The SmartSkills project was presented at the Agrarian Perspectives conference

The digitalization of agriculture brings new possibilities in the areas of precise production control, automation, soil and crop monitoring, efficient use of inputs and work with data. At the same time, however, it creates a need for new knowledge and competencies that must be available not only to students, but also to educators, farmers, advisors and other practitioners.

The SmartSkills project responds to this need by preparing educational materials focused on the practical use of digital technologies in agriculture. The project involves partners from the Czech Republic, Ireland, Italy, Poland and Slovakia, who together connect the experiences of universities, educational institutions and practitioners.

The digitalization of agriculture brings new possibilities in the areas of precise production control, automation, soil and crop monitoring, efficient use of inputs and work with data. At the same time, however, it creates a need for new knowledge and competencies that must be available not only to students, but also to educators, farmers, advisors and other practitioners.

The SmartSkills project responds to this need by preparing educational materials focused on the practical use of digital technologies in agriculture. The project involves partners from the Czech Republic, Ireland, Italy, Poland and Slovakia, who together connect the experiences of universities, educational institutions and practitioners.

Digital skills for sustainable agriculture

Within the Digitalization and Precision Agriculture section, conference participants were introduced to the focus of the project and the educational outputs being prepared. Attention was paid in particular to:

• digital and precision agriculture,

• automation of agricultural processes,

• use of sensors, data and modern decision-making tools,

• practical application of digital technologies on farms,

• innovative educational methods and microlearning,

• connecting technological skills with the principles of sustainable management.

The educational content of the project is designed to be understandable, practically oriented and usable for various groups of users. In addition to professional teaching materials, methodological materials for educators and tools supporting independent and flexible education are also being created.

The project emphasizes that digital technologies should not be seen as an end in themselves, but as a means to more responsible decision-making, more efficient use of resources and increasing the resilience of agricultural enterprises. Therefore, the education also includes a critical assessment of the benefits, costs and possible limitations of individual solutions.

Synergies between European projects

The conference created a space for networking projects focused on digitalization, innovation and sustainable development of agriculture. In addition to the SmartSkills project, the projects GRANULAR, RURBANIVE, BrightSpace, AGRITECH EU, CODECS and other initiatives were also presented.

The joint discussion showed the importance of synergies between projects, particularly in three areas:

• Sharing knowledge and educational resources – using research results and practical experience in creating new educational materials.

• Engaging practice – collaborating with farmers, advisors, businesses and other stakeholders to verify the need and usability of digital solutions.

• International cooperation – exchange of experiences between countries and adaptation of educational approaches to the different conditions of European agriculture.

These synergies help prevent the isolated development of individual solutions and allow for better linking of research, education and the needs of agricultural practice.

The presentation of the SmartSkills project at the Agrarian Perspectives conference confirmed the importance of education and development of digital competencies for the future of European agriculture. The involvement of PEF ČZU in the project also strengthens the role of the faculty as a partner that connects modern technologies, vocational education and the practical needs of agricultural enterprises.