International Innovation Camp under the ATVENTURE project held at the Agricultural University – Plovdiv

From 28 September to 5 October 2026, the Agricultural University – Plovdiv hosted an international innovation camp under the ATVENTURE project, 101234924-1-ERASMUS-EDU-2025-CBHE, co-funded by the European Union’s Erasmus+ Programme.

The first day of the innovation camp began with a welcome address to the participants by Prof. Dimo Atanasov, PhD, Vice-Rector for Scientific and International activities at the Agricultural University – Plovdiv. He welcomed the lecturers and students and expressed his expectations for further expanding cooperation with partner institutions from South Africa.

                          

The project coordinator, Regina Krause, encouraged the participants to actively discuss ideas, experiment and work as a team, while also reminding the students of the upcoming tasks, which would require clarity, decision-making and in-depth discussions.

                          

The initiative brought together students from the Agricultural University – Plovdiv, Wismar University of Applied Sciences (Germany), the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (South Africa), and Stellenbosch University (South Africa). Five international teams were formed, comprising eight students from the Agricultural University – Plovdiv, three students from Germany, and five students from South Africa.

The main objective of the innovation camp was for the students to develop concept projects supporting the establishment of an incubator for small-scale farmers in Lynedoch, South Africa. The projects aim to help the local community and small-scale farmers integrate into the economy, as well as develop new markets through agrotourism and sustainable agricultural practices.

The programme combined practical project work with visits and meetings related to Bulgarian agriculture, culture and traditions. The participants visited the Agricultural University’s experimental site and winery in the village of Brestnik, agricultural holdings in the Plovdiv region, as well as cultural and historical sites in Plovdiv, Staro Zhelezare and Starosel.

On the final day, the student teams presented their projects to a jury chaired by Prof. Dimo Atanasov, PhD, with Assoc. Prof. Dobri Dunchеv, PhD, and Pencho Malinov, PhD, as members. The projects were evaluated according to criteria related to innovation, sustainability, feasibility and social impact, and the best team was awarded a prize.

The camp provided students with an opportunity to apply their knowledge in a real-world context and develop skills in working in an international environment, entrepreneurship, creative problem-solving and teamwork.

In parallel with the innovation camp, the Agricultural University – Plovdiv also hosted a consortium meeting under the ATVENTURE project, during which the partner institutions discussed the implementation of the project and the next stages of international cooperation. The Agricultural University – Plovdiv was represented at the meeting by Prof. Violeta Dirimanova, PhD, and Assoc. Prof. Teodora Stoeva, PhD. The partner institutions were represented by Regina Krause, project coordinator from Wismar University of Applied Sciences, Germany; Dr Leanne Seeliger from Stellenbosch University, South Africa; Dr Aart-Jan Verschoor from a research centre in Pretoria, South Africa; and Prof. Bongani Ncube, PhD, from the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, South Africa.

The participation of the Agricultural University – Plovdiv in ATVENTURE is part of the University’s efforts to develop international partnerships, practical education and innovation in agriculture by connecting academic knowledge with the real needs of farmers and local communities.