Newclim Erasmus Project Summer Course
A success for the 1st Newclim seminar in Sweden.
From June 24 to 27, 16 PhD and master students from the 4 partner universities of the Newclim project gathered on the SLU Alnarp campus (Sweden) in order to be part of a seminar aiming at developing challenge-based learning (CBL) activities. The participating universities are the Intistut Agro (France), the SLU (Sweden), the HochSchule Ludwigsahafen - Weincampus (Germany) and the University of Chile (Chile).
The CBL is an inclusive active learning method focused on real-life cases. This methodology aims at developing students’ problem-solving skills through challenges. This approach is based on a call to action and engagement. It will be experienced by master students next year in Germany.
During this seminar, the participants attended workshops run by university professors to define essential questions and challenges raised by the impact of climate change on perennial fruit crop production, especially vines and apples. The specific context of the Swedish production of apples and wine has been explored through farm visits, meetings with farmers and participation in the agricultural fair for professional farmers.
A central topic emerged from these discussions: the exploration of new regions of culture for the vine and the apple at higher latitudes in colder regions. This first Newclim seminar set the first step in the construction of the CBL’s (engagement step). In the coming months, it will allow us to develop a network of online resources accessible to master students who will attend the next steps of the CBL (investigation and action).
2024: A new team for the Erasmus + cooperation project Newclim
Following the kick-off meeting of Newclim that occurred in Dijon in December 2023, Newclim’s team has grown up. Jessica Agnel joined the team in January as the general coordinator of the project. Jessica AGNEL was hired by the Institut Agro Montpellier to coordinate the implementation of Newclim. With a degree in European studies, she has been working as a European project manager for 12 years. All throughout her career, she has specialised in the fields of formal and non-formal education, social economy and entrepreneurship, citizenship, and interculturality.
She was followed by Karin Franzen who was hired in February to coordinate the Newclim project for the Weincampus Neustadt. Franzen holds degrees in oenology and beverage technology engineering from Hochschule Geisenheim University and also studied oenology at the University of Champagne Reims. In addition to several years in research project management with a focus on organic viticulture and knowledge transfer, she has practical experience in viticulture and oenology due to her family background.
Jessica and Karin joined Annie Drottberger to form the coordinating team for the Newclim project. Annie Drottberger is a lecturer and PhD holder in horticultural science, especially business administration, from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, the Department of Biosystems and Technology in Alnarp, Sweden. Her PhD project involved the adoption of knowledge and innovations in sustainable horticultural production systems.
December 2023 - A successful kick off meeting of the Erasmus Newclim project
A successful kick off meeting of the Erasmus Newclim project:
“New trainings to manage climate & ecological transitions in perennial fruit crops“ The first conference of the Newclim project, an education initiative co-funded by the Erasmus+Programme took place on the 11& 12th of December at Institut Agro Dijon (France).
Climate change poses a significant challenge to agriculture and specially to perennial fruit crops such as grapevine and apple. Indeed, the long lifespan and the duration of the cycle of production slow down the adoption of new varieties and/or the improvement of cultivation management methods to adapt to environmental fluctuations. In addition, these crops are highly susceptible to a range of pests and diseases, while there is an imperious society demand for a reduction of inputs, particularly of phytosanitary compounds. In this regard, new educational programs are needed to train undergraduates and graduates, but also professional players, about how to run more resilient cropping systems integrating up-to-date scientific and technical advances.
The Newclim project aims at enhancing cooperation between EU universities from France (L’Institut Agro - IA), Sweden (The Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences - SLU), Germany (Weincampus Neustadt, Ludwigshafen University of Business and Society –LUBS) and partners from Chile (The University of Chile), with a focus on how to integrate the climate transition and smarter practices in the agricultural sector, focusing on two major economic value fruit crops. The project will be dedicated to the production of a digital platform displaying open source educational materials. Those educational materials will be fed by research resources on the topic issued from the scientific and educational activities of the four universities.
Newclim will also develop students' and staff's digital competencies through e-learning opportunities and disseminate the final deliverables to a broad audience. Throughout the project’s kick off meeting, participants reviewed the project goals and expectations of the different stakeholders with respect to the project outcome. The five work package (WP) leaders (P. Lallemand & C.Tarragon – IA, D. Durner & J. Bogs– LUBS, L.Nordmark– SLU) also presented the content, objectives, activities and tasks that will be planned over the next months.
