First partners meeting in Volos – Total Business Plants

SUSTAINABILITY

Measures ensuring use of project’s results after the end of the EU funding

The Total Business Plants Consortium will put a great effort to maintain the key project elements and to valorize the results, after the expiration of ERASMUS+ funding, expecting to be well esteemed by all possible end users and to give impetus in its post EU funding life.

The Consortium will ensure the access to all project’s materials to any one, free of charge, the existence and function of project’s web platform for 5 years after EU funding and the existence of the Project’s results on the partners’ web pages for at least 5 years after EU funding

The Total Business Plants Project’s training system can be adopted and act as a complementary tool to the EU and national efforts for farmers’ education.

The Online Plants Encyclopedia (OPE) will attract the interest of bigger number of visitors as a tool for promoting medicinal plants sales and improve economic growth.

The Interactive Tool can be used both by medical doctors and pharmacists wishing to get certified knowledge about medicinal plants use and to amplify their everyday practice and by people wishing to improve their health status.

This ability can attract sponsors from the sphere of pharmaceutical industry interested to expand Project’s sustainability.

All the above mentioned will amplify the users’ interest and they will ensure further sustainability of the Project’s products.

QUALITY MANAGEMENT

For monitoring and evaluation the quality of the projects activities and results Project Quality Management Plan (QMP) is issued. The QMP defines the processes and the methodologies that all the partners apply throughout the realization of Total Business Plants Project. It forms a common standard for the entire Project lifecycle. All partners are involved in quality assurance activities, which define roles and responsibilities to ensure successful project and deliverables. The QMP provides also QMC division with indicators for appropriate decisions making, tracking and reporting on project progress, issue of useful documents for management practices (e.g. procedures, rules). The Total Business Plants QMP establishes an environment for efficient operation of the project structures, responsible for application of the quality control mechanisms.

INNOVATIONS

The Total Business Plants Project is innovative because of the development of an important economic and societal field that is the integrated cultivation of medicinal plants, where there is lack of information and training and the creation of a transnational strategic VET partnership

The innovative and competence based approach of training is achieved through the development of innovative ICT based training curriculum, teaching methodology and tools for VET, based on a modern Open Learning Management system (LMS) while enhancing an integrated approach and presenting best practices on training by implementing EQF principles

The creation of assessment and self-assessment tools for the LPs and their implementation in the training process by applying ECVET and the empowerment of the the mutual learning within partner organizations and their associated and social partners widely characterize the TBP project highly innovative.

Besides that, the establishment of a learning network within the partner institutions based on an Open Learning System (OLS), which will increase public interest for medicinal herbs as well as dissemination and exploitation of the project results to increase public awareness about the qualitative production of medicinal plants, alternative ways for healing and health status improvement enlarges the possible end users beyond the Project’s life compose a uniquely empowered project initiative.

The Project’s main innovation is its educational system which is addressed to farmers and not only to Farming Trainers and Advisors in area of medicinal and aromatic plants.

The Total business Plants innovative results are:

National Case Studies overviewing targets’ needs in rural sector
Total Business Plants Interactive Web Platform and virtual tool
Innovative Integrated Training Material and E-learning
Online Plants Encyclopedia

IMPACTS

The performance of Total Business Plants Project exploits new approach for shifting of existing lack of training to learner-centered training which is one of the primary goals in the Consortium countries. The accumulation of such experience, is expected to produce an added value, since working power mobility and sharing of common experience ensure durable effect and practical application.

The impact on target groups comprises an introduction of the pathway for development of knowledge, skills and wider competence, a provision of innovative systematic approach for design of VET learning pathways on Project’s main topics, a proposition of transnational ECVET-based study circles based on the learning outcomes and blended learning approach, the delivery of innovative content in the field of currently important fundamental and practical knowledge within medicinal plants sector, with strong economic value as well as the implementation of Common Agricultural Policy strategy and outcomes into recognition of non-formal or informal VET and stimulation of on the job training.

The impact on relevant stakeholders related sectors is based on the establishment of a network for transfer of the results and provision of ultimate utilization of ECVET-based project outcomes as well as the establishment of sector-oriented network for transfer of knowledge and skills in Total Business Plants Project. Additionally, there will be a supply of resources database available and adapted to meet needs of the sector and general public, assurance of flexible basis for continuing education with quality enhancement in respect to the sectoral or national needs, facilitation and improvement of VET process and differentiation between different sectors and areas and harmonization of European measures at sectoral level in the field of education and certification process.

TARGET GROUPS

The Project Consortium intents to offer a unique training tool to as much as possible target users. This includes individuals (farmers, rural entrepreneurs, traders, inspectors, advisors, managers of agro-tourist SMEs, life science professionals, etc.), associations (farmer cooperation, associations of rural enterprises, other associations, chambers, agencies, foundations), authorities (state, regional, local, policy decision makers, social partners), companies & SMEs with activities in: cultivation, certification, promotion, use), VET professionals from (universities, higher educational institutions, private institutes) and other interested parties such as partners networks

THE PROJECT

The Total Business Plants Project will provide a competence based training programme, built in different modules, for total management of aromatic and therapeutic plants cultivation and handling. To this end, the specific objectives that will be pursued include the implementation of organic farming techniques in aromatic and therapeutic plants cultivation, certification procedures of the production process, quality characteristics of the final product needed in order to be admissible from the pharmaceutical industry, business orientation for expanding in new markets, knowledge about therapeutic use of aromatic and therapeutic plants as well as a database creation for alternative ways of healing and improving health status of the population.

The Total Business Plants Project introduces a modern, efficient and interactive learning management system (LMS), using different channels, like mobile applications and videos. The users can recognize their competences, which have been achieved in different countries, through transnational cooperation.

The Project stimulates plants sales by new producers, in the local communities and opens a new wide horizon for alternative tourism, nutrition innovation and exploitation of the primary sector.

Besides farmers and professionals in agricultural sector, the Project’s training programme can influence physicians, medical students, pharmacists, as well as alternative healers and general audience, restoring knowledge about herbs and therapies provided by ancient healers.

THE CONCEPT

The concept of Total Business Plants Project is to fill the training gap in the sector of medicinal and aromatic plants, offering an innovative educational system not only to Farming Trainers and Advisors, but also to farmers.

According to the European Rural Development Program (RDP) all project partner countries are going to invest on training for farmers. The Total Business Plants Project will be able to act as complementary training through the offer of an innovative training system, aiming to increase employability in rural sector.

Moreover, the RDP finances startups of young farmers, if they have the required skills and knowledge. The Total Business Plants Project will establish national models, methods and experiences, in the partner countries, based on EQF/NQF frameworks, offering specialized knowledge, skills and competences.

THE NECESSITY

Farming is important for the EU’s natural environment, the economy and the employment, as around half the EU’s land is farmed.

The cultivation of aromatic and medicinal plants, known for their healing and aromatic properties, are recognized as one of the most profitable alternative crops, taking into account that aromatic and medicinal plants can be cultivated in poor mountainous and semi-mountainous areas.

For the successful and sustainable development of this sector, specialized knowledge and skills for cultivation and handling procedures are necessary to certify the quality characteristics of the end product.

Major importance is also the knowledge of therapeutic value and possible application of medicinal plants which can increase the public demand, create new jobs and provide a serious additional income for rural residents.