The BIOSHIELD project was presented at the AgroReS 2026 Congress in Trebinje, with a contribution entitled “Plant Microbiome for Climate-Smart Agriculture: Integrating Blended Learning and Design Thinking in Higher Education.” The presentation highlighted the project’s innovative educational approach and, in particular, Module 3 – From Micro to Macro: Soil Microbiome for Climate-Smart Farming, which integrates soil microbiology, agronomy and GIS. The presentation was followed by a lively discussion and positive feedback on the work carried out within BIOSHIELD.
Particular interest was expressed in the combination of blended learning and Design Thinking in biotechnology education. The discussion also highlighted that student-centred and problem-based approaches require a different and often more demanding engagement from both teachers and students, especially when students are less familiar with active learning methods. At the same time, these approaches were recognised as valuable for encouraging interdisciplinary thinking, active participation and the application of biotechnology knowledge to real-world climate and agricultural challenges.