Christmas greetings!

As we reach the end of 2025, we celebrate another vibrant year for EUFRAS — a year marked by collaboration, outreach, and a renewed commitment to strengthening rural advisory services across Europe and beyond.

Building on the mission set by our founders, we worked actively to:

• Keep our members informed through social media, website updates, and the launch of our first quarterly newsletter;

• Deliver 9 EUFRAS Coffee Breaks, engaging over 600 advisors across 42 countries, and sharing insights from European projects and Horizon Europe opportunities;

• Launch the Young EUFRAS Training Programme 2026–27, featuring CECRA advisory method courses with integrated certification;

• Contribute to the OECD Farm-Level Analysis Network meeting in Paris, with a presentation on advisory knowledge challenges in discussions on farm performance and sustainability;

• Develop and present the joint EUFRAS–IALB–SEASN position paper on the role of rural advisors, at the June 2025 Annual Conference in Brussels, highlighting the strategic importance of robust advisory systems in Europe;

• Conduct, together with IALB and SEASN, a Europe-wide survey to map public and private agricultural advisory services — a key step toward understanding system diversity, identifying gaps, and supporting future advocacy.

We are now proud to count 56 members across 30 countries, a clear reflection of the growing strength and relevance of our network.

Looking ahead, we aim to be even more engaged and visible. We will continue supporting the capacity-building of rural advisors, sharing knowledge emerging from European research and innovation, and positioning our members at the forefront of this transformation.

At the same time, we will work to ensure that the crucial role of strong, well-supported advisory systems is clearly recognized within EU policy debates — especially considering the current geopolitical instability and the complex challenges facing the agricultural sector.

This journey is only possible thanks to the dedication of our staff, the commitment of the EUFRAS Board, and the ongoing trust, engagement, and collaboration of all of you — our members, advisors, and partners.

Dear EUFRAS Members, Advisors, Partners, and Friends

Wishing you a peaceful holiday season and a 2026 filled with knowledge, connection, and meaningful advisory work!

Rui Almeida

EUFRAS Chairman of the Board