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FTS Achievements 2018 – 2024 and Recap

Our Achievements: 2018–2024 Recap

  • 🌍 A Global Network: Representing 30+ countries, from startups to multinational organizations.
  • 🎤 Thought Leadership: Curated 100+ keynotes and panels at international events.
  • 🏛️ Actionable Advocacy: Established standing committees on Standardization, Education, and Policy, and contributed to the CEA Certification Option for Version Six of Global GAP.
  • 🎓 Education Milestones: Secured 3 EU grants focused on energy transition and workforce development and launched a free CEA online training course (30 hours, 2 ECVET credits) with 20 sponsored internships coming in 2025.
  • 🚀 Policy Engagement: Validated at the EU Transparency Register, actively contributing to shaping sustainable agricultural practices.
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launch of ponics vet

FTS Launch PONICS VET EXPANDED online course, 

🎓 FTS Launches PONICS VET EXPANDED – Empowering the Future of CEA! 🌱💡

We’re excited to announce the launch of PONICS VET EXPANDED, an interactive online course funded by the European Erasmus Plus program and designed to transform training in Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA)! 🚀

What makes this course unique?
📚 Highly Interactive Content – Featuring podcast style learning nuggest and visually engaging modules for an immersive learning experience.
🌍 Inclusive Audience Focus – Tailored to serve diverse learners, from young talent and existing farmers to technology suppliers, knowledge institutions, and the general public.

Key Objectives:

  • Harmonize Knowledge Levels 📖 – Provide clear, structured overviews of critical CEA skills.
  • Prepare Graduates for Action 🎯 – Equip learners with the tools to evaluate and enter CEA as a viable career opportunity.
  • Build Cross-Sector Understanding 🌱 – Facilitate training for a wide range of stakeholders, including:
    • Conventional farmers 🚜
    • Regulators and policymakers 🏛️
    • Financial institutions 💰
    • Technology providers 🖥️
    • Schools and educators 🎓
    • Retailers and logistics professionals 📦

✨ Why CEA?
CEA represents a solution for upgrading farmers for a resilient future, integrating digital tools, renewable energy systems, and alternative protein production to address today’s food security challenges.

📢 Join us today—explore new opportunities and help shape the future of farming with PONICS VET EXPANDED! 🌿🚀

Breaking barriers

🌍 BREACHING THE CONTAINMENT: CEA Steps Beyond Horticulture 🌱⚡

🌍 BREACHING THE CONTAINMENT: CEA Steps Beyond Horticulture 🌱⚡

Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) is no longer confined to the horticulture niche—it is rapidly gaining traction among mainstream growers, including those in livestock and energy farming. 🚀

Today’s world faces a perfect storm of challenges:
🌡️ Climate change is disrupting predictability, profits, and supply chains.
💥 Geopolitical instability is driving up fossil fuel costs and intensifying economic pressures.
📉 Regulatory shifts are tightening traditional practices, leaving farmers with fewer alternatives.

In this landscape of volatility and uncertainty, the need for quick, resilient solutions has never been greater—and this is where the CEA systems approach delivers. 🌾🌐

Why CEA?

  • Digital and Data-Driven 🌱: Precision agriculture with controlled inputs and outputs.
  • Renewable Energy Ready ⚡: Designed to integrate with microgrids and clean energy sources.
  • Alternative Protein Production 🍄🥗: Capable of producing sustainable plant-based foods, mushrooms, and even supporting animal husbandry within circular systems.

CEA isn’t just a tool—it’s a transformation. It provides a scalable framework for producing food and feed while reducing dependence on volatile inputs and unlocking new revenue streams for farmers navigating turbulent times.

✨ Let’s break barriers and build resilience—together! 🌱🤝

building alliances

🌍 OUTLOOK 2025: Building Alliances for Resilient Food Systems 🌱⚡

As we look ahead, FarmTech Society (FTS) is leading the charge in forming a groundbreaking international alliance—pooling resources and expertise to drive impactful change. 🌐

Our focus is on direct engagement with policymakers and regulators, advocating for the transformative potential of Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) as a cross-sectoral opportunity to build resiliency into global food systems.

Key to this vision is the integration of CEA production systems into:

  • Digital infrastructure 🖥️
  • Renewable energy microgrids ⚡ (biogas, wind, solar, and hydrogen)

This approach not only strengthens food security but also creates a sustainable model for the future of agriculture.

Collaboration is essential. We call on stakeholders across sectors—including:
🌿 Horticulture producers
🥗 Food processors
🔌 Digital infrastructure developers
🌞 Renewable energy providers

📅 To drive this momentum forward, FTS will organize two annual events—one in Europe and one in North America—uniting key players from:

  • Agricultural supply chains 🌾
  • Energy sectors 🔋
  • Digital infrastructure development 🌐

Join us in shaping the future—where food systems meet innovation and sustainability! 🌱🤝

connect, engage grow

🌱 CONNECT, ENGAGE, AND GROW – Deliver the Future of CEA Together! 🌎

As we step into an exciting new year, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to our Executive Board and dedicated members—your unwavering support fuels our mission and drives innovation in Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA). 🚀

FarmTech Society (FTS) proudly stands as the only international nonprofit organization representing the CEA sector through an inclusive systems approach. By fostering a pre-competitive alliance across industries—spanning Energy, Horticulture, Bioeconomy, and Food & Feed Production—we unite diverse stakeholders to shape a prosperous and resilient future. 🌿

Together, we are building common ground for collaboration, creating a powerful ecosystem of shared expertise, and enabling mutually beneficial initiatives that advance technology adoption, succession prospects and food souverignity. 🌍

✨ Join us in 2025 as we continue transforming challenges into opportunities and driving the global CEA adoption!

Let’s grow the future—together! 🌾🌟

Recap 2024

FarmTech Society unites the Controlled Environment Agriculture Sector

FarmTech Society (FTS) is an international non-profit association dedicated to advancing the Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) sector. As a unifying voice for the industry, FTS fosters pre-competitive collaboration through broad representation and shared initiatives. Our mission focuses on delivering a harmonized message, developing feasible standards and workforce profiles, and achieving validated recognition of the CEA sector among all relevant stakeholders.

Out Latest News

FarmTech Society is supported by the European Union’s Interreg Programme – Learn More

FarmTech Society is supported by the European Union’s Erasmus+ Programme – Learn More

FarmTech Society Supports the Sustainable Development Goals – Learn More Here

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.

 

The FarmTech Society is enlisted in the EU Transparency Register with #469686733585-87