Two digital training packs – one focused on vertical farming and the other on social entrepreneurship, were promised in the application.
However, the extensive experience gained over the three years led us to develop a third handbook, dedicated to lessons learned from working in complex consortia.
The Digital Training Pack for Vertical Farming (DTP4VF) was designed for youth, educators, and stakeholders, as a structured knowledge on vertical farming. Initially planned as a 150-page interactive manual, the final result exceeds expectations, expanding into a 437-page in-depth vertical farming guide, enriched with technical insights, case studies, and applied research from the consortium partners.
The aim of the handbook was to make modern horticultural technologies accessible, particularly for NEET youth and those with fewer opportunities. The original concept proposed an interactive, modular training pack, integrating technical elements on vertical farming, automation, greenhouse systems, integrated pest management, and workplace safety, and also including digital tools such as quizzes, video tutorials, and virtual learning exercises. The online available version extends beyond these initial projections, delivering almost a reference manual that could both be used by different categories of interested persons, from kids, youth, students and also provides actionable advises for real-world implementation.
The handbook covers a large spectrum of vertical farming technologies, detailing hydroponic, aeroponic, and aquaponic systems, as well as the automation techniques required for optimizing growth conditions. Additionally, it presents microgreens cultivation, sustainable farming models, and urban agriculture innovations, offering structured guidelines on designing and maintaining vertical farming modules. A section is dedicated to business development, making the connection with the second project deliverable, introducing the young entrepreneurs subjects as financial planning, market analysis, and sustainability strategies, vertical farming enterprise. The final version of the training pack has expanded content and use advanced technical depth. Initially planned as a document with basic visual elements and learning quizzes, the handbook now includes detailed technical schematics, high-quality illustrations, and real-world case studies from partner countries. It integrates the latest discoveries of research on automation in agriculture, environmental control systems, and energy-efficient farming solutions.
One of the strengths of the vertical farming manual is its transferability across different educational and training sectors. The material can be used as a resource by young entrepreneurs, but also can be seen as valuable tool for universities, vocational training institutions, non-formal education programs, and municipal agricultural initiatives. Designed to be accessible online, can be accessed also offline, and it facilitates knowledge dissemination in both urban and rural settings, ensuring that learners from diverse backgrounds can have access to a complex study material.
The first chapters focus on the Uderstanding Vertical Farming, explaining vertical farming evolution from traditional agriculture to modern urban and indoor farming systems. The chapter emphasizes the importance of vertical farming in addressing food security, urbanization, and environmental concerns. Unlike the initial proposal, this chapter provides a much deeper analysis of historical developments and technological advancements. Also it covers the various systems used in vertical farming, such as hydroponics, aeroponics, and aquaponics and explains the principles, advantages, and limitations of each system, along with practical guidelines for their implementation. The content offers more detailed explanations and visual representations than anticipated.
The second section is dedicated to the Microgreens cultivation, highlighting their nutritional benefits, market potential, and step-by-step guides for successful growth. This section, although briefly mentioned in the proposal, has been expanded significantly, providing practical information and case studies that enhance its usability.
The third chapter presents the Vertical Production Systems, with all the technical aspects of setting up and operating vertical farming systems – automation, environmental control, lighting, and irrigation. The chapter includes detailed diagrams, flowcharts, and step-by-step instructions, which marks a great improvement over the original planned content, which only referenced automation and production systems.
The fourth chapter is dedicated to Robotics in Vertical Farming, introduces the use of robotics and advanced technologies in vertical farming, focusing on how automation can enhance productivity, efficiency, and scalability in controlled environment agriculture. Various robotic systems are described, as those used for seeding, monitoring, harvesting, and packaging crops, but also describe the automated climate control systems, and data management tools for monitoring crop performance.
The fifth chapter provides practical guidelines for Setting-up vertical farms. It covers key factors for location selection, utilities and infrastructure, designing farm layouts, and preparing productive areas. The information is offering in-depth instructions, flowcharts, and layout diagrams.The sixth chapter summarize the Production Materials required for building vertical farming systems. It presents how to do the selection of vertical farming systems, components and assembly, irrigation and lighting systems, climate control, growth medium, and monitoring automation. The detailed guidance offered in this chapter far exceeds the initial expectations.
The chapter seven presents detailed information on Plant health in vertical farming, dealing mostly with the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) principles and and methods. It offers insights into pest prevention, disease control, and chemical-free solutions. This chapter fulfills the initial objective of providing essential guidelines for safe and sustainable farming practices, but with far more comprehensive content than expected.
The eight chapter describe The Vertical Farming Business, with information on business planning, marketing, funding, and creating a viable business model for vertical farming. The initial proposal briefly mentioned this aspect, but the final version offers a well-rounded guide that addresses not only business creation but also long-term sustainability and scaling.
The ninth chapter outlines the Verti4You roadmap, providing a strategic plan for implementing vertical farming systems across various regions and educational contexts. The roadmap also includes recommendations for policy-makers, educators, and entrepreneurs, making it a versatile tool for further dissemination and transferability.
The final chapter Vertical Farming Models and Suppliers in Partner’s Countries presents various vertical farming models and the suppliers available within the partner countries – Romania, Bulgaria, Greece, and Italy. It provides practical insights into the availability of technological resources, construction materials, and farming modules essential for developing vertical farming systems, but also the regional differences, offering useful recommendations for sourcing equipment and building partnerships with local suppliers. Unlike the original proposal, this chapter adds bring more value by enhancing the transferability potential of the handbook, making it highly applicable to different educational, agricultural, and entrepreneurial contexts.
The Digital Training Pack for Social Entrepreneurship (DTP4SE) developed under by Verti4You project is an educational resource that aimes at guiding, mentoring, and empowering young people with fewer opportunities to develop entrepreneurial spirit ansd successful social enterprises based on vertical farming. The training materials provides both technical information related to entrepreneurship and offers insights into leadership, collaboration, team coaching, and community engagement.
The proposed structure of the handbook included two main sections: entrepreneurial notions and coaching knowledge, spread across 13 chapters, with the aim to provide introductory knowledge about social entrepreneurship, including definitions, SWOT analysis, step-by-step guidance for starting a social enterprise, impact measurement techniques, and best practices. The available released version is a comprehensive handbook that retains much of the intended structure but expands upon the original concept, offering a coherent roudmap from initial concepts to practical applications.Divided into eight chapters, the handbook delivers a rich and well-documented educational tool. It is accessible and transferable, a valuable resource for youth workers, trainers, NGOs, and aspiring youth interested in developing innovative vertical farming solutions with strong social impact.
The first chapter focus on defining Social Entrepreneurship and communities, examining its evolution within Europe, and presenting the connection between social economy and community development. Unlike the initial proposal, which planned to treat these concepts broadly, the final version emphasizes the benefits of social enterprises for marginalized communities, particularly those involving youth with fewer opportunities. The material presents concrete examples of how social economy initiatives can promote economic development, improve social inclusion, and offer educational opportunities.
The second section of the handbook offers a detailed, step-by-step guide for Starting a social enterprise. It addresses essential topics such as business planning, funding, organizational structure, marketing, and team management. The original proposal’s content, about various entrepreneurial approaches, like the Lean Startup Approach and Canvas Business Model, is thoroughly addressed, providing detailed explanations, practical exercises, and real-world case studies.
The third section address Social Entrepreneurship in Agriculture, explaining how to effectively integrate vertical farming practices within social enterprise frameworks. This section outlines different models of agricultural social enterprises (ASEs) and highlights key concepts such as ethical principles, sustainability, and responsible sourcing. Unlike the initial concept, this chapter also presents legal frameworks and the regulatory aspects of establishing ASEs, enhancing the material’s practical value for future entrepreneurs.
The fourth section is dedicated to Microgreens as a profitable and sustainable business model within vertical farming. It provides comprehensive guidelines on their cultivation, commercialization, storage, and integration into various food systems. This approach aligns with the original proposal’s objective to highlight practical vertical farming applications and offers more detailed guidance than initially anticipated.
The fifth chapter covers the fundamental aspects of Vertical Farming, addressing challenges, resource management, required skills, and potential market opportunities. The inclusion of case studies and examples from the Verti4You project’s training activities enhances the material’s relevance and practical applicability.
The sixth chapter is focused on Organizing a Vertical Farm, with references to building working teams, structuring work processes, reducing operational costs, and scaling the enterprise. This section also highlights the importance of developing standard operating procedures and establishing clear communication channels, aspects that were not planned in the original proposal.
The seventh chapter provides practical advice on How to help youth with fewer opportunities through Vertical Farming, emphasizing the need for mentorship, storytelling, and creating a supportive environment for these groups to thrive.
Finally, the eighth chapter presents Best Practice examples in the field of Social Entrepreneurship from Romania, Bulgaria, Greece, and Italy, showcasing successful initiatives and providing inspiration for aspiring social entrepreneurs.
“The handbook titled “”Good Practices in HE, RDI & NGO Collaboration in Youth Programs. Lessons Learned”” (R3) is an additional results, that was proposed given the multiple challenges faced by the implementation team due to diverse type of partners, new entries and other factors, aiming to provide insights on the collaboration between Higher Education (HE) institutions, Research, Development, and Innovation (RDI) entities, and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in delivering effective youth programs, particularly those targeting NEET youth and young people with fewer opportunities.
The handbook was developed as a reflective tool that synthesizes the practical experiences, challenges, and successful methodologies applied throughout the Verti4You project. It emphasizes the importance of structured collaboration between diverse institutions, highlighting both the strengths and weaknesses of such a partnership model. The document is structured into several thematic sections, each addressing a particular aspect of collaboration:
The introductory section provides context for the Verti4You project, explaining the necessity of cooperation between HE, RDI, and NGOs in addressing the needs of NEET youth through vertical farming training programs. The introduction also outlines the goals of the handbook, including the identification of best practices, lessons learned, and recommendations for future projects.
The first chapter addresses the challenges encountered in cross-sector collaboration, such as discrepancies in project management styles, differences in institutional priorities, and difficulties in maintaining consistent communication. Particular emphasis is placed on the challenges faced by universities when managing youth-centered initiatives traditionally handled by NGOs.
The second chapter focuses on the selection and engagement of NEET youth, highlighting the difficulties in identifying and recruiting participants due to limited networks, language barriers, and socio-economic challenges. The authors also discuss the importance of establishing robust recruitment mechanisms and creating supportive learning environments.
The third chapter examines the administrative and financial difficulties encountered during the project, including ”different than in research” Erasmus+ reporting requirements, misalignment between NGO capacity and proposed expectations, in the context of economic issues, as material price raise due to Ukrainian war, and inefficiencies in financial management of the unspent budget. Solutions such as establishing clear procedures for documentation, using shared platforms for communication, and conducting regular audits are usually proposed, but the situation is challenging when these measures have to be put in place for real.
The fourth chapter provides insights into the training and capacity-building processes, emphasizing the need for blended learning approaches, combining theoretical knowledge with practical experiences. The authors also underline the importance of continuous mentoring, feedback collection, and skill refinement to ensure the effective transfer of knowledge.
The fifth chapter discusses sustainability and scalability, identifying gaps in long-term planning and recommending strategies for enhancing the impact of the project beyond its initial scope. Suggestions include establishing local networks, developing community-based alliances, and fostering collaboration with local authorities and stakeholders.
The final chapter offers a series of recommendations for strengthening partnerships between HE, RDI, and NGOs. Key suggestions include designing clearer project plans, integrating flexible timelines, enhancing monitoring and evaluation practices, and ensuring that all partners are equally involved in the decision-making process. And, as a general remark, always there will be tips that can be given forward as word-of-mouth, during workshops, training sessions, one-to-one discussions, but cannot be put on paper, due to ethics and personal beliefs. This handbook was delivered only in English, as it is a guide for the ERASMUS projects coordinators, or those who are still wondering if they should dare or not to take the lead.
