Europe urgently needs a future-ready food workforce. The Draghi, Heitor, and Letta Reports and the EU Competitiveness Compass set out the connection between a skilled workforce and innovation, competitiveness, and the green and digital transitions. Across the food system, the need is exceptionally pressing. Fragmented value chains, outdated training systems, and a growing mismatch between job requirements and worker capabilities are holding its sectors back. With the highest rate of skills misalignment in the economy, the agri-food sectors urgently need targeted, systemic solutions. Employment in the industry is projected to decline by 13% in Europe, particularly among low-skilled workers. Meanwhile, there is a strong demand for entrepreneurial thinking, technical and digital know-how, sustainability skills, and collaborative mindsets. 

The EU Skills Academies address critical skills needs across the food system. 

They are designed to have a significant impact: 

• They will train 100,000 learners per Academy, nurturing the top talent entering the food system, supporting professional learners, and enhancing vocational education and training. 

• Competitiveness. The sectoral approach will result in demonstrable changes in the biotechnology, primary production, and manufacturing sectors to drive competitiveness through a more robust workforce.

• Commercialisation of research. The approach creates networks and skilled individuals to accelerate the commercialisation of research and innovation from knowledge institutions, leading to spinouts, startups, and marketed innovations. 

• Supporting the Pact for Skills in Agrifood. The Academies support the sectoral Pact for Skills by providing excellent skills intelligence, training, and education. 

The Academies are built on the following interconnected pillars:

• Strategic skills intelligence

Insights and forecasts help industry, employers, associations, education, and training providers to drive strategic action to close skills gaps and enhance competitiveness. 

• Competency and mindset building 

Custom learning journeys and high-quality training designed to strengthen technical, digital, innovation, and sustainability skills, underpinned by the EIT Food Competency Framework and digital credentials.

• Boosting impact

Innovation Practice Communities and policy labs address challenges and barriers to innovation and transformative change, boost tangible innovations and effective frameworks for skill development, and pilot innovative solutions to enhance the ecosystem's capacity to transition. 

This course is intended for:

• Industry partners and producer associations to co-design training needs

• Employers to invest in their workforce

• Educational institutions and training providers are to join course development and credentialing, as well as deliver training

• Policy actors to help shape enabling frameworks

• Foundations and funders to support long-term impact

Upon registering your interest, complete information will be provided over the duration, whether gratis or paid, and the terms of attendance (online/in person).

https://learning.eitfood.eu/academies