Grow Learn: Autumn School
Empowering Farmers to shape the future of agriculture
Course information
- Dates
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13th-28th October 2026 (Online)
- Fee
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€100 (VAT not included) - Limited fee waivers are available. Apply now!
- Applications
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Open until November 8th30th September 2026
- Language
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English & Portuguese (interpretation is available)
About : Are you ready to turn today's agricultural challenge into new opportunities?
The Grow Learn 2026: Autumn School equips farmers and agri-food professionals with practical knowledge, tools and connections to prepare for the future of agriculture.
Across six interactive online sessions, you will explore emerging risks and food safety, biological solutions, carbon footprint assessment, precision agriculture, digital technologies and innovative production models.
Through expert insights, practical examples and collaborative activities, the programme turns knowledge into action, helping you make informed decisions and build more resilient, sustainable and future-ready farming systems.
Join a community of farmers, experts and innovators committed to shaping the future of agriculture!
Visit growproject.eu for more information and get to know more about all of our activities!
Delivered by Leading Experts
Learn from leading European experts and organisations shaping the future of agriculture:
Food4Sustainability CoLAB • BGI - Sustainable Ventures • Jerónimo Martins • DGAV • DGADR • Universidade de Coimbra
Expertise • Accreditation • Network
Advantages
By completing the Grow Learn: Autumn School, you will:
- Anticipate emerging challenges: Understand new risks and requirements in agriculture.
- Explore innovative solutions: Discover biological approaches, digital tools and new production models.
- Turn knowledge into action: Apply practical insights to real agricultural challenges.
- Connect with experts and peers: Learn, exchange experiences and expand your network.
You will leave better prepared to make informed decisions and contribute to a more sustainable and resilient agricultural sector!
Structure & Modules : Your Learning Journey in 6 Modules
The Grow Learn: Autumn School is delivered online with a mix of self-paced resources and live interactive sessions:
Week 1: Emerging Risks and New Demands in Agriculture
- Module 1: Emerging Risks and Food Safety - Understand the main risks affecting agriculture and food production.
- Module 2: Food Safety and Import Risk Management - Explore import-related challenges and practical approaches to managing food safety risks.
Week 2: Biological Solutions and Innovation
- Module 3: Biostimulants, Biopesticides and Bioreactors - Discover biological solutions and innovative technologies for more resilient production.
- Module 4: Fertilisers and Carbon Footprint Assessment - Understand the role of fertilisers in agricultural emissions and carbon footprint calculations.
Week 3: Agriculture of the Future and Digital Transformation
- Module 5: Precision Agriculture and Digitalisation - Explore how drones, satellites and digital tools can support monitoring and farm management.
- Module 6: New Production Models - Discover innovative production systems responding to climate and food security challenges.
This course is designed for farmers, advisors and agri-food professionals ready to shape a more sustainable and resilient future.
Feedback from our participants
92% rated their overall school experience as
Good or Very Good
91% rated the quality of sessions as
Good or Very Good
TOP Participants highlighted the expertise of speakers, clarity of presentations, and
relevance of topics
Testimonial GROW Alumnus Ian Marshall : From Soil to Society: One Farmer’s Solution Inspiring Many
What happens when you bring together farmers, academia, business, and industry? You get GROW — a unique learning programme by farmers, for farmers — designed to spark real-world solutions that create lasting impact.
Meet Ian Marshall: a dairy farmer, politician, former senator and union leader, whose journey is anything but ordinary. Through GROW, Ian shared a simple yet powerful innovation — a low-cost water management system implemented on his farm. The result? A practical, scalable solution that's already inspiring fellow farmers and government officials to rethink sustainability on the ground.
Ian is proof that when diverse experiences meet collaborative learning, transformation happens — not just on the farm, but across the entire food system.
Let Ian’s story remind us: every farmer has the power to lead change in building a sustainable planet.
Ian's testimonial gives hope for the future, that younger generations will see agriculture not just as tradition, but as a vibrant, sustainable career!
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.
Career Opportunities : This programme is for you!
Training at the Grow Learn: Autumn School opens doors for you to:
- Launch agritech ventures: Turn innovative ideas into start-ups or market solutions.
- Advance in agribusiness: Strengthen your profile for roles in companies across the sustainable food and agriculture sector.
- Consult and advise: Support others in adopting sustainable practices.
- Teach and train: Deliver courses and workshops in sustainable agriculture.
- Join NGOs or advocacy groups: Work on environmental protection, rural development and agricultural sustainability.
- Influence policy and governance: Contribute to agricultural legislation, eco-schemes and sustainability programs.
- Communicate and share knowledge: Become a content creator, journalist, or spokesperson in agri-food innovation.
Activity Leader :
Cláudia Costa
Operations Researcher - Food4Sustainability
claudia.costa@food4sustainability.org Connect on LinkeInPartners : In collaboration with
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