SOFT - Smart Organic agriculture and Farming Technology

Food security is a common concept in the world nowadays which is based on ensuring that all people have access, both physical and economic, to sufficient, safe and nutritious food. Among others, main threats to food security are related to world population growth, increased demand for food, especially in countries hosting refugees, the increase in the area of scarcity water and the limitation of the availability of land and food waste.In order to ensure a sustainable framework for agriculture, utilisation of smart technologies in agriculture and in specific in relation to organic farming, is a top priority.Key issues for Jordan and Egypt are related to specific needs such as- to focus on the sustainability of the agri-food sector- to make use of the tools for the digital transformation of the agri-food sector- to motivate young people, women and refugees to get involved with primary productionThe objectives of the project are to:•Update selected courses, in order to improve students’ knowledge and empower their technical skills regarding smart organic agriculture.• Establish training centres for smart agriculture in Jordan and Egypt as regional centres in MENA region, in order to provide stakeholders (women, youth and refugee) with the latest technology and innovation trends in smart organic agriculture and farming.• Improve stakeholders’ engagement in agricultural sector through developing specific skills related to digital transformation and agriculture, promoting new farming techniques e.g hydroponics, aeroponics, precision agriculture, as well as Artificial Intelligence applications in agriculture.This is achieved by utilising the experience of EU HEIs for this issue in conjunction to the specific needs identified by HEIs of Jordan and Egypt and their stakeholders, e.g. farmers’ associations, professional associations of the agrifood sector, etc.