Growing green How vocational education and training can drive the green transition in agri-food

Abstract

The agri-food sector is a major source of green- house gas (GHG) emissions and air pollutants in the EU; at the same time, it is heavily affected by climate change. More frequent and more severe extreme weather events such as droughts, floods, cold spells, and heatwaves will pose challenges for food producers. Crop yields can increase with higher temperatures and CO2 levels in the atmos- phere, but only with appropriate nutrient levels, soil moisture and sufficient water availability. Farmers and food producers will be challenged to adapt their practices and technologies in response to climate instability and to the increased risk of infectious diseases and pests caused by climate change. Projections suggest EU regions will be affected very differently by climate change: agricul- ture in northern Europe is expected to benefit from it, while most southern European regions will be negatively affected (EEA, 2019).