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Join our free, comprehensive online training programme in Controlled Environment Agriculture. Gain industry-recognized certification and prepare for a career in sustainable food production—now expanding to multiple languages across the EU.
Ready to master the future of agriculture? The PONICS VET Expanded Erasmus+ project, led by FarmTech Society and its partners, offers a comprehensive online course for aspiring Hydroponic Technicians. This free programme provides practical knowledge in controlled-environment agriculture (CEA), equipping you with the skills needed to succeed in Europe's fast-growing sustainable farming sector.
Course Overview
Our online training covers the full spectrum of modern hydroponic farming, from plant physiology to digital farm management. Developed by industry experts from Festo Didactic (Germany), Delphy (Netherlands), FarmTech Society (Belgium), and Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies, the curriculum is aligned with the ECVET framework, ensuring quality and recognition across the European Union.
What You Will Learn
Coming Soon: Multilingual Access
We are excited to announce that the PONICS VET course will soon be available in multiple languages, making professional hydroponic training accessible to learners across the European Union. Stay tuned for updates on language availability.
Hear from Our Learners
Don't just take our word for it. Here's what recent graduates are saying about their experience with the PONICS VET Hydroponic Technician course:
"Hydroponics isn't the hard part. Decision-making is."
I took the PonicsVet course because I was tired of hydroponics being treated like a "cool tech trend" instead of what it really is: a production system with real constraints, real costs, and real consequences. I wanted a framework I could actually use.
The biggest surprise was how structured and immediately applicable the course felt. A lot of programs talk about "systems thinking," but PonicsVet actually forces it. The course kept pulling me back to fundamentals: What are you producing, for whom, and to what spec? Which system design fits that target best?
The curriculum is genuinely the strong point, because it's not a single-lens course. It's a toolbox. If you're a grower, aspiring grower, or someone moving into controlled environment agriculture (CEA), this course gives you a real foundation.
🎓 Officially completed – Hydroponic Technician Training 🌱
I am pleased to share that I have successfully completed the Hydroponic Technician training program as part of a European Union-funded vocational education project focused on Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA).
The training content covered everything from modern agriculture challenges and hydroponics as a sustainable solution, to automation readiness, energy optimization, EU agricultural regulations, plant physiology, digital farm management, and IPM strategies.
This training represents a solid step forward in my professional journey within hydroponics, CEA systems, environmental control, and high-tech farm operations, fully aligned with European Union standards and Erasmus Plus guidelines.
I'm proud to share that I've successfully completed the PONICS VET – Hydroponic Technician course 🎓🌱.
This learning journey has equipped me with practical knowledge of hydroponic systems, controlled-environment agriculture (CEA), sustainability, and digital farming technologies, preparing me to confidently step into the vertical farming and AgTech industry.
A sincere thank you to FarmTech Society, the Ponics VET Erasmus+ Project, and Thomas Zoellner for the guidance, moderation, and commitment to building future-ready skills in agriculture.
Happy and proud to be part of this amazing program! Thank you to the Ponics VET team for the opportunity and support.
Golia also had the opportunity to visit Infinite Acres, a cutting-edge vertical farm research facility in The Hague, as part of the learning experience.
Controlled Environment Agriculture resonates in many different contexts. From greenhouses to vertical farms. The one message that constitutes all is food security!
Thanks to FarmTech Society and Thomas Zoellner for the opportunity to have an awe inspiring experience at Infinite Acres; a cutting edge vertical farm research facility in The Hague. Your work pioneers a future where food for all continues to become a tangible reality!
Who Can Enroll
The PONICS VET course is open to anyone interested in building a career in sustainable agriculture and controlled-environment farming. Whether you're a recent graduate, career changer, or agricultural professional looking to upskill, this programme provides the foundation you need. A basic understanding of English is recommended for the current course materials.
Get Started Today
Ready to become a certified Hydroponic Technician? Visit www.ponicsvet.org to access the free course materials and begin your journey toward a rewarding career in sustainable food production.
In line with our goal of providing inclusive training opportunities, we encourage people of all backgrounds to apply.
Join the PONICS VET Expanded Erasmus+ Final Conference on December 18th, 2025, in Brussels as a satellite event of EU AgriFood Days. Discover the pioneering Hydroponics Technician course, engage with industry leaders, and explore pathways for green skills in controlled-environment agriculture (CEA).
Ready to witness the future of vocational training in sustainable agriculture? The PONICS VET Expanded Erasmus+ project, led by FarmTech Society, culminates in this conference showcasing the first industry-validated, free 30-hour online Hydroponic Technician course. Attendees will experience project outcomes, learner successes, and discussions bridging policy, education, and market needs in Europe's agri-skills gap.
Event structure and location
The conference runs from 08:30 to 12:00 at City Box Hotel, Rue Dejoncker 53, 1060 Bruxelles, Belgium. The agenda features a keynote by Tiffany Tsui, panel discussion on VET in agriculture moderated by FarmTech Society with panelists Els Berckmoes, Reinhard Pittchellis, Badra Lo, and Tiffany Tsui, learner network introductions, awards ceremony, and ample networking during coffee breaks. Funded by Erasmus+ through the European Union, registration is open directly via the event link.
[1]Key highlights you will experience
Immerse in presentations on course impacts, verified learner data, and AI-enhanced training solutions. Collaborate with project partners, AgTech suppliers, and graduates entering the CEA workforce. Gain insights into integrating open-source curricula into national VET systems for digitalization and sustainability goals under the CAP.
Conference agenda
What this means for participants
Whether you're a farmer facing labor shortages, AgTech innovator, policy maker, or educator, this event offers actionable insights. Farmers and associations gain access to trained talent; tech companies see workforce upskilling solutions; regulators learn about income gaps and green pathways. All benefit from networking with consortium members and shaping CEA training standards.
Who should attend
Open to farmers, agriculture associations, AgTech companies, EU labor regulators, and VET professionals tackling skills shortages in CEA. English proficiency aids technical discussions. Register now with a simple form submission—spaces are limited for this pivotal event advancing Europe's resilient food systems.
In line with inclusive EU goals, the conference welcomes diverse backgrounds to foster broad agri-innovation.
Join a partially funded, 120-hour training programme in Europe’s established hydroponic farms. Build practical skills, gain real-world insight, and kick-start your path towards a stable career in resilient agriculture.
Are you keen to develop cutting-edge skills in controlled-environment agriculture (CEA), all while getting first-hand experience with future-proof hydroponic farms? The Ponics VET Expanded Erasmus+ project, led by FarmTech Society and its partners, is offering an intensive internship programme for learners who graduate from our free online course HYDROPONIC TECHNICIAN. These placements aim to build real-world expertise, harnessing your newly acquired knowledge in a commercial setting and helping you become a strong candidate in the fast-growing field of sustainable food production.
Programme structure and location
Interns complete at least 120 hours of hands-on training at various CEA hubs in Belgium and the Netherlands. Most sites focus on crops such as tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, and lettuce, and use state-of-the-art hydroponic systems that rely on automation, digital controls, and resource-efficient technologies. To make sure participants are supported, the programme provides travel and subsistence allowances through Erasmus+ funding, allowing you to concentrate on your development.
Skills you will practice and refine
During your internship, you will be immersed in routine farm operations, assisting with tasks that range from water and nutrient management to pest control and hygiene protocols. These day-to-day responsibilities will deepen your familiarity with plant biology and cultivation systems, and encourage you to collaborate closely with experienced teams. In the course of your training, you will explore digital tools such as IoT sensors, data dashboards, and robotics, as well as best practices for energy and resource management.
What you will learn
What this means for host companies
Although our invitation is aimed at learners, the CEA farms who host these interns benefit just as much. By welcoming participants who already possess a solid grounding in hydroponics, companies can:
Who can apply
To join this programme, you must have successfully completed the PONICS VET Expanded free online course and be eager to put your newly acquired theory into action. A B2 level (or equivalent) of English or Dutch is strongly recommended, as many hosting organisations use English for technical discussions. The willingness to commit to full-time placement hours in a commercial environment is also essential.
If you are ready to take your CEA knowledge to the next level, send us your CV and a short cover letter describing your motivation and areas of interest. Our team will match successful applicants with suitable host companies, and we encourage people of all backgrounds to apply.
In line with our goal of providing inclusive training opportunities, we encourage people from all backgrounds to apply.
