On October 4th, SEVT organized a workshop entitled “New Digital Tools and the enhancing the Value Chain” at the Agricultural University of Athens. The event aimed to discuss issues concerning the sector, particularly the role of digital technologies and artificial intelligence in enhancing the agri-food sector, as well as to present training methods for the workforce of the Industry.
At the introduction of the event, topics directly related to the latest developments in smart livestock farming, traceability systems, and the need for training the workforce of the Food and Beverage Industry in these new technologies, including AI, were presented.
During the opening proceedings, Ms. V. Papadimitriou, Director General of SEVT, gave a welcome speech, emphasizing the importance SEVT places on the reskilling and upskilling of the workforce in all areas directly or indirectly connected to the Food Industry.
Following this, Dr. Alkmini Gavriil, Progect Manager of SEVT, presented the European project AISkills4CT (“Develop Artificial Intelligence Knowledge and Skills to Support the Circular Transition of Agri-food”/ Erasmus+), in the framework of which the workshop was organized. The project aims to develop artificial intelligence knowledge and skills to support the circular transition of the agri-food sector. During its implementation, valuable training modules were developed to help acquire advanced AI skills.
Afterwards, Prof. Th. Bartzanas, Vice-Rector of Research, Finance and Development at AUA, spoke about precision livestock farming and agriculture, highlighting their role and significant contribution to the agri-food sector. In his speech, he explained, among others, the meaning and scope of the term precision farming, while also analyzing the methods followed and useful tools utilized within the industry.
Dr. N. Chorianopoulos, Associate Professor at AUA, then, delivered a speech on blockchain technology and digital traceability systems, as well as the benefits and opportunities they offer for the Food Industries. In the course of his presentation, the significance of blockchain in the agricultural sector was extensively analyzed, and its importance for improving monitoring and traceability throughout the value chain was emphasized.
The first part concluded with a presentation by Ms. V. Fouska, People & Culture Director at MELISSA KIKIZAS S.A., who spoke about the need to upgrade the digital skills of the workforce and to enhance their training to develop skills that contribute to effectively addressing the challenges faced by the sector.
She also presented significant examples and initiatives undertaken by the Industry in this direction, particularly in the training of collaborating producers and farmers in the use of innovative technologies for future increases in both production and the quality of raw materials.
In the second part of the event, attendees had the opportunity to participate in an interactive workshop focused on the training modules of the European project AISkills4CT.
Project partners from Spain, Belgium, and Cyprus presented online the modules developed by the consortium, for which a rich array of educational materials was designed, accessible to all through the project’s e-platform. The modules cover topics related to artificial intelligence, circular economy, and human resource management in the agri-food sector.
You can find the presentations of the speakers below:
- Dr. Alkmini Gavriil, European Project AISkills4 Circular Transition
- Prof. Th. Bartzanas, Precision Livestock Farming and Agriculture: The Role of Digital Technologies in Enhancing the Agri-food Sector
- N. Chorianopoulos, Blockchain Technology and Digital Traceability System | Benefits and Opportunities for the Food Industries
- V. Fouska, Reskilling the Workforce and Upgrading Digital Skills
