Specialization course on the “Agri-food Quality”

“You have not only formed a group of students; you have formed a generation of entrepreneurs that will serve as a springboard for the agri-food development of our Country.” 

These are the words that the eight Congolese students dedicated us at the end of their Specialization course on the “Agri-food Quality”.

The training program, lasting a total of three months (from September to December 2019), was born from the desire of the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo to develop the Country’s industry and agri-food sector. The FPI (Fond de Promotion de l’Industrie) financed the initiative relying on the experience and skills of Self Globe. It has therefore decided to invest in young students, all selected by the EcoPo University of Lubumbashi, giving ample space to female entrepreneurship. The aim was to give them skills that would enable them to follow the phases of the food chain, from production to the commercialization of the finished product. 

The inauguration ceremony, opened by the speech of the Mayor of Monte San Martino, Matteo Pompeii, took place last October 2019. Self Globe, on that occasion, had the honor to host the Minister of Industry of the DRC, H.E. Julien PALUKU, the FPI delegation with its Director General, H.E. Patrice KITEBI and the DRC Ambassador to Italy. 

During the training period, the eight students were hosted at the Agriturismo “Il Fontanile” in Smerillo (FM), a structure immersed in the magnificent panorama of the Sibillini Mountains, always supported by a competent and helpful staff.

The frontal lessons were held by Italian professors and speakers highly qualified in the field and selected directly by the University of Camerino and La Sapienza University of Rome thanks to the management of Professor Carlo Renieri; the practical activities were held at primary agri-food companies in the area.

Together with the qualified Self Globe staff, each student worked on a personal project for a particular type of food processing system. All the work plans were then presented to the FPI, which will evaluate their possible implementation in the DRC. 

On 13/12/2019, with the delivery of the diplomas, the Course on “Agri-food Quality” was ended and the students, receiving their certificate, obtained the qualification of Technicians and Trainers in the complete management of the quality chain of agri-food products. 

The success of the course and the satisfaction of the participants led the FPI to renew its collaboration with Self Globe, announcing 3 more course sessions for the year 2020-2021, with the aim of training 60 young Congolese.