Legacy of the Soil: Sustainable Agriculture and Safe Food

The Erasmus+ Mobility of Youth Workers project "Legacy of the Soil: Sustainable Agriculture and Safe Food" (Project No. 2024-3-ES02-KA153-YOU-000260774) was implemented in Gijón, Spain, from 28 April to 5 May 2025, under the coordination of Generaciones Saludables España. Bringing together youth workers from Turkey, Spain, Hungary, Poland, and Iceland, the project focused on sustainable agriculture, safe food systems, climate action, and environmental responsibility through non-formal learning. As the Hungarian partner organization, For Renewal Environmental Association actively contributed to the exchange of innovative educational practices while strengthening international cooperation and supporting youth workers in developing new competences for environmental education.

Throughout the mobility, participants explored the connections between sustainable agriculture, food security, climate change, biodiversity, and responsible consumption through a wide range of interactive activities. Rather than relying solely on theoretical presentations, the programme encouraged learning by doing, allowing participants to experience environmental challenges through simulations, creative workshops, outdoor activities, educational games, and collaborative discussions. This practical approach helped transform complex sustainability concepts into meaningful learning experiences that participants could easily adapt to their own youth work practices.

The project placed particular emphasis on developing practical skills alongside environmental awareness. Participants examined topics such as recycling, food waste reduction, ecological living, permaculture, organic farming, and sustainable mobility while taking part in hands-on activities including creative recycling workshops, environmental observation exercises, cycling training, role-playing simulations, and problem-solving tasks. These experiences strengthened creativity, critical thinking, teamwork, leadership, communication, and decision-making skills while encouraging participants to identify sustainable solutions for the environmental challenges faced by their communities.

Intercultural learning was another essential dimension of the mobility. Youth workers exchanged experiences, agricultural traditions, local food cultures, and environmental practices from their respective countries, creating an open space for dialogue and mutual learning. Through collaborative group work and cultural sharing, participants gained a broader understanding of how different communities approach sustainability while building strong international partnerships based on cooperation, inclusion, and shared responsibility.

The project concluded by reinforcing the importance of transferring newly acquired knowledge into future youth work initiatives. Reflection sessions and evaluation activities encouraged participants to assess their personal learning journey, recognise the competences they had developed, and explore practical ways to implement sustainable practices within their organisations and local communities. By combining environmental education, experiential learning, intercultural exchange, and active participation, Legacy of the Soil: Sustainable Agriculture and Safe Food empowered youth workers to become stronger advocates for sustainable development and safe food systems across Europe.