Agroecology has firmly established itself in the debate on food systems and on the relationship between agriculture, the environment and communities. In Sicily, this recognition is already institutional: Regional Law 21/2021 and the first Mediterranean Congress on Agroecology, held in Agrigento in June 2025, have consolidated its role in the Mediterranean context.
That is why we believe it is important to create spaces for interdisciplinary dialogue and training, in light of the growing recognition of agroecology in Sicily and across the Mediterranean. The recommendations stemming from the Mediterranean Congress on Agroecology are available here.
It is on this ground that SEEDS takes shape — a free training programme on agroecology. It is aimed in particular at teachers, educators and trainers working on agriculture, food, rural development, civic education and global citizenship, and is open to farms, local organisations, social workers and anyone interested in approaching the agroecological transition.
The programme is delivered together with the Scuola Pratica di Agroecologia Valdibella (SPAE), founded in 2021 in Camporeale (PA) on the initiative of the Cooperativa Agricola Valdibella as a space for training, experimentation and exchange among farmers, researchers, technicians, activists and educators. The school adopts a strongly experiential approach, integrating theory, practice and on-the-ground immersion, with particular attention to the environmental and social challenges of the Mediterranean context.
What we will cover
The programme alternates online sessions and field visits, addressing:
- principles and practices of agroecology;
- water, biodiversity and ecosystem processes;
- the right to food and food sovereignty;
- social transformation and territorial models;
- market practices and pathways for agroecological transition;
- participatory approaches for designing a school curriculum on agroecology.
Schedule
| Date | Time | Format | Topic | Speaker(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 May | 11.00–13.00 | Online | Introduction to SEEDS and to the principles of agroecology | CESIE ETS and Rafael Bueno, field ecologist with experience in agroecology, ecosystem restoration, biodiversity assessment and conservation, and environmental policy in Mediterranean and tropical settings |
| 14 May | 15.00–17.00 | Online | The political and social-transformation dimensions of agroecology | Carlotta Ebbreo, environmental and territorial sociologist, with experience in local development, facilitation of organisations and networks, training and research in agroecology |
| 19 May | 11.00–13.00 | Online | Water as an essential element of agroecology | Danilo Colomela, environmental engineer with experience in permaculture design, cartography and water management |
| 21 May | 9.30–13.30 + lunch | Hybrid + field visit | Ecosystem processes (biodiversity, soil, water) | Eleonora Chiri, microbial ecologist specialising in terrestrial ecosystems, trainer and consultant on soil health, together with CESIE |
| 26 May | 9.30–13.30 + lunch | Hybrid + field visit | Vision and market practices in the agroecological approach | Massimiliano Solano, farmer, agronomist and president of Cooperativa Agricola Valdibella |
| 4 June | 15.00–17.00 | Online | Participatory methodologies for designing a curriculum on agroecology | CESIE ETS |
How to take part
Participation is free of charge and places are limited. To register, fill in the registration form and select the sessions you wish to attend. Registered participants will receive the Teams link for the online sessions by email.
A certificate of attendance is issued to those who take part in at least 5 sessions, including the final one on 4 June.
Online sessions and field visits
The sessions on 21 and 26 May include:
- a theoretical part;
- a practical part on site at the Cooperativa Agricola Valdibella (Camporeale, PA).
At registration, participants will indicate their preferred format for each session. Those attending in person may also join the lunch prepared by the Cooperativa Agricola Valdibella (maximum 10 participants).
For information: marika.dangelo@cesie.org
About the project
SEEDS – Sowing agroEcological education in the VET sector is funded by the Erasmus+ Programme — Capacity Building in the field of Vocational Education and Training (VET), ERASMUS-EDU-2024-CB-VET.
Partners
- CESIE ETS (Italy, coordinator)
- Eurotraining (Greece)
- Syncnify (France)
- Albanian Network for Rural Development (Albania)
- Universum College (Kosovo)
- SSK Livno (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
- Sarajevo Meeting of Cultures (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
For further information
Read the project page.
Contact Marika D’Angelo, marika.dangelo@cesie.org.
