Fab Region Bergisch/Learning Format: Technical Careers of the Future

This learning format introduces young people to controlled-environment agriculture (CEA) using the real Vertical Farm at Gut Einern.

Participants explore how energy, water, nutrients and climate interact in a closed production system.

The program combines hands-on experience, sustainability insights and orientation towards emerging technical and environmental careers.

This learning format supports the Fab Region by:

• teaching practical circular-economy principles through a real technical system
• building workforce capacity for emerging climate- and energy-related professions
• demonstrating sustainable, local and technology-enabled food production
• contributing to an open, shared regional knowledge infrastructure
• strengthening local resilience through education and innovation

Vertical Farming addresses several global and regional challenges: climate change, resource scarcity, food security and the need for circular and localised food production.

At the same time, sectors such as agritech, energy technology, digital facility operation and environmental engineering are experiencing a major shortage of skilled workers.

This learning format is designed to:

• make circular resource flows (water reuse, nutrient cycles, sector coupling) tangible
• expose young people to new technical professions in sustainable production
• build local workforce capacity for future-oriented industries
• demonstrate how sustainability, technology and climate resilience intersect

• Understand how a Vertical Farm functions (LED lighting, climate control, irrigation, nutrients).
• Analyse circular resource flows (water, nutrients, energy) and apply principles of the circular economy.
• Interpret environmental sensor data (temperature, humidity, EC, pH, light).
• Gain hands-on experience in a real automated plant-production environment.
• Discover future job opportunities in agritech, climate engineering, energy systems and controlled-environment agriculture.

Students grade 9 and above,

interested in:

– STEM

– sustainability

– environment

– agritech

– climate & energy systems

– technical system operation

No prior technical knowledge required.

(PB: Beschreibung)

Elements	Input
Total duration	4 days (4 × 4 hours, 10:00–14:00)
Format	On-site (Vertical Farm + learning space)
Number of participants	6–12 participants

• Vertical Farm container / CEA system
• LED lighting system
• Climate-control units
• Irrigation & nutrient delivery system
• Environmental meters (thermo-hygrometer, EC/pH meters)
• Protective equipment

• Water & nutrient solution
• Cleaning materials
• Plant material (optional)

• Monitoring dashboard
• Tablets or laptops
• Simple data-logging tools

Phase 1 – Introduction & System Exploration

Participants are introduced to the Vertical Farm, explore the nursery, growth walls and harvest area, and learn how light, water, nutrients and climate interact.

Phase 2 – Resource Cycles & Sensor Data

Students analyse circular flows of water, nutrients and energy, and interpret sensor data (temperature, humidity, EC, pH, light).

Discussion of sustainability, energy demand and sector coupling.

Phase 3 – Practical Tasks & Career Orientation

Hands-on activities in small groups:

plant inspection, climate observation, basic hygiene understanding.

Short group presentations on observations, sustainability and future professions.

Short-term results:

• Practical understanding of CEA systems
• Observation sheets / data documentation
• Awareness of circular resource flows
• First insights into climate-related and technical career fields

Long-term potential:

• Supports regional workforce development in agritech, energy & climate systems
• Strengthens circular-economy literacy
• Enhances Fab Region’s capacity for sustainable local production
• Builds foundational competencies for future green industries

• Group size limited by safety and hygiene requirements
• Participants often underestimate the technical complexity of circular systems
• Engagement increases significantly when theory is connected to hands-on work
• Strong interest arises when sustainability and technology are linked to real jobs

Participants can:

• join advanced STEM and sustainability workshops,
• explore other Fab Region learning formats (sensor technology, permaculture, energy systems),
• participate in school STEM clubs or youth climate initiatives.

tbd

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