Sustainable Agriculture, Livestock Farming and Biodiversity Conservation in Seychelles

GreenTraINT partners a Immersive Parks – Parco Natira Viva (Bussolengo, Verona)

Training professionals capable of cultivating, breeding, and preserving the biodiversity of the Seychelles while promoting sustainable development and fostering food and economic independence is the core mission of the Erasmus+ GreenTraINT project—Green Training International Program for Agriculture, Livestock Farming, and Conservation (https://greentraint.eu/)—coordinated by the University of Bologna. This project marks a significant step toward a more sustainable and interconnected economy, recognizing the vital role of small-scale farmers as guardians of biodiversity.

Currently, the Seychelles imports over 90% of the food needed to meet domestic demand, making the nation’s food security particularly fragile. Through GreenTraINT, new university training programs will be developed to generate a concrete and lasting impact on the country’s agricultural and livestock systems, emphasizing the farmers' role in preserving biodiversity—one of the nation’s primary resources. With 48.2% of its land already under protection, the Seychelles archipelago’s ecosystems are home to unique animal and plant species, making their conservation an absolute priority.

The project’s goals will be achieved through collaboration between European academic and institutional partners (Coburg University of Applied Sciences, Germany; Immersive Parks - Parco Natura Viva, Italy) and local partners (University of Seychelles; Seychelles Institute of Agriculture and Horticulture; Seychelles Parks and Gardens Authority), combining academic rigor with field experience. Additionally, the project includes awareness-raising activities to promote a greater understanding of food security and environmental sustainability issues.

GreenTraInt meeting at Sala del Camino, Palazzina della Viola, University of Bologna

 In 2026, a Summer School will be held for students and teachers, offering an educational program that blends theory and practice to tackle sustainability challenges. This training initiative will be strengthened by an extensive exchange program between faculty members from Seychellois universities and their counterparts at the University of Bologna and Coburg University, enriched by company visits aimed at developing practical skills.

Funded by the Erasmus+ Capacity Building for Higher Education program, this two-year project is coordinated by Professor Paola Mattarelli and involves Professors Maria Luisa Dindo, Francesco Spinelli, Paolo Trevisi, Lorenzo Barbanti, and Francesco Orsini from the Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences at the University of Bologna. The project officially kicked off with an inaugural meeting held in Bologna on March 13-14, 2025, followed by a field day at Immersive Parks – Parco Natura Viva on March 15, where participants attended a mobile lecture on biodiversity conservation projects conducted by Dr. Camillo Sandri, zoological director and veterinarian, and Dr. Caterina Spiezio, psychobiologist and head of research and conservation. Representatives from all partner institutions took part in the kickoff meeting.