Reading text

The OPTIMA project was submitted under the Erasmus+ KA220 "Cooperation Partnerships" funding line. These partnerships aim to connect and collaborate with partners from different countries to facilitate the exchange of best practices and information.

The project stems from the need for adequate training in the bivalve aquaculture sector, capable of improving the workforce's skills to address ongoing changes and meet the sector's sustainable development needs.

The project's primary objective is to provide training models for bivalve mollusc farmers, creating effective training programs to strengthen the skills and develop the knowledge of workers and entrepreneurs in the sector.

For this reason, the consortium includes three of Europe's largest bivalve mollusc producers: the French National Committee for Bivalve Mollusc Culture (CNC), the Irish Farmers Association (IFA), and the Spanish producer of Galician PDO mussels (CRMG). These partners include a project coordinator from Italy with scientific expertise and technical assistance for farmers, the scientific research center M.A.R.E. Soc. Coop a r.l.; an Italian company specializing in VET training (DEMETRA FORMAZIONE S.R.L.); a Spanish company specializing in European project management and quality certification (SGS TECNOS); and a Greek company (IDEC) specializing in communication and the creation of online e-learning platforms.

By analyzing the needs of the sector and the target market and comparing the situations present in each of the five countries involved in the project, the consortium aims to develop a training offering capable of meeting the needs of companies in the following areas:

• Development of new, more efficient and environmentally friendly farming techniques through the exchange of best practices between EU countries;
• Diversification of production with the use of new species;
• Achievement of quality certifications, particularly PDO and organic;
• Good practices to prevent potential marine pollution from bivalve mollusc farming;
• Increasing farmers' knowledge and awareness of the ecosystem services provided by bivalve mollusc farming:
• Increasing public and consumer awareness of the quality and sustainability of bivalve molluscs and the environmental services they provide.
• Increasing awareness and understanding of the pathogens and diseases affecting farmed species, as well as greater knowledge of alien species and the issues associated with them;

The project involves the use of web technologies and digital tools to streamline training and support bivalve mollusc farmers' learning. Distance learning and e-learning can break down barriers of time, space, and cost, sometimes offering more suitable alternatives than in-person courses for aquaculture professionals. Online digital training could prevent farmers from interrupting production activities to attend training courses. Farmers would therefore be free to connect from home or work, without taking time away from their work and still being able to access video material even when absent.

The objective of the OPTIMA project is, first and foremost, to increase farmers' knowledge and awareness of the environmental aspects of bivalve mollusc farming. The training course therefore aims to introduce topics such as the ecosystem services provided by farmed bivalve molluscs and the simultaneous low impact of shellfish farming activities.

Another objective of the course will be to introduce bivalve farmers from the five European countries involved in the project to foreign practices. This will require close collaboration between mollusc farmers, tutors, and researchers. Comparing the different practices and alternative farming techniques adopted by the various consortium member countries can be a valuable tool for developing a long-term strategy for the sustainable development of aquaculture, increasing production, and addressing local challenges that currently seem intractable.

One of the key elements contributing to all of the above will be the implementation and improvement of training offerings, disseminated through digital e-learning platforms, for aquaculture workers throughout Europe. This can be achieved through online learning led by mentors trained in digital transformation. It will therefore be essential to train mentors in the sector in the use of distance learning and online platforms to maximize their potential and ensure that mentors are capable of developing and conducting online courses remotely, leveraging the opportunities offered by this type of training and creating a new professionalization called "digital mentoring."

For what concerns workers, on the other hand, it will be equally essential to create an updated training program that addresses the new challenges posed by the blue economy. This program must be easily accessible, even to less-skilled workers, and therefore should include supporting images and videos accessible to these groups.