As an active contributor to vocational education and training in Romania’s agricultural sector, CENCIRA Agrofood Research and Innovation Centre supports especially smallholder farmers and agricultural professionals through authorized training programs, with qualifications recognised by the Romanian Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Labour, Family, Youth and Social Solidarity. Through these activities, CENCIRA helps connect research and innovation with the needs of farmers, small and medium-sized agricultural enterprises, rural communities and other industry stakeholders. Farmers who complete the vocational training can also benefit from subsides and/or other financial support, including agro-environmental, through the Agency for Payments and Intervention in Agriculture (APIA), helping them invest in the development of their farms.
Supporting Sustainable Agriculture through Training
Romanian agriculture and smallholder farming are facing increasing challenges related to climate change, soil health, resource efficiency and the transition towards more sustainable and circular farming practices. At the same time, smallholder farmers need accessible, relevant and locally adapted knowledge to respond to these challenges.
Vocational education provides an important link between new knowledge and its application in the field, helping smallholder farmers develop skills and competencies that support more sustainable agricultural approaches and adoption of crop-matching practices, related to both crop and livestock farming.
Bringing Crop-Matching Approaches into Vocational Training
As part of its vocational training activities, CENCIRA has integrated Crop-Matching concepts and approaches, helping Romanian farmers to access evidence-based knowledge for more sustainable agriculture while informing recommendations and improvements. The training focused on the professional qualification for animal farming, incorporating Crop-Matching approaches through accessible learning materials and guidance, with particular attention to the sustainable sourcing of feed raw materials and animal feeding. So far, two groups of farmers have successfully completed the vocational training program, enabling participants to connect new knowledge with daily farming practices and make more informed decisions.
Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Programme
Grant Agreement No. 101182980
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