Youth4Agri Kick-Off Meeting in Conegliano: From Smart Agriculture to Youth Cooperation

Youth4Agri has entered the implementation phase. During the Kick-Off Meeting held on 28–29 September 2026 in Conegliano, Italy, partners from Italy, Slovenia, Hungary and Poland agreed on the next steps towards developing transnational training and entrepreneurship support for young people, establishing the Youth4Agri Forum and Youth Ambassador model, and creating new opportunities for young people to actively shape the future of agriculture in Central Europe.

The meeting marked the transition from project planning to practical implementation. Partners focused on how Youth4Agri can connect the needs and perspectives of young people with the transformation taking place in agriculture – from digitalisation and new technologies to entrepreneurship, climate resilience and the green transition.

From project plans to practical solutions

Youth4Agri will develop two main transnational solutions designed to strengthen the skills and opportunities of young people interested in agriculture and rural development.

The first will focus on training, providing young people with knowledge related to agriculture, innovation and new technologies. The programme will include five online modules, video lessons, learning materials, a test and a certificate.

The second will concentrate on entrepreneurship support, combining business, personal and networking skills with coaching and mentoring. The aim is not only to provide knowledge, but also to help young people develop ideas, build professional networks and strengthen their ability to turn opportunities into practical initiatives.

Both solutions will be tested through project pilots and developed with a view to their future use in different regions of Central Europe.

A Forum created with young people

An important part of Youth4Agri will be the Youth4Agri Forum – a space bringing together young farmers, rural youth, students, entrepreneurs and other young people interested in agriculture and rural innovation.

Its activities will connect four closely related themes:

Agriculture | Green & Digital Transition | Entrepreneurship | Climate Change

Young people will not only participate in the Forum but will also contribute to identifying challenges, sharing experiences and developing recommendations and solutions. This approach is intended to ensure that project activities respond to their actual needs and perspectives.

The project will also introduce a Youth Ambassador model. Youth Ambassadors will act as listeners, connectors, contributors and multipliers, helping to gather young people’s perspectives, connect them with project activities and share Youth4Agri opportunities within their communities.

The first transnational Youth4Agri Round Table is planned for December 2026. It will focus on identifying the needs and challenges faced by young people. Local Round Tables will complement this process, creating an ongoing exchange between young participants, project partners and the Youth4Agri Forum.

Agriculture is changing – and so are the skills it requires

The meeting in Conegliano also placed Youth4Agri activities within the broader context of changes taking place in modern agriculture.

Discussions addressed areas such as precision agriculture and viticulture, artificial intelligence and data processing, robotics, irrigation and water management, soil health and climate resilience.

These examples showed how technological development and environmental challenges are changing both agricultural production and the skills required in the sector. For Youth4Agri, this transformation creates an important opportunity to connect young people with new knowledge, technologies and forms of entrepreneurship.

At the same time, the project looks beyond technical skills. Cooperation, networking, initiative and the ability to develop and communicate ideas will be equally important in preparing young people to take an active role in the future of rural areas.

What comes next for Youth4Agri?

Following the meeting in Conegliano, partners will move forward with the practical development of the project’s key activities.

The coming months will focus on establishing the Youth4Agri Forum, developing the Youth Ambassador model, recruiting young participants and preparing the first transnational Round Table. In parallel, partners will continue developing the training and entrepreneurship solutions that will later be tested through project pilots.

By combining skills development, entrepreneurship, innovation and direct youth participation, Youth4Agri aims to create solutions that can be transferred and used across Central Europe, strengthening the role of young people in the ongoing transformation of agriculture and rural areas.

Follow Youth4Agri to stay informed about upcoming training opportunities, Youth4Agri Forum activities, Round Tables and opportunities for young people to get involved.

“This publication has been developed within the Youth4Agri - Transnational Youth Skills for Agriculture twin transition, project No CE0401400 supported by the Interreg CENTRAL EUROPE Programme with co-financing from the European Union. Its content is the sole responsibility of the authors and the project partnership and does not necessarily reflect the views or positions of the Interreg CENTRAL EUROPE Programme, its programme bodies or the European Union. Neither the programme authorities nor the European Union can be held responsible for any use that may be made of the information contained herein.”