plans applicable in the rural environment- realization of 10 model business plans that can be used as an example of good practices- a model Business Plan - to be included in the 12th grade CDL (Economic Projects) starting with the school year 2023-2024.

Precision Farming (PA) according to the European Parliament and the European Commission is the new innovative technology expected to change the agriculture as we know it today and convert it to the digital age. PA is considering as a major tool both in agricultural policies and environmental protection and climate change policies. In this proposed project special reference is made to the use of Unmanned Air Systems (UAS) in PA and the technology used in combination with them to support the advanced farm operator. The idea of this project was initiated after the completion of a previous Erasmus+ project Skills for Future Farmers (SKIFF, future-farmer.eu), where it was proved that there was a strong demand among agronomists, environmentalists and farmers for this subject, exceeding the number of 2.000 students and today is used for the training of students in several agricultural colleges in Europe. The output as module was limited and it was prepared as an initiation of one of the partners, which also participates in this project. Thus, this project is based on this primary work, however, the partnership has the ambition to exceed the previous number of students and produce a unique course for PA. The experience and the expertise of the partnership in major scientific aspects of the proposed project and in distance learning will be combined for the optimum result. In this project all the competences acquired by the partnership during participation in previous Erasmus+ projects will be fully exploited. The pademic conditions caused by covid-19 were taken into account and thsi project focuses on the solutions offered by PA for operations (farms) management without the necessity for natural presence of ecperts or farmers. Limited exposure is an important elements during this period. Additionally virtual project management solutions are provided through this project.

AgRimate focuses on transforming pruning tasks for small-scale farmers by using Augmented Reality (AR) and Robotics technologies, enriched with Artificial Intelligence (AI). Tackling the significant challenges and labour-intensive aspects of pruning in high-value crops like olive groves and vineyards, AgRimate introduces an innovative and scalable solution. This solution relies on an artificial intelligence module capable of learning from expert human knowledge to address tree pruning challenges. This module extends its functionality to the solution through various tools, from a learning tool that adapts to the user's knowledge to an Augmented Reality solution providing real-time guidance during the pruning process with the human at the centre. It seamlessly integrates with two different robotic solutions, either assisting the user with exoskeletons or autonomously performing tasks with a highly advanced robot. Additionally, AgRimate incorporates a comprehensive assessment tool designed to evaluate the solution's impact, not only on farmers but also on rural communities. This holistic approach aims not only to enhance productivity and resource efficiency but also to improve social inclusiveness and working conditions within the agricultural sector. By forging a consortium of leading research institutions, SMEs, and agricultural stakeholders from across Europe, AgRimate is at the forefront of cultivating sustainable, technologically advanced, and socially responsible farming practices. Ultimately, AgRimate stands as a beacon of innovation in agricultural technology, keenly aligned with the EU's broader goals of digital transformation, environmental sustainability, and socio-economic equity, showcasing a path forward for future farming that prioritizes both yield and community wellbeing.

As conventional cropping systems face deterioration of soil quality, loss of biodiversity, and declining ecosystem services, there is an urgent need to change practices to more sustainable yet productive systems. Intercropping enhances biodiversity, maximizes land productivity, and optimizes biogeochemical cycles in agroecosystems, but is lacking acceptance from European farmers. Legume-based intercropping takes advantage of biological diversity and synergistic effects between companion plants while reducing external inputs. A major objective of LEGUMINOSE is to identify the obstacles to intercropping and enhance farmers’ acceptance by providing knowledge and demonstrations that promote economic, environmental, and social benefits of legume-cereal intercropping. LEGUMINOSE will assess intercropping potential by focusing on pesticide reduction, plant-microbe mediated element cycling, soil health improvement, and crop quality and health. To overcome barriers to intercropping implementation, we will establish a network of six field trials and farm labs (20 farms in each country; 180 on-farm trials) in different pedo-climatic zones across Europe (IT, DE, DR, ES, PL, CZ, UK), Egypt, and Pakistan. Furthermore, we will integrate remote sensing and crop modelling to survey fields, upscale the field-scale results, and create a web-based decision support system on intercropping. In collaboration with various stakeholders, legume-intercropping systems' economical, ecological, and social gains will be assessed and disseminated with international outreach from farm-level to policymakers. We will recognize and involve the whole value chain to explore and test innovative marketing strategies for the products of intercropping. LEGUMINOSE will contribute to the ecological intensification of European agriculture by providing science-based, farmer-led, and economically viable transformations for legume-based intercropping systems.

The aim of this network is to set-up a self-sustainable Thematic Network on Spraying Equipment, Training and Advising designed for the effective exchange between researchers, industry, extension services and farming community. This network will link directly applicable research and commercial solutions and grassroots level needs and innovative ideas thoroughly captured, thus contributing to close the research and innovation divide in this area. The proposed network will be organized to cover spraying application needs in the most commonly used crops in Europe: cereals, vegetables, orchards, vineyards and greenhouses organized in seven national innovation hubs linked with international interactive workshops. This Thematic Network will address important and timely issues that are critical to improve crop productivity and reduce environmental impact. These include spraying equipment, technologies and practical methods to estimate and reduce spray drift and environmental contamination; information and procedures on the benefits of following regular inspections of sprayers in use; new spraying equipment and components to increase the efficacy of the application; practical information and advice on the dose expression dilemma especially for orchard and bush crops; calibration and operation procedures using lively videos and developed interactive training and learning material; classification schemes for sprayers and nozzles to enable farmers and pesticide companies to decide on the most suitable to them nozzle/sprayer/technology combination for certain pesticide application; environmental requirements for new sprayers following ISO 16119; and best management practices acquired over the years from several EU projects and research publications.