The challenge
Campania has a rich agricultural heritage, shaped by Mediterranean influences, fertile volcanic soil, and a strong culinary tradition. In 2023, agriculture, forestry and fishing employed 4% of the regional workforce, or 67,000 people – an increase of 3.1% since 2022, compared to a 3.1% decrease nationally (source).
While this shows the sector’s importance for Campania, it is fragmented and dominated by small, family-run farms and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Between 2010 and 2020, the number of agricultural holdings fell by 41.6% to less than 80,000. The utilised agricultural area decreased by 10% and the number of workers by 10.8% (source).
Digital literacy remains low, with limited adoption of precision farming, automation and processing technologies. Financial constraints make this even more difficult, as do geographic barriers to training in remote rural areas. Only 4.1% of farm managers hold an agricultural diploma and were not educated past lower-secondary level.
Nevertheless, Campania is showing signs of generational renewal and gender inclusion: about 12,300 farms are managed by under 45s, and 39.2% of farm managers are women – both figures well above the national averages.
The ambition
The Regional Skills Partnership (RSP) for the Agri-Food Sector in Campania aims to design and implement an upskilling and reskilling framework that will maximise job retention and competitiveness in the agri-food sector.
As well as upskilling and reskilling the workforce, the partnership aims to make the sector more attractive to young people and provide lifelong learning opportunities in the region. It aims to reach all relevant stakeholders, from farmers, agri-food cooperatives and food processors to associations and education and training organisations.
To plan this process strategically, the partnership will develop a roadmap in cooperation with numerous SMEs. This will draw on funding from both job training development funds (Fondimpresa and FORAGRI) and resources from Erasmus+ projects such as Food-STA and ASKFOOD, from active projects such as the EC Erasmus+ project FIELDS, I-Restart and AGRIFOODSKILLS, and current initiatives such as EIT Food.
The commitments
To support the upskilling of the agri-food workforce in Campania, partners have committed to updating sectoral data on skills needs to guide education and training providers. They will contribute knowledge, practices and policy recommendations to an EU-wide framework for skills and job profiles, building on initiatives such as FIELDS, I-Restart, and AgrifoodSkills.
The RSP will strengthen cooperation between training providers and businesses, tailoring training to SMEs’ needs. It will also improve student and trainee mobility, promote vocational education, apprenticeships and lifelong learning, and mobilise financial support to deliver training linked to existing regional and national funding schemes.
The impact
The RSP will strengthen the agri-food sector in Campania by tailoring training to real workforce needs. It will bring together businesses, education providers and regional bodies to close skills gaps, boost productivity and support sustainable growth across the supply chain.
Through company-level analysis and collaboration, the RSP will design targeted training plans, help certify new skills and promote lifelong learning. It will also guide SMEs in adapting to innovation and digitalisation, while making the sector more attractive to young people and professionals.
By aligning training with labour market demands and encouraging social dialogue, the RSP will help build a more coordinated and resilient skills ecosystem in the region.
View the document below to learn more about the Regional Skills Partnership for the Campania region.
