Public University of Navarra (UPNA) has opened the application period to study the Erasmus Mundus Master’s degree in Cutting-Edge Technologies for Sustainable Agriculture (SUSTAGRI) in academic year 2025-2026. This is the first postgraduate programme of its kind in which UPNA is involved, and it is also the coordinating institution. It will allow the 30 students admitted in each edition (two of whom will be from Spain) to obtain a degree from UPNA, Agricultural University of Athens (Greece) and University of Tras-os Montes and Alto Douro (Portugal). 
 

The programme lasts for two years (four terms) and is worth 120 credits, with in-person teaching. All information about the entry requirements and application deadlines can be found on the university's website, where on-line pre-registration is also available. The Master's programme is entirely taught in English.

The main objective of the SUSTAGRI Master's programme, funded by the European Union with €4.7 million, is to train professionals in the most advanced technologies and methodologies that can be applied to improve the environmental, economic, and social sustainability of agriculture. Upon completing the Master's degree, graduates will be able to effectively apply these cutting-edge technologies to daily operational tasks on farms, making them more sustainable and competitive. They will also be equipped to provide support and advice to farmers on the implementation of smart agricultural systems, advise on reducing the environmental impact of agricultural activities, or pursue a career in basic or applied research within industry or academia, with the possibility of furthering their studies through a doctoral degree. The Master’s degree academic head is Professor in Agroforestry Engineering Javier Casalí Sarasíbar, member of UPNA's IS-FOOD research institute.

Students at UPNA.

Content and International Collaboration

The Master's programme is divided into three distinct content blocks, each worth 30 credits, in addition to the credits for the End-of-Master’s-degree project (TFM). The first 30 credits, focusing on the technological foundations for agricultural sustainability, are taught at UPNA’s School of Agricultural Engineering and Biosciences. The next 30 credits are dedicated to precision agriculture for sustainable crop production, and the following 30 credits, centred on efficient water use and smart irrigation, will be taught at the Agricultural University of Athens. In all cases, project-based learning and case study analysis will be used as methodologies. Finally, the End-of-Master’s-degree project (TFM), also worth 30 credits, will be carried out at one of the partner universities or associated institutions. 

The SUSTAGRI Master's degree also aims to foster interaction and integration with the productive, business, and institutional systems linked to agriculture in the areas where it is taught. Additionally, it involves leading universities and research centres located in Europe and the United States. 

Erasmus Mundus 

The Erasmus Mundus Action of the Erasmus Programme  supports transnational, integrated, high-level Master's study programmes delivered by an international consortium of higher education institutions from different countries around the world. These are excellence programmes that aim to contribute to the integration and internationalisation of the European Higher Education Area. They include mandatory physical mobility for all enrolled students and offer an ambitious grant system, providing €1,400 per month to attract top students from around the world. 

When drafting the SUSTAGRI proposal, UPNA was supported by Government of Navarre’s Department of Universities.