European agriculture prepares for the circular revolution: new skills for a sustainable future

A recent study conducted as part of the European project ACE-EX (Agriculture Circular Economy- EXpert), funded by the Erasmus+ program, reveals a growing demand for specialized skills in the circular economy within the agricultural sector, particularly in the wine, oil, and cereal supply chains. The research, which involved 146 companies across seven European countries, highlights a significant gap between current training offerings and the real needs of the job market, thus laying the foundation for the development of innovative training programs.

The ACE-EX project aims to develop a new professional figure: the circular economy expert in agriculture. This initiative responds to the growing need to transform the European agricultural sector towards more sustainable and environmentally friendly practices, in line with the objectives of the European Green Deal.

The study revealed that agricultural companies most advanced in adopting the circular economy are those that integrate sustainability principles into all aspects of production and business management. However, there is a shortage of professionals with the necessary skills to lead this transition.

The research identified several key areas where new skills need to be developed: innovation management, transversal skills such as interdisciplinary research and systems thinking, ability to implement new circular business models, and specific technical knowledge for circular agriculture. Surprisingly, many of these crucial skills are not adequately covered by existing training programs, especially at EQF levels 4-6 (secondary education, higher technical education and Bachelor’s degrees).

An interesting finding from the study concerns the soft skills most in demand by companies: teamwork, leadership, problem-solving, and creativity. These skills are considered fundamental to promoting a culture of innovation and sustainability within organizations.

It is evident that there is a strong demand for professionals who can lead the transition to a circular economy in agriculture. Companies are looking for individuals who can combine specific technical knowledge with managerial skills and a systemic vision of sustainability.

The study provides detailed recommendations for developing new training programs that can bridge this skills gap. These include the need to integrate the teaching of circular economy principles with practical experiences, develop training modules on innovation management and organizational change, enhance the teaching of transversal skills such as critical thinking and interdisciplinary collaboration, and provide specific training on circular agriculture technologies and practices.

These results represent a solid basis for the next phase of the ACE-EX project: the development of an innovative training curriculum that concretely responds to the identified needs in the European agricultural sector. The training program, based on the evidence that emerged from this in-depth research, aims to bridge the skills gap and prepare a new generation of circular agriculture professionals.

The complete research and further information on the ACE-EX project are available on the website www.ace-ex.eu. The project, which involves partners from Italy, Spain, Greece, Poland, Czech Republic, Norway, and Ukraine, aims to become a reference point for training in circular economy applied to agriculture in Europe.

This initiative represents an important step towards a more sustainable and competitive European agriculture, capable of facing the environmental and economic challenges of the 21st century. By creating targeted training programs based on solid research of sector needs, ACE-EX is at the forefront of preparing future experts in the circular economy, thus contributing to the sustainable transformation of the European agri-food sector.