GREEN

Students and Teachers Build Smart Plant-Monitoring Systems in the Netherlands

From 5 to 9 October 2026, students and teachers from Portugal, Türkiye, Iceland, Croatia and the Netherlands gathered in Roermond for the Second Green Connection Training, organised within the Erasmus+ project GREEN Revolution (2025-1-HR01-KA220-VET-000353056). Hosted by Stichting Onderwijs Midden-Limburg (SOML), with activities delivered by Wings Agora Roermond, the training brought international teams together to explore how technology can support more efficient and sustainable plant growing.

Learning by doing: IoT meets vertical farming

The main objective of the training was to develop a working plant-monitoring and automation prototype. Working in mixed international teams, students and teachers combined a Raspberry Pi running Home Assistant with ESP8266 microcontrollers and sensors measuring temperature, humidity, light and soil moisture. They also integrated a 12 V water valve to enable automated watering.

Throughout the week, participants worked in practical workshops, learning how to connect hardware, configure sensors, collect data and create automations. They gradually developed their systems, tested individual components and integrated them into a functional solution. Each team also documented its work and prepared a live demonstration of the finished prototype.

The programme followed a hands-on approach, with daily team meetings helping participants review their progress, divide responsibilities and solve technical problems together.

Connecting technology with real-world applications

The programme extended beyond the workshop. On Monday, participants visited Botany B.V. at Brightlands Campus Greenport Venlo, where they explored innovations in vertical farming and learned how lighting and climate control are applied in modern crop production.

On Wednesday, a practical biology workshop at Wings Agora connected the technical work with plant growth requirements. Participants explored how much light different crops need, how long they take to reach harvest and how energy consumption relates to growing conditions. The resulting insights helped teams define threshold values for their automated systems.

These activities demonstrated how knowledge of electronics, programming, sensors and automation can be applied to real challenges in agriculture and sustainable food production.

Sharing educational practices across Europe

Alongside the technical workshops, teachers exchanged experiences from their national education systems. Discussions covered IoT and computer science education in the Netherlands, different approaches to technical and vocational learning, educational software and the use of artificial intelligence in technical education.

Each partner also presented how the GREEN project materials and microcontroller activities could fit into its own curriculum. This exchange will contribute to the partners’ implementation planning and support the further integration of project results into vocational education and training.

The programme also included a guided visit to Fort Eben-Emael in Belgium, offering participants an opportunity to discover a significant historical site and strengthen connections beyond the classroom.

From prototypes to greener learning environments

On Friday, the international teams presented their prototypes and demonstrated how their systems worked. The expected results included sensor monitoring, a water valve, automated functions and a dashboard bringing the system’s information together.

The prototypes are taken back by the partner organisations and will be used with the vertical gardens developed. They will also provide a starting point for the next stage of the GREEN project.

The Second Green Connection Training showed how international cooperation and practical, project-based learning can connect technical education with sustainability. By working together on a real application, students developed their technical skills, problem-solving abilities and teamwork, while teachers explored new ways to bring IoT and green technologies into vocational education.

The training concluded with evaluation activities, certificates and a farewell, marking another step forward in the partners’ shared work towards greener and more connected learning environments.

A group of students engaged in a study session, with one girl on her phone, while another boy types on a laptop. Papers and learning materials are spread out on a wooden table.
A group of students collaborates in a workshop environment, working on computers and discussing projects, with educational materials visible in the background.
A group of students seated in a modern classroom, listening to instructors at the front, with large windows providing natural light and greenery outside.
A busy open workspace with several people working at computers and tables, showcasing a collaborative environment with various project materials and equipment.
An indoor plant growth area with rows of seed trays under LED grow lights, featuring a group of people observing and learning from a presenter.
Interior view of a modern building with a colorful mural featuring various shapes and text, people interacting and working at tables, and a staircase in the background.
A white statue of a winged figure stands prominently on a bright yellow floor in a modern architectural space with large windows and artistic decor.
A creative display of stacked books forming an archway in a modern library with a red floor, surrounded by bookshelves.
A metallic sculpture of a woman in a dress, holding a globe representing Earth, surrounded by country flags and futuristic lockers in a modern indoor space.

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