The SUCSEED Digital Guidebook is one of the main intellectual outputs of the project, created to provide vocational education and training (VET) professionals with accessible, up-to-date knowledge on modern seed production and new plant breeding techniques (NPBTs). It serves as an interactive and comprehensive learning resource designed to bridge the gap between theoretical education and practical agricultural innovation. The guidebook focuses on sustainable and climate-smart approaches to plant breeding, helping educators, learners, and agricultural professionals understand how biotechnological advances can contribute to food security, rural development, and environmental protection.
The main purpose of the Digital Guidebook is to support VET educators and agri-food experts in developing new technical and digital competences related to seed science, molecular technologies, and the use of NPBTs. By compiling the most relevant scientific information, practical experiences, and examples of good practice, it aims to strengthen the professional capacity of those who play a key role in promoting sustainable agriculture across Europe. Each chapter of the guidebook combines theory and practice, offering research-based content, field examples, video links, and self-evaluation questions that encourage active learning and reflection.
The guidebook consists of seven chapters that cover a broad range of topics including the introduction to NPBTs and quality seed production, the role of genetic diversity in plant breeding, molecular and DNA-based technologies, tissue culture methods for resistant seed production, gene transfer and CRISPR-Cas9 technology, good seed criteria and laboratory testing, and the European Union’s programs for fair, digital, and resilient agriculture. This structure ensures that users gain both scientific understanding and hands-on insight into modern plant breeding processes.
The SUCSEED Digital Guidebook is intended primarily for VET trainers, teachers, and students working in agricultural and environmental education, as well as for agri-food counselors, local authorities, and biotechnology professionals. It is also valuable for private sector stakeholders, including seed companies and agricultural innovators who wish to integrate sustainable and digital tools into their operations. As an open-access digital publication, it allows users to learn at their own pace and to apply the materials directly within their educational or professional contexts.
Overall, the Digital Guidebook embodies SUCSEED’s mission to modernize vocational agricultural education through digital transformation and knowledge sharing. By combining academic knowledge, practical examples, and European cooperation, it promotes innovation, sustainability, and climate resilience in agriculture, empowering a new generation of professionals to lead the transition toward a greener and more secure food system.