Our first ValueLinks for Agrifood Systems (VL4AFS) training took place very successfully in Oestrich-Winkel, Germany, in October 2024. 17 participants, all experts in value chain promotion, nutrition and food policy, contributed to it. We introduced a new concept and tools to support change agents in agrifood systems. The new seminar in June 2025 will be a further milestone for rolling out the advanced ValueLinks for Agrifood Systems approach.
ValueLinks for Agrifood Systems:
- Unites the perspectives on food security, nutrition, environment and economic development under one roof
- Combines approaches to transformation with the practical promotion of value chains
- Focuses on change agents and transformative initiatives.
Benefits for users are:
- A versatile methodology that you can customize to challenging situations of agrifood systems
- Holistic, yet simple, tried and tested tools
- Structured analysis with and conducive transformative actions of stakeholders.
Organiser
The seminar is organised by IDC Unternehmensberatung GmbH in Aachen, Germany. IDC runs ValueLinks training seminars regularly in different countries since 2008 and has already organised or co-facilitated more than 150 ValueLinks Introductory Training and Training-of-Trainers seminars.
Participants
The training seminar is intended to serve consultants, planners and practitioners at development agencies, consulting firms, government organizations and business associations.
Main contents of the VL4AFS training seminar
The seminar gives participants a profound introduction into the concept of agrifood systems transformation and the VL4AFS methodology. The training follows an interactive method, in which the presentation of concepts, facts and methodology alternates with exercises to apply hands-on tools and know-how to concrete cases in working group sessions.
In particular, the training covers the following subjects:
- The scope of agrifood systems transformation
- Selecting agrifood systems and high potential value chains
- Structural, environmental, social and economic analysis of agrifood systems
- Developing a transformation strategy
- Process design for getting transformative action underway
- Introducing ecological and social business models
- Facilitating reliable and fair horizontal and vertical business linkages
- Promoting innovative services
- Strengthening finance and insurance arrangements
- Ensuring supply of healthy food and introducing standards
- Contributing to favorable policies and institutions.
Training Material
Participants will receive a seminar binder and the complete set of the presentations and additional information on the transformation of agrifood systems online.
Venue, duration and number of participants
The seminar will take place at the Naeglers’ Hotel in Oestrich-Winkel, https://www.naeglers-hotel.de/, at the river Rhine, some 50 km from Frankfurt, for the duration of 4.5-days and is limited to a maximum number of 25 participants.
Language
The seminar language will be English.
Trainers
The seminar will be facilitated by three experienced ValueLinks trainers and founding members of the ValueLinks Association: Andreas Springer-Heinze, Alfons Eiligmann and Annemarie Matthess.
Registration and Fees
Training fees are 1,450 € (plus 19% VAT) per person without accommodation if you register before May 15, 2025. After May 15, a training fee of 1,650 € (plus 19% VAT) will be applied. A reduced participation fee is available for ValueLinks Association members under the condition of existing membership by January 1, 2025.
