Green Horizons
Building Green Skills for a Sustainable Agri-Food Future
Green Horizons: Capacity Building for Green Transformation in the Agri-Food Industry aims to support the green and digital transformation of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) operating in the agri-food sector across Europe.
The project responds to the growing environmental, technological and economic challenges faced by SMEs by strengthening their capacity to adopt greener and more innovative business practices. Green Horizons focuses on developing green skills, increasing awareness of sustainable business opportunities and supporting the adoption of environmental technologies.
Through research, capacity building, vocational education and training, and the development of innovative digital learning resources, the project will provide SMEs and VET professionals with practical knowledge and tools to accelerate their transition towards more sustainable and competitive business models.
A key component of the project is the development of a comprehensive training scheme addressing topics such as the energy transition, circular economy, climate-friendly practices, green innovation and environmentally responsible business operations. The project will also develop an interactive digital educational platform and open educational resources to facilitate access to learning materials and support the continuous development of green competences.
Green Horizons brings together European organisations with complementary expertise in research, vocational education and training, innovation, business support and digital learning, creating a transnational environment for knowledge exchange and cooperation.
Objectives
The main goal of Green Horizons is to strengthen the capacity of European SMEs, particularly in the agri-food sector, to successfully respond to the challenges of the green and digital transition. The project aims to promote sustainable business practices, strengthen green competences and encourage the adoption of innovative environmental technologies.
The main objectives are:
- Strengthen the capacity of SMEs to identify and adopt green innovations and sustainable business practices.
- Improve awareness of environmental technologies and their potential benefits for SMEs.
- Develop and strengthen green skills among SME employees, VET professionals and other relevant stakeholders.
- Promote the transition towards more sustainable, climate-friendly and resource-efficient business operations.
- Raise awareness of the energy transition, circular economy and environmentally responsible business practices.
- Support SMEs in identifying new green business opportunities and increasing their competitiveness.
- Develop innovative training approaches and learning resources adapted to the needs of SMEs and VET professionals.
- Create an interactive digital educational platform providing accessible learning opportunities and practical training materials.
- Encourage the use of digital tools and innovative methodologies in vocational education and training.
- Promote knowledge exchange and cooperation between European organisations, VET stakeholders and the agri-food sector.
- Contribute to the broader European objectives related to sustainability, green transformation, digitalisation and competitiveness.
Target group
Main Target
The main target groups of Green Horizons are small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), particularly those operating in the agri-food sector, as well as their employees, managers and professionals responsible for business development, innovation and sustainability.
The project will also directly involve VET trainers, educators and other vocational education and training professionals who can support the development of green competences and the implementation of sustainable practices within SMEs.
Through its training activities and digital learning resources, Green Horizons will provide these target groups with practical knowledge, innovative tools and learning opportunities that can help them respond to the changing environmental and technological requirements of the European labour market.
Second Target
The project will also benefit a wider group of stakeholders, including:
- VET providers and training organisations;
- Business support organisations and SME advisors;
- Professionals working in sustainability, innovation and digital transformation;
- Entrepreneurs and business managers;
- Organisations working in the agri-food sector;
- Industry and sector representatives;
- Public authorities and other relevant stakeholders;
- Professionals and organisations interested in green innovation and sustainable business development.
The project will particularly encourage the participation of SMEs and professionals who need additional support in developing green and digital competences and integrating sustainability into their everyday business operations.
Project Results
Green Horizons will develop a comprehensive set of educational, digital and capacity-building resources designed to support SMEs and VET professionals in the green transformation of the agri-food sector.
The main expected results are:
- A comprehensive training scheme focused on green transformation and sustainable business practices for SMEs and VET professionals.
- An interactive digital educational platform providing access to training materials and learning resources.
- Open Educational Resources (OER) supporting the development of green competences.
- Innovative teaching and learning materials addressing the specific needs of SMEs and the agri-food sector.
- Training content covering areas such as energy transition, circular economy, climate-friendly practices, green innovation and environmental technologies.
- Resources supporting SMEs in identifying and adopting greener technologies and business solutions.
- Practical tools and learning opportunities designed to strengthen the capacity of SMEs to innovate and become more sustainable.
- Increased awareness of the benefits of green transformation and sustainable business practices.
- Improved green skills among SME employees, entrepreneurs and VET professionals.
- Stronger cooperation and knowledge exchange between European VET providers, SMEs and relevant stakeholders.
The project aims to make these resources accessible and practical so that they can be used beyond the lifetime of the project, supporting the long-term development of greener, more innovative and competitive SMEs across Europe.
Partners
The Green Horizons consortium brings together organisations from Austria, Estonia, Italy and Poland with complementary expertise in vocational education and training, research, innovation, digital learning and business support. Together, the partners work towards strengthening the capacity of European SMEs and accelerating the green and digital transformation of the agri-food sector.