Trans-Training
The Trans-Training project, part of the Biocontrol 4.0 portfolio, focuses on linking research advances with users and future users of biocontrol products through training and entrepreneurial support. It offers cross-border training, develops tools to share best practices, and organizes events to promote collaboration and knowledge exchange in the biocontrol sector.
Agriculture is one of the most important sectors of activity in the Interreg FWVL area. Unfortunately, crops in the cross-border region are affected by fungal diseases such as septoria in wheat, mildew in potatoes and leeks, and septoria in flax. They are also targeted by insect pests and viruses.
Biocontrol, which uses natural solutions to protect crops, is a way of improving the sustainability and resilience of agricultural systems. Numerous agricultural policies and recovery plans emphasize this approach, which is also part of the European Green Pact to guarantee healthy, high-quality food for the population, with the implementation of production methods that respect people, territories and biodiversity.
The Biocontrol 4.0 portfolio aims to develop biocontrol products, and Trans-Training will be responsible for including the latest developments in training and entrepreneurial awareness initiatives.
Biocontrol is a job-generating sector which requires the implementation of support measures to ensure a better match between employers and job applicants, whether they are completing their studies or undergoing professional retraining.
Thus, the main challenge of the project is to establish links between advances in research and users (farmers, molecule producers, distributors), or future users (students, jobseekers and retrained workers) of biocontrol products. This link is essential to the effective deployment of solutions for more sustainable agriculture. This is perfectly in line with specific objective 4.1 of the Interreg VI FWVL program, which aims to improve the efficiency and integration of people working in the biocontrol sector into the job market, by offering initial training or skills upgrading to help them gain access to quality jobs.
The Trans-Training project will offer joint cross-border training courses for people from all over the region. It will be broken down into 6 work modules with different objectives and target audiences, namely biocontrol stakeholders.
Tools will be developed to encourage the exchange of best practices in the field of biocontrol. Proposals for internships for students at different levels will be circulated to encourage cross-border exchanges. Course and training materials on biocontrol will be created. These will include the latest advances in biocontrol and will be based on the results obtained by the 5 projects making up the Biocontrol 4.0 portfolio. This will make it possible to fill the gaps observed in this field, by clarifying concepts that users are unfamiliar with. The training materials created will be deployed on both sides of the border to university and school networks in the cross-border area.
Entrepreneurial awareness workshops will be offered to future biocontrol users, to support entrepreneurs in this transition. Various events will be offered to students, researchers and working people in retraining on both sides of the border, to enable them to exchange information on practices in the 2 countries.
Events for exchanges between biocontrol players and target audiences will also be proposed, so that the various biocontrol players can share their practices, experience and know-how with a view to pooling them. This will make the use of biocontrol more efficient. The proposed events will include thematic meetings, challenges, seminars and B2B and B2C meetings.
The cross-border approach will make it possible to create exchanges between these training or entrepreneurial actions to reach common target audiences in different geographical areas. Dissemination will be facilitated throughout the area with the help of associated operators and their networks, who can act as relays. This mutual benefit could not be effectively achieved if the project did not rely on such cross-border collaboration, which will enable common or specific practices in France and Belgium to be shared. This project has its place in the Biocontrol 4.0 portfolio, since it builds on the results obtained in the scientific projects to offer training adapted to the various target audiences.
