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Toolkit
DIA

Digital Innovation Academy

DIA

Advanced Advisory Skills for Farm Advisors in the field of digital farming and Digital Agriculture Technology Solutions (DATSs)

Programme overview

Over the past decade, digital technologies have revolutionized agriculture and food production, becoming indispensable for enhancing operational efficiency, cutting costs, and boosting productivity. Digital Agriculture Technology Solutions (DATSs) leverage data to aid decision making and make farming more accurate and controlled, whether in crop cultivation or livestock management. Despite significant investments and undoubtedly benefits, the adoption rate among EU farmers remains quite low, falling below sectoral expectations. This slow uptake can be attributed to various factors, including limited awareness about these solutions among farmers but also farm advisors, lack of concrete evidence regarding the costs, benefits and sustainability impact of digital solutions, as well as sociocultural and behavioural factors that hinder acceptance and adoption. In this context, QuantiFarm has developed a Digital Innovation Academy (DIA) to strengthen the capacities of farm advisors and rural consultants in the field of digital farming. The Academy provides advisors with the knowledge and (technical and soft) skills needed to deliver innovative, personalized advisory services regarding the selection, uptake and application of DATSs, based on the unique needs and specific characteristics of individual farmers.

What you will learn

1
Behavioural determinants affecting DATSs adoption and strategies for effective communication with farmers.
2
Digital Agricultural Technology Solutions (DATSs): Categories, application scope, technical specs, costs, benefits, and sustainability gains.
3
Factors that determine the optimal performance of a digital solution on a farm.
4
Business and operational interventions for maximizing the effectiveness of DATSs application in the field.
5
How to use the QuantiFarm Toolkit for supporting farmers in making informed decisions on DATSs selection based on their needs.
Programme types (courses)

OPTION A: FOR EDUCATORS (TRAIN-THE-TRAINER)

Course details

  • Subject:
    Digital farming
  • Target audience:
    Farm advisors and educators
  • Level:
    Intermediate
  • Recommended background:
    Prior working experience as agricultural advisor, proficiency in English
  • Mode:
    Asynchronous, self-paced
  • Course duration:
    5 weeks
  • Hours to complete:
    25-30 hours (study time)
  • Language:
    English

Learning objectives

  • Deep dive into the Academy’s core subject themes: Behavioural determinants, DATSs, QuantiFarm Toolkit, advisory and communication strategies.
  • Become acquainted with DIA didactics and training delivery methodology.
  • Receive step-by-step guidelines for designing and organizing effective training sessions based on the DIA approach and resources.
  • Adapt the DIA training methodology to the specific needs and characteristics of targeted agricultural sectors and the local audience.

Outline / Modules

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
1
Methodological part of how to organise a national training
  • Scope, intended objective and format of a national training session in the context of DIA.
  • Questions and factors to consider before organising a training.
  • Steps in the organisation of a training.
  • Typical pitfalls and how to prevent them.
2
Didactical part of Train-the-Trainer
  • TTT educational principles and features of a good training.
  • Typical pitfalls in the moderation of a TTT and how to prevent them.
  • From goal to sequence and structure of a sequence.
  • Blueprint for a national level sectoral training – Understanding structure, dramaturgy and methods.
3
Methodological part of adapting the training on the use of a DATS to the different sectors, national differences and environments
  • Factors that call for methodological and didactical adaptation of the DIA educational plan.
  • Adaptation of DIA technical contents related to DATSs’ presentation.
  • Means/Approaches to adapt a training session to a given setting and sector.
4
Training on various types of DATSs and their potential benefits, costs and sustainability impacts
  • The role of farm advisors in DATSs uptake.
  • Regulatory compliance obligations arising from farm-level DATSs usage.
  • DATSs: Fundamental concepts and categorisation.
  • DATSs presentation (per category): Application scope, technical specs, costs, financial benefits, sustainability impact.
5
Technical part on how to use the QuantiFarm toolkit
  • Why we need the QuantiFarm Toolkit?
  • QuantiFarm Toolkit: Theoretical foundations, scope, and uses.
  • QuantiFarm Toolkit: Dashboard structure, tools and features.
6
Recommendations under which conditions/ in which way DATSs deliver best results for a farmer
  • Behavioural determinants influencing DATSs adoption
  • Strategies for effective communication with farmers regarding DATSs uptake.
  • Farmers’ perspectives, patterns identified from DATSs use, best practices and lessons learned.
  • DATSs’ suitability assessment and application scope.
  • Requirements and practical tips for effective DATSs application in the field.
7
Methodological part of guidelines and training to help advisors use all the above modules
  • Design process of a national training session in the context of QuantiFarm DIA.
  • How to present DATSs during training sessions.
  • How to advise farmers on DATSs selection.
  • How to advise farmers in using DATSs under real production conditions.
  • Facilitation methods and learning tips.
Are you an educator?

OPTION B: FOR FARM ADVISORS (END-USER TRAINING)

Course details

  • Subject:
    Digital farming and Digital Agriculture Technology Solutions (DATSs)
  • Target audience:
    Farm advisors, rural consultants, agricultural students
  • Level:
    Intermediate
  • Recommended background:
    Prior working experience as agricultural advisor, proficiency in English
  • Mode:
    Asynchronous, self-paced
  • Course duration:
    3 weeks
  • Hours to complete:
    12-15 hours (study time)
  • Language:
    English

Learning objectives

  • Gain a deep understanding of the factors and motivations influencing both the adoption and non-adoption of DATSs by farmers.
  • Obtain comprehensive insights into the various categories of DATSs, their potential benefits, costs, and impact on sustainability within agriculture.
  • Learn to use the QuantiFarm toolkit to provide personalized advisory services, helping farmers select and use DATSs tailored to their unique needs.
  • Be able to effectively support farmers in using DATSs in real-life production conditions and adopting appropriate business or operational models.

Outline / Modules

1
2
3
1
Training on various types of DATSs and their potential benefits, costs and sustainability impacts
  • The role of farm advisors in DATSs uptake.
  • Regulatory compliance obligations arising from farm-level DATSs usage.
  • DATSs: Fundamental concepts and categorisation.
  • DATSs presentation (per category): Application scope, technical specs, costs, financial benefits, sustainability impact.
2
Technical part on how to use the QuantiFarm toolkit
  • Why we need the QuantiFarm Toolkit?
  • QuantiFarm Toolkit: Theoretical foundations, scope, and uses.
  • QuantiFarm Toolkit: Dashboard structure, tools and features.
3
Recommendations under which conditions/ in which way DATSs deliver best results for a farmer
  • Behavioural determinants influencing DATSs adoption
  • Strategies for effective communication with farmers regarding DATSs uptake.
  • Farmers’ perspectives, patterns identified from DATSs use, best practices and lessons learned.
  • DATSs’ suitability assessment and application scope.
  • Requirements and practical tips for effective DATSs application in the field.
Are you a farm advisor?
Project Coordination

Dionysios Solomos

  • GAIA EPICHEIREIN ANONYMI ETAIREIA PSIFIAKON YPIRESION (GAIA)
  • 42 Polidefkous and Asklipiou, 18545 Piraeus, Greece
Project Communication

Alkis Kyriakou

  • reframe.food
  • L.Sofou 20 57001 THERMI, Thessaloniki Greece
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