The Sicilian Agroecology Coordination, a third-sector organization committed to promoting sustainable agricultural models, is consolidating its role in transforming the regional agri-food system through a comprehensive training program for professionals, agricultural workers, and citizens.
The organization, whose members contributed to the drafting and promotion of Regional Law 21 of July 29, 2021, issued by the Sicilian Region—”Provisions on agroecology, the protection of biodiversity and Sicilian agricultural products, and technological innovation in agriculture. Regulations on maritime state concessions”—has been authorized, pursuant to Article 5, relating to Activities to Support the Transition to Agroecology, by the Department of Agriculture of the Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, and Mediterranean Fisheries. The authorization, formalized with note no. 21818 of February 5, 2025, recognizes the Coordination Committee’s responsibility for providing training and refresher courses aimed at the correct application of the regulation and the dissemination of agroecological culture in Sicily. These initiatives may be conducted with the involvement of the General Manager and regional administration officials.
The first course: training the trainers –
The first training initiative will begin on December 6, 2025, and will continue until February 21, 2026, for a total of 40 hours divided between in-person lessons, distance learning, and practical activities on farms.
The course is intended for trainers selected upon recommendation by the Orders of Agronomists and Forestry Specialists of Sicily, with the aim of creating a network of experts capable of supporting regions, institutions, and agricultural businesses in the transition to ecologically sustainable, economically sound, and socially equitable production systems.
– Module 1 — Agroecology: Complexity, Biodiversity, and Energy Models. – Plan – Slide – Link Registrazione.
The second training cycle: a program open to the local community –
Upon completion of the first program, the Coordination will launch a second 50-hour training cycle in March 2026, aimed at:
– Sicilian agronomists and forestry professionals;
– Technicians and operators in the agri-food sector;
– Agricultural companies;
– Public officials;
– Citizens interested in agroecology.
The course will be held in each Sicilian province, with a training structure similar to the previous one and strong local roots, to encourage participation, discussion, experimentation, and practical application of the principles of Regional Law 21/2021.
An investment in knowledge for rural Sicily –
The initiative responds to the growing need to support the agricultural world in the transition to regenerative practices that protect soil fertility, biodiversity, the agricultural landscape, human health, and Sicily’s productive heritage.
Through training, outreach, and technical support, the Sicilian Agroecology Coordination confirms its role as an institutional, cultural, and scientific reference for the full implementation of regional legislation and the development of a new agricultural paradigm.
With this approach, Sicily aims to become a national and Mediterranean laboratory for agroecological innovation, where knowledge, research, territories, and rural communities move together toward a more sustainable future.
