News | Press release Agroecology education and training under discussion at the University of Córdoba

Within the framework of the European Agroecology Consortium (Agroecology Partnership), researchers from 30 institutions in ten countries are meeting from 18 to 20 March to work on education, knowledge networks and innovation in agroecology.

The University of Córdoba (UCO) is hosting the annual meeting of the Working Group “Education and Training for Agroecology in Farming and Food Systems” of the international agroecology consortium Agroecology Partnership, an international gathering bringing together representatives from universities, research centres and European and international organisations linked to agroecology, training and innovation in sustainable agri-food systems. Funded by Horizon Europe, the Agroecology Partnership is a large-scale initiative bringing together the European Commission and 111 partners from 31 Member States, associated countries and third countries over the period 2024–2033.

The meeting in Córdoba marks the beginning of the second phase of the overall project (2026–2033), with Alexander Wezel (ISARA, France) and Paola Migliorini (UNISG, Italy) acting as coordinators of the working group. It addresses issues related to agroecology education and training, the creation of academic and professional networks, interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary curriculum development, and the promotion of new forms of learning and knowledge exchange among researchers, teaching staff, farmers, advisers and other actors within the agri-food ecosystem.

Topics included on the agenda range from an agroecological analysis of the agricultural education landscape in Europe to the consolidation of academic programmes in agroecology, the development of action-oriented learning methodologies, the promotion of an agroecological culture among younger generations, mutual learning through non-formal initiatives, and the building of transdisciplinary social learning networks. The meeting also includes a specific workshop on the future perspectives with a view to defining actions for 2026 and 2027. In addition to the working sessions, the programme includes several visits aimed at introducing participants to the city and to a number of experiences linked to agroecology and to the construction of fair and sustainable agri-food systems.

The meeting includes participants from organisations based in a range of countries, including Spain, France, Italy, Germany, Belgium, Denmark, Norway, Switzerland, Greece and Kenya, highlighting both the international dimension of the meeting and the shared commitment to advancing education and innovation models aligned with the agroecological transition.

At the University of Córdoba, participation is channelled through the research group of ISEC (Institute of Sociology and Peasant Studies – SEJ-179) within the area of Sociology of the Department of Social Sciences, Philosophy, Geography, Translation and Interpreting. UCO is involved both in WP10 and in WP7, “Expanding the Capacities of Living Labs (LLs) and Research Infrastructures (RIs)”. Founded 30 years ago, ISEC has developed agroecological teaching and research from an interdisciplinary perspective, supporting agroecological transition processes through its Master’s Degree in Agroecology and its research line “Agroecology, Food Sovereignty and Commons” within the doctoral programme “Natural Resources and Sustainable Management”, as well as through multiple research projects at local, national and international level in Europe and Latin America.

As David Gallar, Director of the Master’s Degree in Agroecology and UCO coordinator in this project, points out: “A radical change is currently needed so that those who produce our food can enjoy better livelihoods and so that more young people, trained in agroecology, remain in rural areas. Small and medium-sized local producers who care for their territories and provide us with high-quality food at fair prices for all parties need support. In this regard, agroecology is a fundamental tool for responding to the needs of farmers and of society as a whole, since the current agro-industrial production model, dependent on exports and global agricultural inputs that are being affected, as we are seeing now, by multiple wars and free trade agreements, together with the role of major agri-food companies and distribution chains, forms part of the problem rather than the solution. This is why it is necessary to support agroecological responses through production, agricultural and university education, consumption, and agri-food public policies, as this project seeks to do.”

Holding this meeting in Córdoba further reinforces UCO’s role as an institution committed to research, international cooperation and the promotion of sustainable and innovative approaches in the agri-food field. Agroecology is also a strategic area both for the University of Córdoba and for Andalusia, one of Europe’s leading agricultural regions. In this context, research, innovation and international cooperation are seen as key elements in moving towards food systems that are more sustainable, resilient and better adapted to the major challenges of our time.

Source: University of Córdoba (UCO), Spain