Grow Learn: Autumn School
Unlock the potential of regenerative farming with Grow Learn: Autumn School.
Course information
- Dates
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October 22nd - November 21st 2024(twice a week) OnlineÂ
- Fee
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€50 (VAT excluded)Â
About : What is Grow Learn: Autumn School?
The Grow Learn: Autumn School is an innovative online programme designed to equip farmers and professionals in the agricultural sector with essential knowledge and skills in soil health management, sustainable farming, and agricultural technology. Over the course of 10 days, participants will dive deep into key topics such as soil microbiome farming, bioreactors for controlled bacteria growth, functional biodiversity, carbon markets, and water management approaches. This educational initiative is focused on enhancing practical understanding through real case studies, enabling participants to reflect in their operations and contribute to a more sustainable food system.
Join Us Today! Registration for the Grow Learn: Autumn School is now open! Join our vibrant community and be among the first to participate in this unique edition.
Apply Now: Secure your spot and begin your journey towards a more sustainable farming future.
Fee: €50 (one-time, VAT excluded)
Visit growproject.eu for more information and get to know more about all of our activities!
Who is it for? :
Whether you're a farmer seeking to innovate or a professional aiming to impact the future of agriculture, this programme offers the skills, knowledge, and network you need to succeed.
This programme is ideal for young professionals in food production, processing, and distribution, as well as farmers who are passionate about advancing their knowledge in regenerative agriculture. Participants from a variety of backgrounds - such as agronomy, food science, engineering, business, and agricultural technology - will benefit from this multidisciplinary approach to farming innovation.
What you'll learn : Advantages of Grow Learn: Autumn School
The Grow Learn: Autumn School aims to equip participants with the knowledge and practical skills to foster innovation in regenerative agriculture. By the end of the programme, you will:
- Deepen Your Understanding of Soil Health:
Gain comprehensive knowledge about soil biology, microbiome management, and the role of biodiversity in creating healthy and resilient soil ecosystems.
- Develop knowledge on Sustainable Farming Techniques:
Explore alternatives to traditional methods, enhancing crop resilience and farm economics. Learn cutting-edge techniques such as regenerative practices, precision agriculture, and bioreactor technology to reduce chemical inputs while enhancing farm profitability and sustainability.
- Innovate in Crop and Resource Management:
Explore alternative farming methods, including the use of biofertilisers, water management techniques, and carbon markets to increase efficiency and crop resilience.
- Develop Entrepreneurial Skills:
Engage in real-world case studies that offer valuable insights into solving global challenges such as food security and climate change. The participants will cultivate an entrepreneurial mindset, learning how to transform innovative ideas into viable business propositions within the aggrotech sector.
- Explore Agricultural Policy and Funding Opportunities:
Stay informed on current and emerging agricultural policies, eco-schemes, and funding opportunities, empowering you to leverage them for farm innovation and growth.
- Build a network with Leading Experts and Industry Players:
Work closely with mentors, industry leaders, academic experts, and agri-tech startups from top institutions across Europe, gaining insights and guidance to help you excel in sustainable agriculture.
You will be well-prepared to address global challenges such as food security, climate change, and human health through sustainable farming practices.
The programme is delivered by experts from European universities, institutes, food industry companies, farmers, and agri-food startups.
Structure & Modules : Five key modules
The course is divided into five key modules, each delivered through a combination of asynchronous learning materials and live virtual sessions. The programme emphasises both theoretical and practical knowledge, covering the following areas:
Module 1: Soil Health and Biodiversity
Learn about soil biology and the role of microbiomes in nutrient cycling and plant growth. Discover the potential of bio-based fertilisers in enhancing crop yield.
Module 2: Innovative Agricultural Practices
Explore bioreactors and microbial inoculum production and understand how functional biodiversity can improve farm resilience and productivity.
Module 3: Resource Management
Learn about carbon markets, water management, and the role of soil health in optimising resources for sustainable agriculture.
Module 4: Sustainable Practices and Technology
Discover regenerative soil practices and precision agriculture techniques that reduce chemical inputs while boosting profitability.
Module 5: Policy and Practical Application
Dive into current and future agricultural policies, eco-schemes, and funding opportunities to support your farming innovation.
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Each session is designed to enhance your practical understanding of regenerative agriculture and prepare you to apply this knowledge directly to your operations.Â
The course is conducted in English and Portuguese. Simultaneous translation into other languages will be provided, depending on the minimum number of participants.
Career Opportunities : This programme is for you!
Completing the Grow Learn: Autumn School opens doors to numerous opportunities in the agricultural sector:
- Enhanced Farm Management: Apply new skills directly to your farm, improving efficiency, productivity, and sustainability.Â
- Agritech Start-ups: Develop innovative solutions and establish your own agritech start-up.
- Employment in Agribusiness: Increase your chances of being hired by leading sustainable food and agriculture companies.
- Consulting & Advisory Roles: Become a consultant or advisor on sustainable farming practices.
- Educational & Training Positions: Teach and train others in sustainable agriculture at various levels.
- NGO & Advocacy Roles: Join environmental organizations or advocacy groups focusing on agricultural development and sustainability.
- Policy & Government Positions: Influence agricultural policy and help shape the future of sustainable farming practices.
You will learn the following competencies: :
Food systems
- Analyse the food system using a range of systems approaches to appraise current and future sustainability challenges.
- Implement innovative responses to address sustainability challenges in the food system.
Critical thinking
- Collect, analyse, interpret and report information to develop sustainable solutions to current and future challenges.
- Appraise unintended consequences of any course of action to devise ethical goals.
Partners : In collaboration with
Meet our speakers : Margarida Palma - Soil biodiversity – microbiota, mesofauna, and macrofauna
Margarida Palma holds a PhD degree in Microbiology. She was a scientific researcher for over 12 years in the field of functional genomics, molecular and cellular biology, and physiology of conventional and non-conventional yeasts with a role in Food and Industrial Biotechnology. She has additional training in Organic agriculture, Integrated agricultural systems, Sustainable agriculture, Agricultural business management, and Apiculture. She co-authored 21 publications in international journals with peer review (10 as the first author, 4 as the corresponding author), 2 conference papers, and one book chapter (h-index 12). Margarida participated in 11 national and international funded projects as a team member and collaborated with 3 Food and Beverages companies. She was also involved in science outreach activities. Margarida joined the Food4sustainability CoLab in January 2023, where she develops activity as Operations Researcher working in the preparation of project proposals and their execution/operation, and activities in the scope of F4S Academy.
Luis Neves - The microbiome as a decision support tool: a case study on a farm
He graduated from ESAS, in agricultural technical engineering, and later completed a degree in agricultural engineering at the same school. His professional career has always focused on direct contact with farmers and supporting production. He began working in the commercial sector, monitoring industrial tomato crops, industrial vegetables, vineyards, olive govers, corn and outhers cereals. He collaborated with a producers’ organization (CADOVA), where he implemented industrial vegetables crops (broccoli and peppers), and also monitored rice cultivation. In 2003, as agricultural director, he developed melon and cruciferous cultivation into a comercial company. In 2005 he participated in the creation of the HORTOMELÃO producer organization, having contributed to its expansion. In 2009 he collaborated with a composting company, having worked on improving composting processes, compost certification and its commercialization. He also participated in the preparation and implementation of a biogas project for the production of 2 MW electricity, from organic waste. In 2018 he joined a production company where he worked as agricultural director, producing waltnuts, chestnuts, and intensive olive groves.
José João Carvalho - Use of microorganisms in agriculture in the European and global context - a regulatory perspective
José João Carvalho holds a PhD in Environmental Chemistry from the Humboldt University in Berlin and a Master in Pharmaceutical Sciences from Porto University, focusing on microbiology, antibiotics resistance, and immunology. Before joining the industry, José worked for the Portuguese Water Institute, the French National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA), and the German Federal Institute for Material Science and Testing (BAM) in analytical methods, publishing 11 peer-reviewed articles and 3 book chapters. Since 2020, José led the European Regulatory Department for Certis Biologicals, a US-leading manufacturing company of biological inputs for agriculture and had several regulatory and business positions within the crop protection industry including Bayer Environmental Sciences, Syngenta, and Knoell Germany. He is currently the Chair of the Microbial Professional Group at IBMA and Member of the Industry Council at IBMA, the International Biocontrol Manufacturers Association. José lived 20 years abroad, including Berlin, Basel and Lyon, and long-term assignments in Brussels and Shanghai. He just moved back to Portugal and is currently based in Lisbon.
Isabel Brito
An Assistant Professor at the Department of Biology at the University of Évora. Isabel holds a PhD in Biology, and her main research field is the management of native arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in low input cropping systems, particularly in Mediterranean regions. Key areas of study are the effects of common agronomic practices (weed control, tillage system, crop rotation, cover crops) on AMF functional diversity and the development of strategies to manage indigenous AMF communities within cropping systems, for the bio-protection of cultivated plants. More recent research is also focused on the evaluation of different indicators of soil general microbial activity and diversity.
Nacho Vilchez - Bioinoculants in agriculture: New perspectives and challenges to efficiently help farmers
Dr. Juan Ignacio VÃlchez Morillas is a recognized researcher in plant sciences, specializing in plant-microbiome interactions. He earned his PhD in Fundamental and Systems Biology from the University of Granada in 2016, focusing on enhancing plant tolerance to drought through microbiota. Currently, he leads the Plant-Microbiome Interaction (iPlantMicro) Lab at ITQB NOVA in Portugal. His research explores the bioengineering of microbiomes to mitigate environmental stress in plants, with a focus on root-microbiome interactions, epigenetic regulation, and vertical microbiota transmission in seeds.
VÃlchez's achievements include groundbreaking work on the epigenetic influence of microbes on plant root development and securing prestigious grants from institutions such as the Chinese Academy of Sciences, where he prepared his postdoc, and the EU. His innovative research contributes to the development of sustainable agricultural practices aimed at improving crop resilience.
Martha Fox - The importance of functional biodiversity for ecosystem service provision
I am currently in the third year of my PhD at Queen’s University Belfast, studying the pollination and pest control services of hoverflies.
I gained a background in ecology during my undergraduate degree in Biological Sciences, where I developed a particular interest in the conservation of wild pollinators, and the importance of diversity for the provision of freely obtained ecosystem services.Â
I subsequently undertook a Master’s degree in Ecological Management and Conservation, where I applied broad ecological principles to practical landscape management across different environments. This research has centred on understanding and improving ecological processes through targeted conservation strategies, in particular, management interventions to enhance pollinator resource availability.Â
My current research endeavours to shine a light on the significant contributions hoverfly populations. Hoverflies are pollinators as adults, and pest control agents at the larval stage, making them vital for both natural and agricultural systems. However, they are often overshadowed by major groups of pollinators, namely, bees. Ecosystem diversity is key to its resilience against environmental changes and human impacts. So, as an important part of diverse pollinator communities, hoverflies may help mitigate the effects of declines in key pollinators such as honeybees and bumblebees, and their ecosystem services.Â
Henrique Cerqueira
Henrique Morgado Cerqueira, 27, Geographer specializing in Environment and Natural Resources and their relationship with land use and occupation. I was the founder of a university spin-off that seeks to manage projects in the voluntary carbon market (CarBio-Solo) and one of the mentors of the Carbonostrum Project - Climate Smart Agriculture in a Changing World. I am currently developing my PhD project at CICS.NOVA and teaching Physical Geography - Climatology and Environment and Global Change at FCSH.UNL. Her work focuses on land use and management to combat climate change and desertification in the Baixo Alentejo interior, with special attention to soil carbon sequestration and erosion processes. In this session he will demonstrate how projects for the Voluntary Carbon Market can be implemented in the areas most susceptible to climate change and desertification in the Baixo Alentejo Interior.
Jesus Ruiz
A technical engineer in topography from the University of Valencia, master’s in landscape architecture from the University of Valencia and Master in Ecological Agriculture and Livestock from the University of Biology of Barcelona. He has worked as a topographer in local companies in Valencia and as a cartographic software designer in mapping companies linked to the Diputación de Valencia for 10 years. Since 2007, he works as a freelance in the design of farms with hydrological design in key line to achieve a more homogeneous distribution of rainwater and thus avoid future erosion problems and regenerate the soil with thousands of hectares in multiple types of crops from grassland regeneration to woody, fruit trees and vineyards in countries such as Spain, Portugal, France and Mexico.
Luis Alcino da Conceição - How precision farming enhance farm profitability and sustainability
LuÃs Alcino da Conceição, Coordinating Professor at the Polytechnic Institute of Portalegre / Coordinator of the InovTechAgro National Competence Center. Degree in Zootechnical Engineering from the University of Évora, master’s in animal production from the University of Lisbon/Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, PhD in Rural Engineering from the Polytechnic University of Madrid. Integrated researcher at Valoriza - Polytechnic de Portalegre and collaborator at MED/Univ. Évora; Coordinator of the Rural Engineering Section of SCAP - Soc. Ciências Agrárias de Portugal/member of EurAgEng; develops R&DE work in Biosystems Engineering in the areas of Agricultural Mechanization and Smart Farming. He has coordinated and participated in more than 15 research projects. He has authored and co-authored several technical and scientific papers. In 2019 he won the R&D award from Vida Rural magazine with the MechSmart Forages project and was nominated for the Agro Santander notable awards in the sustainability category.
João Coimbra - Agricultura de precisão - Ferramenta para tornar a agricultura mais sustentável.
João Coimbra is 61 Years old, married and has 5 Children.
He is Director of family businesses engaged in agriculture, forestry and renewable energy production and Director of the Agricultural Cooperative Agromais and the National Association of Corn and Sorghum Producers (Anpromis).
Academic background: Degree in Agronomic Engineering from the Escola Superior Agrária de Santarém.
Published works:
Carlos Guerra - Current Challenges in Soil Protection and Sustainable Conservation as an Economic, Social, and Ecological Resource
Professor of Geography at the Faculty of Letters of the University of Coimbra with a particular interest in defining soil sustainability policies and in spatial modeling of soil processes and biodiversity on a national and global scale.
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