As part of our collaboration with the European Technological Platform “Plants for the Future” (Plant ETP), we are contributing to the development of an Action Plan in Education for the Plant Sector. This Plan will be communicated at the European level (funding bodies, Ministries, etc.) to inform and advise on the future needs in the training of Human Resources in the plant sector, both academically and professionally, as well as the funding that will be required. The aim is to contribute to closer collaboration between research and industry.
In developing this Plan, three types of surveys are being conducted to gather information about future Human Resources needs in academia and the private sector (farmers and agri-food companies):
- Survey targeted at Researchers, to identify the gaps that exist in training and research, as well as the potential activities that could be undertaken to connect the new generation of plant scientists with the needs of the agri-food industrial sector.
- Survey targeted at Farmers, to analyze how to raise awareness about the importance of incorporating new technologies at the field level, which improve the competitiveness of this sector.
- Survey aimed at the Industrial Sector, regarding the potential shortcomings of future workers in the agro sector related to the most advanced plant science technologies.
With the data obtained, the Action Plan in Education will be developed.