The challenge
The agri-food sector in Europe is undergoing a profound transformation. Faced with economic, environmental and social challenges, it must become more sustainable, competitive and inclusive. Producers are expected to adopt greener practices such as regenerative agriculture and emissions reduction. However, small producers often lack the financial and technical support to make this transition.
At the same time, changing consumer preferences are reshaping the food market. The growing demand for organic, local and ethically produced food requires new skills in areas such as short supply chains, digital marketing and sustainability certification. Traditional training systems do not always provide these. Meanwhile, seasonal work, automation and digitalisation are altering job profiles and working conditions across the sector.
In the Italian region of Piemonte, the agri-food sector is a vital part of the economy, generating over EUR 19 billion in turnover in 2023 – more than any other Italian region. Its key products include wine, dairy, cereals, truffles and premium horticultural goods. However, the region faces labour shortages, an ageing workforce and the need to integrate new technologies into established, high-quality production systems. There is also a mismatch between academic training and the practical skills required by the sector, making it harder to attract and retain young talent. These challenges are made worse by bureaucratic barriers and high training costs, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
The ambition
The Regional Skills Partnership for Piemonte aims to build a long-term, coordinated approach to reskilling and upskilling across the region’s agri-food ecosystem. Its main objective is to strengthen competitiveness, support job retention and create new opportunities for workers.
To achieve this, the Partnership will develop a shared strategy to monitor labour market needs, promote lifelong learning and make agri-food careers more attractive, especially to younger generations. It will involve all actors in the regional value chain, from farmers and cooperatives to processors, associations and education providers.
The Partnership will adopt and adapt relevant skills and job profiles developed through EU-wide projects such as FIELDS, Food-STA, ASKFOOD, I-Restart and AGRIFOODSKILLS. It will also actively contribute to the exchange of good practices, experiences and policy recommendations emerging from these efforts.
The commitments
The Regional Partnership is committed to creating a more coherent and responsive skills system for the agri-food sector in Piemonte. It will continuously update its understanding of sectoral developments and evolving skill demands, enabling education and training providers to better align their offerings with labour market needs.
Partners will strengthen cooperation between training providers and business operators, reducing skills mismatches and promoting a more agile response to technological and organisational change. The Regional Partnership will also promote the mobility of students and trainees across the EU, helping them access high-quality learning opportunities within Piemonte.
Special emphasis will be placed on vocational education and training, apprenticeships and lifelong learning, ensuring that workers are equipped to meet the sector’s transformation. The Regional Partnership will design tailored communication strategies to raise awareness of the sector’s career opportunities and attract both young talent and experienced professionals.
Particular attention will be given to the specific requirements of SMEs, ensuring that training offers are adapted to their needs. Finally, the Partnership will foster coordination between employers, workers and education providers to build an inclusive and future-oriented skills ecosystem.
View the document below to learn more about the Regional Skills Partnership for upskilling Piemonte’s agri-food sector.
