EU4SUPA: European Union for Sustainable Pastoralism is a project that contributes to biodiversity, landscape management and the development of rural areas in Europe. However, the pastoral sector faces crucial challenges: generational renewal, climate change and a lack of specialist training. To address these challenges, the project is developing innovative training tools and promoting the exchange of knowledge amongst the five partner countries – Spain, Italy, Austria, Romania and Bulgaria – with the aim of strengthening sustainable pastoralism in Europe.

Knowledge creation takes place through three complementary approaches: the Pastures and Grasslands Workshops, which bring together the experiences and traditional knowledge of shepherds and livestock farmers, creating collaborative networks between farms and communities; the co-creation of workshops, which fosters dialogue between local and scientific knowledge to identify real training needs; and the documentation of European best practices through operational protocols and measurable indicators, building a shared and transferable knowledge base.

Each partner country develops specific research themes linked to its own local context: Spain (Andalusia) addresses the role of dogs in sheepfarming; Spain (Castile and León) focuses on wildlife management; Italy on pasture management; Austria on climate adaptation; Bulgaria on teamwork within pastoral communities; and Romania on diversifying income from sheep farming.

The training programme consists of a 120-hour curriculum on sustainable pastoralism, structured at EQF Level 4 and aligned with the European GreenComp framework. The programme integrates traditional and scientific knowledge, addressing environmental sustainability, biodiversity, pasture management and climate adaptation, with the aim of strengthening shepherds’ skills and increasing the sector’s appeal. The content will be made available via a user-friendly and interactive digital platform, which facilitates self-directed learning and ensures accessibility across different geographical and educational contexts.

The pilot phase will test the programme in each partner country, involving shepherds, livestock farmers, trainers and sustainability experts. This evaluation will collect quantitative and qualitative data through questionnaires, self-assessments, interviews and participant feedback, analysing skills acquisition, engagement, accessibility and the usability of the platform. Based on the results, the partnership will make improvements to the teaching materials and digital tools, ensuring that the programme is scientifically sound and adaptable to different European contexts