A newly published brochure offers the first comprehensive look at ten years of cooperation between the Netherlands and Romania in agricultural and green education, highlighting how a shared commitment to future-proof learning has strengthened institutions, empowered students and helped address pressing rural and environmental challenges.

Download Bridging Borders: Together for Green Education 

Developed with the support of the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature and Romania’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the brochure documents a rich array of joint initiatives that have connected vocational and academic institutions, teachers, students, businesses, NGOs and government partners. Through knowledge-sharing, co-creation and practical exchange, the collaboration has contributed to more resilient and practice-oriented programmes designed to equip the next generation of farmers and food professionals with the skills needed in a rapidly changing world.

Sophie Neve, the Agricultural Counsellor at the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Bucharest emphasised the “creativity and determination” that have carried the network through recent challenges. She also highlights the vital role of soft power in addressing shared issues such as climate change and sustainable food production, praising the growing connections that now allow partners to connect across borders.

Over the years, the partnership expanded beyond its initial ambitions. The Green Table has a unifying role, enabling educational institutes at all levels to work alongside Romanian partners and stakeholders to develop a wide range of activities, some of which are now publicly available through the AGRIEDU Portal. While the collaboration’s core remains in agriculture and food, the broader Dutch green education domain also spans biodiversity, fisheries, and nature restoration, all areas offering promising opportunities for future cooperation.

Over the years, the partnership evolved from two sides of a metaphorical bridge into a mature, trust-based network capable of transforming obstacles into opportunities. Differences in systems, languages and resources became drivers of innovation, activating students, teachers and authorities alike in pursuit of a greener, more sustainable future.

Bridging Borders brings to life a decade-long journey of mutual learning and shared purpose: one that has already delivered tangible impact while planting the seeds for further progress. As the brochure emphasises, education is fundamental to making rural areas vibrant, resilient and full of opportunity. The hope is that this publication will inspire continued collaboration and new initiatives in the years ahead.