New training methods to manage climatic and ecological transitions in perennial fruit crops

Abstract

Context and purpose. Climate change and the demand for reducing inputs, including chemical compounds, present significant challenges for perennial fruit crops like grapes and apples. Thus, there is a need for innovative educational programs to train students and professionals in the development of smarter resilient cropping systems that integrate the latest scientific advances. The Newclim project (2023–2026), funded by the EU ERASMUS+ program, fosters collaboration between universities in France (L’Institut Agro – IA), Sweden (Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SLU), Germany (Weincampus Neustadt), and Chile (University of Chile, CH). The project aims to create innovative activities and resources for students and professionals, focusing on climate transition and sustainable management in wine and apple production.

Material and methods. The Newclim project is developing an open training platform based on the Challenge-Based Learning (CBL) method. CBL constitutes three interconnected phases (engage, investigate and act), involving activities supported by continuous documentation, reflection, and sharing. As part of the project, educational tools will be developed to address identified challenges. Additionally, an online student laboratory (including a social network) was launched to promote brainstorming and collaboration. A guide on the CBL methodology, with workshops conducted in summer schools, will be shared with all participating institutions in higher education, research and extension sectors.

Results. In 2024, a workshop for PhD and Master’s students, tutored by the four universities, followed by online barcamp sessions (participative workshop-events), was held at SLU to complete the first phase of CBL ‘engage’. Students identified four to six challenges for each country, which will form the basis for the second CBL phase, ‘investigate’. In the upcoming hybrid summer schools at Weincampus Neustadt in 2025 and IA in 2026, the challenges will be refined through local interactions with stakeholders and the pedagogical and research resources to address these challenges will be gathered. In the final CBL phase ‘act’, engineering projects will be proposed in collaboration with local stakeholders at each universit. Ultimately, Newclim’s activities will help to unite an international community of students, teachers, and stakeholders to contribute to facilitating the ongoing ecological transition in viticulture and pomiculture.