Training is vital to stay up to date in the agricultural industry

Winter is here and, at Trecoop, our farmers and technicians are taking the opportunity to receive training during this period of low activity.

In our industry, technology is continuously evolving, varietal innovation is constant, crop health is becoming increasingly more complicated due to restrictions on the use of phytosanitary products, and customers are becoming more demanding in all respects. That’s why it’s so important to train the entire production team and ensure they are aware of new information.

Our training plan is based on:

• Training and updates via our technicians: in recent years this process has increased through the use of new technologies such as WhatsApp and email. Occasionally our technical staff also hold talks with farmers on different aspects related to crop health, fertilization, etc.

• External agricultural training: at Trecoop we organize talks with leading external technical experts in the fields of crop health and the development of different varieties. We also organize visits with our farmers to leading facilities such as the Institute of Agrifood Research and Technology (IRTA).

• Formación exigida por cambios en legislación, requisitos de clientes o de certificaciones de calidad: básicamente una formación en riesgos laborales a los trabajadores contratados por los agricultores a través de una empresa externa, como marca la ley. Así como formación en primeros auxilios a los agricultores titulares de la explotación; formación en normas de higiene y riesgos laborales a los trabajadores de central, cursos de producción integrada de frutales, cursos de poda, cursos de obtención del carnet de aplicador de fitosanitarios, etc.

• Training required due to changes in legislation, our customers’ requirements or quality certification: essentially, training in occupational health and safety (as required by law) for workers employed by our farmers through an outside company. Also, first-aid training for farm managers; training in hygiene and occupational health and safety for workers at our facilities; courses on integrated fruit production; courses on pruning; courses to acquire a licence to apply phytosanitary products and more.

In addition to the above, our full-time employees receive continuous training (via online and classroom courses) in the areas of management, sales, production and administration, and in technical and other fields. We also offer farmers advice if they wish to complete their training through online or classroom courses, particularly younger farmers who are new to the industry.

All of these activities combine to make up the Trecoop Fruites Training Plan, which forms part of our quality-management system.

Xavi Escario and Carmen Colom
Technical Department, Trecoop Fruites