A retrospective on the two-day interactive training for rural consultants from the Partium region in Romania as a part of i2connect international training series.

Hungarian Chamber of Agriculture (NAK) in collaboration with Széchenyi István University (SZE) hosted a two-day interactive innovation training in Szatmárnémeti on 11-12 June 2024 for 16 rural advisors from the Partium region, as part of the i2connect project's international training series. They explored questions like "What is the relationship between innovation and networking?" and "How can existing agricultural skills be further developed?"

At the beginning of the year, Ágnes Jakab (NAK) and Dr. András Vér (SZE), the Hungarian trainers for the i2connect project, were invited by the consortium leader, (APCA), to conduct a training session in Romania. As Romania, an indirect partner in i2connect, lacked its own trainer, NAK and SZE willingly provided Hungarian-language training for rural consultants from the Partium region.

The i2connect Horizon2020 project is one of the largest consultant support projects of the European Union, with the participation of around 42 organizations, involving 21 countries directly and 8 countries indirectly in encouraging innovation in rural areas.

The aim of the project is to connect agricultural consultants and foresters across Europe, while strengthening the competence of advisors who support and facilitate interactive innovation processes. The strategy of i2connect is to make the existing consulting networks and good practices widely available by supporting grassroots innovation by sharing best practices and developing consultant skills to improve farmer relationships and communication, ultimately aiding in the effective implementation of innovations. This resource of over 40,000 consultants is critical to supporting farmers on the ground.

The group of "soft skills" trainers, comprising approximately 60 trainers from 21 countries, participated in the i2connect project to enhance the attitudes and capabilities of consultants. They focused on creating a supportive environment, improving relationships and communication with farmers, and building trust. This approach aids interactive innovation processes, facilitating more effective implementation and integration of innovations. By fostering these skills, trainers help ensure that consultants are better equipped to support agricultural advancements and innovation within their communities.

Feedback indicated that the two-day training was highly beneficial for both participants and trainers.