| Title: |
Digital and Entrepreneurial Competencies for the Bioeconomy : Perceptions and Training Needs of Agricultural Professionals in Greece, Italy, Portugal, and Sweden |
| Authors: |
Petropoulos, Dimitrios; Deirmentzoglou, Georgios A.; Apostolopoulos, Nikolaos; Paris, Bas; Michas, Dimitris; Balafoutis, Athanasios T.; Athanasopoulou, Elena; Nibbi, Leonardo; Li, Hailong; Carvalho, Lara; da Silva, Maria Helena Moreira; da Silva, Joaquim Fernando Moreira |
| Publisher Information: |
Mälardalens universitet, Framtidens energi; Univ Peloponnese, Dept Agr, Kalamata 24100, Greece; Univ Peloponnese, Dept Agr, Kalamata 24100, Greece; Neapolis Univ Pafos, Dept Econ & Business, CY-8042 Pafos, Cyprus; Univ Peloponnese, Dept Management Sci & Technol, Tripoli 22100, Greece; Inst Bioecon & Agrotechnol, Ctr Res & Technol Hellas, Dimarchou Georgiadou 118, Volos 38333, Greece; Univ Peloponnese, Dept Business & Org Adm, Kalamata 24100, Greece; Univ Florence, Dept Ind Engn, I-50139 Florence, Italy; Univ Azores, Fac Agrarian Sci & Environm, Dept Anim Reprod, IITA A, P-9701851 Angra Do Heroismo, Portugal; MDPI AG |
| Publication Year: |
2025 |
| Collection: |
Mälardalen Univ.: Publications |
| Subject Terms: |
bioeconomy; agriculture; agricultural professionals; digital skills; entrepreneurial skills; DigComp; EntreComp; Economics and Business; Ekonomi och näringsliv |
| Description: |
As the European Union advances its bioeconomy strategy, the agricultural sector emerges as a key domain requiring targeted upskilling in digital and entrepreneurial competencies. This study examines how agricultural professionals perceive the importance of these competencies and identifies related training needs, drawing on the European Commission's Digital Competence Framework (DigComp) and Entrepreneurship Competence Framework (EntreComp). Using a quantitative survey methodology, data were collected from 140 respondents, including farmers, agronomists, consultants, entrepreneurs, and policymakers, in four European countries: Greece, Italy, Portugal, and Sweden. Descriptive and non-parametric analyses (Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis tests) revealed strong recognition of digital competencies across all groups, with significant variation by country, while perceptions of entrepreneurial competencies differed mainly by professional role. Moreover, a significant lack of formal bioeconomy-related education was identified. The findings underscore the need for targeted, competence-based education and policy interventions to equip professionals with the skills required for a sustainable and innovation-driven agricultural sector. |
| Document Type: |
article in journal/newspaper |
| File Description: |
application/pdf |
| Language: |
English |
| Relation: |
Agriculture, 2025, 15:10; ISI:001496984700001 |
| DOI: |
10.3390/agriculture15101106 |
| Availability: |
http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:mdh:diva-71597; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15101106 |
| Rights: |
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
| Accession Number: |
edsbas.D3435FEF |
| Database: |
BASE |