General Objective of Verti4You
Inspired by the “Engage, Connect, and Empower Young People” motto of the EU Youth Strategy 2019-2027, the Verti4You project aims to promote youth social entrepreneurship among young people with fewer opportunities (including NEETs) by using vertical farming as a tool to produce eco-friendly and healthy food in rural, peri-urban, and urban areas.
The specific objectives of our project are:
O1 – Strengthening cross-sectoral cooperation, between Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), Research & Development (R&D) institutions, and NGOs to improve youth involvement in sustainable agriculture. The project partners will develop together a training curricula and find education solutions to engage young people in innovative horticultural practices through mobility programs and practical activities.
O2 – Enhancing innovation & technology transfer of knowledge from academia to the private sector, especially in social enterprises related to vertical horticulture.
Train youth workers and young people with fewer opportunities through one dedicated training course for youth workers and four mobility sessions where youth will build and operate vertical farming modules in each partner country. The academics, researchers, and youth workers will provide guidance in crop monitoring and digital support.
O3 – Promoting social inclusion & STEM education by increasing youth participation in education, training, and STEM subjects (technology, automation, software) while fostering entrepreneurial initiatives in social enterprises focused on vertical farming. The two interactive digital resources on vertical farming systems and social entrepreneurship will make easier to replicate and scale social business models.
O4 – Boosting digital & technological skills of NEET youth and those with fewer opportunities by introducing them to automation, software, and digital tools. Through training and mobility activities, participants will gain technological and entrepreneurial skills that they can apply to vertical farming or other related fields, strengthening the economic sector and fostering social enterprise development.
Through these objectives, Verti4You empowers young people and youth workers with the skills, knowledge, and tools needed to create sustainable social enterprises and contribute to a greener future.
