[EAAP 2024] Roles, difficulties and needs of advisors in Climate-Smart Farming Transformations : Results from focus groups in 10 different European countries

The European agricultural sector is facing climate change as multiple challenges and is expected to be contributing to reduce Green House Gases emissions, storing carbon in soils and landscape while adapting to a more extreme climate. An important player in these on-going transformations are farm advisors, recognized as key actors in fostering climate-smart innovations and supporting farmers in transitions.

Focus groups with field’s advisors were conducted in 10 different European countries in November / December 2023. The goal was to understand the roles, challenges, tools and advisory approaches of advisors taking into account the specificity of the different contexts.

Despite differences in contexts and AKIS structures, advisors expressed similar views on their role in CSF transitions. Key aspects of their job emerged from the discussion such as the importance of building up a good farmer/advisor relationship, of developing an understanding of the globality of the farm, of involving the farmers in finding relevant measures for the farm and of supporting the farmers in implementing change. On these different aspects, advisors shared good practices, useful tools and advisory approaches but also their difficulties and needs in order to improve their advice. The needs expressed call for action at the level of the AKIS (develop interdisciplinarity, coordinate advice) as well as structural (economical compensation of environmental beneficial actions) and technical levels (develop hands-on description of beneficial CSF practices).