HAS International Projects

SEAD-SA - Strengthening Education and Agri-business interaction for sustained employment and agricultural Development in South Africa

Duration: 1 januari 2018 – 31 maart 2023

Statu: Ongoing

Contact person: Toon Keijsers (project leader)

Partners: HAS green academy, Elangeni College, Lentiz, Wageningen University

Objectives
-Contribute to End hunger (SDG 2)
-End poverty in all forms (SDG 1)
-Promote agricultural growth
-Create ecologically sustainable food systems
-Reduce malnutrition

This project aims for the following long-term impact:

-Education system (TVET/HE) is of good quality, relevant and accessible (SDG 4)
-Partnerships between persons and organisations are inclusive and sustainable (SDG 17)
-Organisations key to (sectoral) inclusive development of partner countries are strengthened by inflow of enhanced workforce

Content
While the agricultural sector in South Africa is a major engine of economic growth, employs 900.000 people and was regarded (in 2015) as leading job creator, it is also a sector that shows major gaps between the acquired competencies of school leavers (especially vulnerable groups), and competencies required by industries in the agricultural sector.

This 'skills gap' can be found in primary production (e.g. how to deal with changing climatic conditions affecting agriculture; how to make use of the opportunities of land reform programmes) as well as in agri-business development (e.g. how to increase entrepreneurial skills amongst young school leavers finding employment in the sector).

The proposed project tackles this skills gap with pilot approaches in the poultry, dairy and piggery sector in KZN and the horticulture sector in WC by bringing together educational institutes from all levels and industry in one learning-oriented network. The initiative is meant to offer students practical teaching and exposure to relevant sectors to increase employability.

Simultaneously, it increases the chances of the industry to find the competent staff they are looking for in order to increase production. This win-win concept is expected to be the key to sustained success for SA agribusiness and employment.

SEAD-West

Duration: 1 January 2018 – 31 March 2023

Status: Ongoing

Contact person: Peter van Oene (project leader) and Erno Bouma 

Partners: HAS green academy, Yuverta, Aeres University of Applied Sciences, Q-point, University of Rwanda, Mott Macdonald, Holland Greentech, Rwanda Development Board, MSM

Objectives
The objective of the project is to contribute to the 2nd Sustainable Development Goal: End hunger (SDG-2).

The project will contribute to the following long-term impact:
-reduce malnutrition
-promote agricultural growth
-create ecologically sustainable food systems

At a medium term, the project will contribute to the following impact:
-education system (TVET/HE) is of good quality, relevant and accessible (SDG 4)
-partnerships between persons and organisations are inclusive and sustainable (SDG 17)
-organisations key to (sectoral) inclusive development of partner countries are strengthened by inflow of enhanced workforce

Content
Where SEAD is focussing on the poultry, dairy, horticulture and potato value chains in the Northern, Eastern and Southern provinces, this SEAD-West project is contributing to food & nutrition security in Rwanda by strengthening technical and vocational education that enables integrated food chains to bedeveloped around the horticulture, dairy and poultry value chains in the Western province.

Based on experiences and insights gained in the SEAD project, SEAD-West will build new partnerships, and strengthens existing ones to boost agricultural value chain development through 1) curriculum (re)development and career advice for formal students, 2) targeted skills trainings for farmers and extension service providers and 3) applied research and activities contributing to innovations in the value chains.

Also, the proposal ensures equal opportunities, labour market relevance and strengthening management of the chain actors for sustainability. A strong focus in the SEAD-West project is on bringing the triple helix partners (education, private sector and government) together in a STIC (Service, Training and Innovation Centre) to strengthen 1) the economic results of the project’s value chains, 2) to support the Dutch private agricultural sector and 3) to allow for opportunities for cooperation between partners beyond the scope of the project.

To successfully implement SEAD-West, consortia from both sides were built to guarantee the availability of required expertise and create synergies with relevant projects and networks, such as SEAD, HortInvest andWater4Growth.

Introducing Climate Smart Soilless Horticulture as a Business

Running time: 1 March 2021 – 28 February 2023

Status: Ongoing

Contact person: Marjo Baeten (program manager HIP)

Partners: HAS green academy, Holland Greentech

Objectives
The overall objective is to ensure food and nutritional security by improving the performance of Beninese agriculture, to make it capable of ensuring sustainable food production, and contributing to food and nutritional security, "and to boost the economic and social development of the men and women of Benin in order to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)”.

Content
The lack of rain in the dry season is also a challenge. The selling price for tomato is high in the dry season, and member farmers would like to be able to produce in this period. However, access to adequate irrigation systems is low. Production of tomato is therefore difficult and almost impossible with our current growing techniques(in the open field).

We believe that the production techniques that could resolve this challenge and problem would be growing in substrate / soilless cultures. Growing in substrate is a production technique allowing production on a healthy medium free from diseases and pests.

A number of farmers in the Union have in the past already tried this production technique however they all failed due to a lack of knowledge and skills required. Less than 5 farmers have succeeded with this technique, but the majority of our members do not have the knowledge and thus failed when they tried.

To improve this knowledge gap and increase farmers expertise related to soilless production there is a need in the Union to 1) Train lead farmers and trainers in the soilless culture production techniques.2) Demonstrate technologies for soilless production 3) Understand and identify suitable substrates for soilless production4) Improve the knowledge and skills through ‘learning by doing’ with coaching.5) Integrate business model skills in their training to boost farmer’s profitability.

Enhancing Partnerships for Industry-led Vocational Training and education in Water for Agriculture (ePIVOT - Water)

Duration: 1 June 2020 – 31 December 2022

Status: Completed

Contact person: Marjo Baeten (program manager HIP)

Partners: HAS green academy, Wageningen University, Van Hall Larenstein University of Applied Sciences, Aeres University of Applied Sciences, World Waternet, Climate Adaptation Services

Content
Together with colleagues from WUR, AERES and Van Hall Larenstein, we work on curriculum development, internship protocols and setting up cooperation with industry.

Horticulture is the fastest-growing subsector in Kenya. This sector is expected to contribute most to the targeted poverty reduction and overall food security. Irregular rainfall patterns causing persistent droughts and abundant rainfall pose difficult challenges to the agriculture sector.

Solutions to these challenges are often not included in agriculture and horticulture curricula, creating a lack of capacity in water- and climate-smart horticulture. This project aims to improve the horticulture sector by improving the curriculum on water- and climate-smart practices, enhancing teacher capacity, increasing access to practical training facilities, and strengthening knowledge and communication links between educational institutions and the public and private sectors.

It will also match labour market demand with education supply, increasing the output of skilled students. This project aims to fill the gaps in knowledge and skills related to water- and climate-smart horticulture, strengthen the capacity of TVCs through strong cooperation between educational institutions and the private sector, strengthen links between different actors to enable practical learning and innovation by connecting the horticulture and water sectors.

Enhancing Partnerships for Industry-led Vocational Training and education(ePIVOT) in the horticulture value chains of Kenya

Duration: 1 June 2019 – 31 December 2022

Status: Completed

Contact person: Marjo Baeten (program manager HIP)

Partners: HAS green academy, Meru University,  Wageningen University, Van Hall Larenstein University of Applied Sciences, Aeres University of Applied Sciences, Horticulture Crops Directoreate

Content
Capacity Building with university at Meru and 5 TVET institutions (MBO's) in West and East Kenya.

Horticulture is the fastest-growing subsector in Kenya. This sector is expected to contribute most to the targeted poverty reduction and overall food security. It is generally a labour-intensive sector with a high demand for skilled workers, trained supervisors and professional managers.

More than six million Kenyans are directly and indirectly employed in horticulture; women constitute 75% of the workforce in the horticulture sector. For the horticulture sector to be competitive, sustainable and inclusive, the needs of both commercial and small-scale farmers, including marginalised groups in Kenya who depend on small-scale horticulture for their livelihoods, must be met.

75% of Kenya's total agricultural production still comes from smallholder farmers. The current TVCs and associated educational institutions are very generalised and there is a lack of specialised horticultural labour. This project aims to fill these gaps by strengthening the capacity of TVCs through strong collaboration between educational institutions and the private sector, by strengthening links between different actors and by enabling practical learning and innovation in the horticulture sector.

Food Waste Reduction and Food Quality Living LAB (FORQLAB)

Duration: Since 1 May 2022

Status: Ongoing

Contact person: Marjo Baeten (program manager HIP)

Partners: HAS green academy, Greenport West-Holland, Egerton University, Meru University,  Inholland University of Applied Sciences, Van Hall Larenstein University of Applied Sciences, Aeres University of Applied Sciences

Content
Food Waste Reduction and Food Quality Living LAB (FORBLAB).The consortium aims to contribute to the structural reduction of post-harvest food losses and the improvement of food quality in Kenya's avocado and dairy product value chains, through the application of technical solutions and tools, as well as the improvement of chain management competences in those food chains.

This applied research focuses on the development of chain interventions of two commodities in Kenyan food systems. Avocado (domestic and export chain) and dairy (domestic chain) were selected as examples of horticultural and livestock commodities. The results are scalable to other fresh and processed commodity chains.

The aim is to contribute to a structural reduction of post-harvest losses in Kenyan avocado and dairy chains through the application of technical solutions and tools and improved chain management competences. The approach is applied and business-to-business and involves stakeholders. The selected regions (Central Highlands and Western Kenya) have great potential for introducing innovations.

Sustainable strategic project-based cooperation of Green Education Institutions for the development of sustainable, future-oriented Green Education in Romania

Duration: 1 September 2022 – 31 December 2023

Status: completed

Contact person: Marjo Baeten (program manager HIP)

Partners: HAS green academy, Yuverta, Terra Mbo, Lentiz, Van Hall Larenstein University of Applied Sciences

Content
The opportunity to acquire cooperation projects on the development of green vocational education in Romania, strengthening already existing links and learning about current developments in Romanian Green Education.

This activity contributes to the objectives of the third phase of the internationalisation acceleration programme: -Strengthening strategic positioning and visibility in Europe-Fostering participation in international education-development and cooperation projects and partnerships.

The themes from the KIA that will be explicitly addressed in the projects to be acquired are:
-recycled agriculture
-climate-neutral agriculture and food production
-climate-proof urban area
-valued, healthy and safe food.

These priorities align well with what was indicated by Romanian colleagues during previous contacts.

Collaboration on horticulture Kentucky & Nederland

Duration: 1 September 2022 – 1 April 2023

Status: Ongoing

Contact person: Marjo Baeten (program manager HIP)

Partners: HAS green academy, Yuverta, Inholland University of Applied Sciences

Content
The ambition is to support the public-private partnership between Dutch parties and the horticultural cluster in Kentucky (Let's grow together) with cooperation between knowledge institutions.

In June 2020, an ambitious cooperation agreement was signed between 17 companies, knowledge institutions and governments from Kentucky and the Netherlands. HAS is one of the signees of this collaboration.

In this agreement, the organisations express the joint ambition to develop an ecosystem for sustainable food production in Kentucky, based on Dutch knowledge, skills and experience in the horticultural sector. Local knowledge development is one of the main priorities of the agreement: 'Developing education programmes in Kentucky to develop horticulture talent in partnership between the university parties to this agreement.'

This cooperation has already yielded several results: business between Dutch and US companies is in full swing, several studies have been conducted to identify how to further develop the ecosystem, and in March 2022, the cooperation was expanded to include nine new partners.

In the field of education and knowledge development, cooperation could still use a boost. A number of MOUs are currently under way that require even more concrete implementation in the area of staff & student exchange, and other opportunities for Dutch (and US) education.

Meanwhile, a number of institutions from Kentucky have visited The Netherlands 20 June 2022, and we would like to take a good look at the situation on the ground in order to make the right arrangements. In addition, in August 2022, the Kentucky government expects results from the grant proposal submitted to the federal government to further boost the agtech ecosystem. This application for $100 million seems very promising, and is underpinned by Dutch studies and examples.

The cooperation built with The Netherlands is therefore an important basis for the application. Knowledge development is one of the important components mentioned in the application's plans. This puts Dutch knowledge institutions in an excellent position to intensify cooperation with Kentucky in the coming years. To take full advantage of this opportunity, it is important to further strengthen relations now.

Increased opportunities for Indian and Dutch stakeholders along the Indian vegetable value chain

Duration: Since 1 september 2018

Status: Ongoing

Contact person: Toon Keijsers (project leader)

Partners: HAS green academy, Van Hall Larenstein University of Applied Sciences, Aeres University of Applied Sciences, Yuverta, Lentiz, Holland Door

Content
In May 2012, the India and Dutch ministries of agriculture signed an Indo-Dutch Agriculture action plan to work together on further improvements of the agricultural production chains in India.

To visualize this joint action plan, the concept to create joint Indo-Dutch Centers of Excellence (CoE) was chosen. The overallaction plan is coordinated on national level by both governments, implementation is decentralized and responsibility of the state governments in India.

Although main emphasis is put on increase and further optimization of specific elements of the agro food chain, one of the most important objectives of realizing the joint CoE’s is to stimulate an integral chain approach in the Indian agriculture. This because it has always been one of the key success factors behind the global results of the Dutch Agriculture.

Sub-objectives

• CoE as part of Indo-Dutch action plan should improve the integral chain as driver for innovation along complete agro value chain
• Creation of a platform to demonstrate how Dutch horticultural technology and knowhow can perform in Indian context
• Improvement of promotion of Dutch technology by demonstration by CoE’s and training of Indian farmers to decrease natural resistance against change of current farming practices
• Improvement and increase of effectiveness of CoE by training its staff and setup a train-of-trainer program (ToT)
• Catalyze further professional development of farmers 6.To stimulate relations between Indian and Dutch companies and institutes

Goa, India

Duration: 1 September 2022 – 1 March 2023

Status: Ongoing

Contact person: Frank Verkroost (project leader) and Linda Bonte

Partners: HAS green academy, Yuverta, Koning Willem 1 College, ICAR, Mineral Foundation of Goa, Goa Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Ramanata crisna pai raikar school of agriculture

Three schools, one mission: maintaining and further developing cooperation between schools, companies, institutions and organizations in the Netherlands and Goa

Objectives

• Building a long-term and strategic cooperation between mbo and hbo schools and Dutch businesses with schools and businesses in the GOA region
• Taking stock of the exact knowledge requirements of the Ramanata Crisna Pai Raikar School of agriculture, in the context of the new two-year Food Technology course to be set up. HAS and Yuverta can play a nice role in this, especially as a combination of mbo- and hbo-education is possible here
• Starting up and developing joint research of education and business from The Netherlands and Goa. Euroma and Slow Food Masters, among others, have already shown interest from The Netherlands
• Jointly setting up internships to create a connection between young talent from The Netherlands and young talent from India
• Find out whether support is possible in curriculum development, with a focus on the more European way of teaching (e.g. PBL). This gives the Dutch teachers the opportunity to gain experience abroad, in addition to sharing their expertise
• Further develop already existing contacts and intensify and expand activities

Activities

• Strengthen/develop the ecosystem of companies and educational institutions in the Netherlands and Goa
• Further shape and deepen contacts Agriculture Council (Michiel van Erkel, Rima Rai)
• Establish long-term and strategic cooperation between Ramanata Crisna Pai Raikar, School of Agriculture & community College and HAS, Yuverta and KW1 college
• Exchange and transfer of knowledge between students and teachers in the field of Horticulture & Food Technology among others by contributing to the design of a two-year Food Technology course
• Contribute to curriculum development Ramanata Crisna Pai Raikar, School of Agriculture & community College. A specific request was made to HAS and Yuverta to help think about setting up a two-year Food Technology course, for which there is a great need in Goa (too much food is lost during harvesting, storage and processing and the quality could be improved)
• Have Dutch teachers gain experience abroad so that they can pass this on to Dutch students
• Contribute to development of curriculum for healthcare institutions and training courses (Koning Willem I College). The link with food is made in the field of appropriate products for the elderly and care patients
• Renewed contacts with companies (Coca Cola, Nestlé India, United Breweries, etc.) and institutions in Goa to restart internships and projects after the Corona pandemic

Strengthening Dutch-Indonesian cooperation on revitalisation of TVET education with anchoring of ecological and economic knowledge, know-how and skills

Duration: 1 January 2023 – 1 July 2023

Status: Ongoing

Contact person: Bram van Helvoirt (project leader) and Marjo Baeten (program manager HIP)

Partners: HAS green academy, Holland Door, Zone College, Vonk

Content
The aim is to build on the partnerships and collaborations that have been achieved over the past five years through OKP and TMT+ Nuffic programmes but will end in December 2022 and January 2023. The aim of these programmes was revitalisation of secondary vocational education(TVETs) in Indonesia at institutional and educational levels. This revitalisation programme aims to professionalise several of these TVETs into a Centre of Excellence with strong linkages to business. Particular priority was given (upon request) to didactic strengthening, education and business cooperation, entrepreneurship and the 21the century skills.

We aim to:

• To consolidate the relationship built up with the Project Steering Committee and to work with them to establish an action plan and priorities for the coming years with an explicit focus on: quality education that equips students and the future generation with the capacity, knowledge and skills to contribute to sustainable, healthy and safe production chains, economic prospects for graduates and in the agribusiness sector, and livable rural societies. Specific attention will be drawn to sustainability themes within education.
  
  
• With the specific partners from this PSC and the implementing organisations IPB and VEDCA, we want to substantiate and prioritise these aspects. Think more sustainable production methods, sustainable chains, value creation, waste management, cycle agriculture-food safety (in combination with earning models on these themes) in Indonesia.

Upscaling strategy for the revitalization program of Agricultural SMK’s Indonesia

Duration: 1 January 2020 – 1 November 2022

Status: Completed

Contact person: Bram van Helvoirt (project leader) 

Partners: HAS green academy, Yuverta, Zone College, Lentiz, IBP Bogor

Content
This project supports the revitalisation of Indonesian schools (SMKs) for Vocational Education and Training (TVET).

The project is based on a 5-step approach:

1. Prioritisation of the institutional, organizational needs of the first cluster in Lombok, prioritisation of GAPS between existing curricula and labour market needs (Horticulture, Agricultural Product Processing, Poultry and Animal Husbandry, and agriculture engineering)
2. Strengthening CORE trainers selected from IPB, Vedca, UMwho act as future trainers of SMK’s. In co-creation we revitalize training modules and teaching methodologies.
3. Pilot revitalization of the first cluster in Lombok with this core trainers’ team.
4. Special attention to create and strengthen linkages between clusters SMK’s and Industry (for that we also make use of the experience of SMKN5. Jember (teaching factory) and SMKN2 Batu (industry linkages). But also, linkages between Indonesian partners and the Dutch partners will be strengthened for future trainings.
5. Describing all activities and results in a blueprint in a way that it can be adopted in all regions of Indonesia. This will serve the purpose of upscaling the revitalisation of TVET to the national level.

Enhancing performance of the horticultural sector in North/central Vietnam: educational, cooperative and value chain development

Duration: 1 January 2019 – 31 March 2023

Status: Ongoing

Contact person: Toon Keijsers (project leader)

Partners: HAS green academy, Vietnam National University of Agriculture, Hanoi University of Agriculture, Wageningen University, Lentiz, Agriterra

Content
The project will build on the long-term partnerships between 4 Dutch consortium members and one Vietnamese, and Fresh Academy as a partner. It will concentrate on enhancing performance of selected vegetable and fruit value chains in Northern Vietnam with gender, youthand minority focus:

1. Enhance capacity of next generation wishing to work in horticulture and fruit production in any part of the value chain so that they can meet labour market requirements
2. Enhance capacity of stakeholders already working in horticulture so that they can improve their performance at individual, organizational and institutional levels and drive change to become more market-oriented at each step of the value chain.

The project focuses on the society at large: by addressing the knowledge / skills / attitude gaps in selected value chains in horticulture, the performance of those value chains will improve and that will contribute to enhanced food and nutrition security in Vietnam, creation of ecologically sustainable food systems and increase in water efficiency in agriculture.

Medium term goals are:

• Improvements in selected value chains will lead to better performance of its stakeholders, more income for smallholders and will enhance their nutritional status
• Institutional arrangements (Innovation Centre for Horticulture, Agri Cooperative Knowledge Hub), and educational institutes will be able to offer relevant services to members, students and staff in the field of education and applied research in the selected value chains
• Students of offered capacity building programs will acquire not only theoretical knowledge, but also practical skills and appropriate attitude, and will be ready to meet the demands of the job market
• As result of better performing government officers / extensions officers and cooperative management, cooperatives will be more market oriented and entrepreneurial
• Students and chain actors from both countries will be able to contribute to developing business relationships between Vietnam and the Netherlands.

Towards a climate resilient nursery sector and value chains in the Mekong Delta through capacity building in the educational and government sectors

Duration: 1 September 2020 – 31 June 2023

Status: Ongoing

Contact person: Toon Keijsers (project leader)

Partners: HAS green academy, Aeres University of Applied Sciences, Nong Lam University of Ho Chi Minh City

Content
The project builds on existing long-term partnerships between two Dutch and two Vietnamese organizations that are collaborating to promote the development of a climate resilient nursery sector & value chains in the Mekong Delta(MD).

Scalable water technology pilots for the aquaculture and agricultural sectors(esp. fruit)will be introduced by the project to develop climate-smart value chains. The project partners will work with local governments and educational institutions to enhance capacity so that adaptations to cope with transformation in the MD can be accelerated at the local level.

These results are in line with the MD-ATP, a joint long term ambition of the Vietnamese and Dutch governments. Targeted provinces are An Giang, Dong Thap, Can Tho, Soc Trang, Tien Giang and Vinh Long.

Society at large will benefit from having addressed and closed the knowledge / skills / attitude gaps at the intersection of sustainable, resilient agricultural production and smart water management. Against the background of climate change, the performance of the aquaculture and crop sectors in the MD will improve, resulting in enhanced food and nutrition security.

Jordan’s Horticulture: A business that matters!

Duration: 1 May 2020 – 31 December 2022

Status: Completed

Contact person: Marjo Baeten (program manager HIP)

Partners: HAS green academy, Jordanian Agricultural Egineering's Association, Holland Door

Content
This program contributes to:

• Updated and relevant knowledge of trainers of AEA at priority themes
• Revitalized teaching programs at secondary schools
• Practical demonstrationand training facilities
• Collaboration between private sector stakeholders, ACT and secondary schools.
• Studentinvolvement via internships to create Ambassadors (via vlogs, presentations and publications) of modern cultivation and horticultural business practices. Showing good practices in combination with dissemination easy to apply knowledgeand skills will contribute to Jordan’s potential in the Horticultural sector

In this training program we focus on the main domain: Food and Nutrition Security (FNS).

Main themes:

• Enhance production via easy adoptable techniques and increased knowledge of cultivation management strategies & steering the crop on data & figures
• Water reduction via easy to adopt irrigation techniquesand increased knowledgeof hydroponicsand fertigation strategies
• Increased Food Safety(and reduced pesticides usage) via understanding of Integrated Pest Management strategies, hygiene protocols and certification according international standards
• Relevant education programs, skilled graduates via enhanced teacher knowledgeand skills, modern didactical approaches and establishedlinkages between TVET and private sector stakeholdersin order to better meet the labour market needs in curricula and school programs and make agricultural education more attractive for youth. (for that we have a toolboxof activities at strategic and operational level)

Subtheme:

• Increased business skills and increased understanding of different market segments, requirements, and value chain approach. This to understand markets and stimulate growth but also create new job opportunities (for youth and women).

Agri-business and TVET-development for (inclusive) livelihoods in Jordan

Duration: Yet to start

Status: Yet to start

Contact person: Marjo Baeten (program manager HIP)

Partners: HAS green academy, Zone College, Yuverta, Holland Door, CINOP

Content
With this project, we want to further consolidate and develop the cooperation between Dutch stakeholders and Jordanian partners that has been established over the past 5 years. The aim of our cooperation is to further develop the initiatives started in the Agri-sector for the benefit of students, entrepreneurs and refugees. In doing so, we choose necessary themes that have remained underexposed and/or themes that have not yet been fully embedded and brought to success.

This programme contributes to:

• Updated and relevant knowledge from AEA trainers on priority topics
• Revitalised curricula in secondary schools
• Practical demonstration and training facilities- Collaboration between private sector stakeholders, ACT and secondary schools.
• Student engagement through internships to create ambassadors (through vlogs, presentations and publications) of modern cultivation and horticultural practices. Showcasing good practices combined with the dissemination of easy-to-apply knowledge and skills will contribute to Jordan's potential in the horticulture sector.

The target audience we have in mind is TVET education, young people and (female) entrepreneurs. The special focus on girls and women comes from last years' pilot which showed that this target group is ambitious, hardworking, creative and innovative.

We therefore explicitly want to bring in knowledge themes at chain level, innovative earning models and for motivated target groups, in order to offer an 'earning perspective' for the (longer) future.