EUFRAS COFFEE Break: "From Talk to Transformation - the ClimateSmartAdvisors way"" / video

The Europe-wide ClimateSmartAdvisors project helps agricultural advisors prepare for the challenges posed by climate change. During the November EUFRAS Coffee Break event, experts introduced the project’s approach, key themes, and the wide range of opportunities it offers to advisors across Europe.

HORIZON EUROPECLIMATESMARTADVISORSCOFFEE BREAK

12/2/20252 min read

The November EUFRAS Coffee Break event “From Talk to Transformation – the ClimateSmartAdvisory Way” took place in collaboration with the ClimateSmartAdvisors project under the Horizon Europe programme. The event was moderated by Anita Dzelme, who welcomed participants and introduced the project team: Lies Debruyne and Laure Triste from ILVO, Kevin Collins from the Open University, and Annelie Bernhart from FÜAK.

More than 70 participants from 24 countries had registered for the event.

Why focus on this project? Because agricultural advisors are increasingly facing challenges posed by climate change, and EUFRAS aims to provide farmers with high-quality support while staying ahead of emerging issues. The Climate Smart Advisors project offers precisely this approach. During the session, participants explored the project’s methods, activities, and opportunities, including ways its outputs can be accessed even by those not directly involved in the project.

The project itself is large-scale and spans seven years, involving 75 organizations across 27 European countries. Its goal is to mobilize the European agricultural advisory community to help farmers more quickly adopt climate-smart practices. Work covers both climate change mitigation and adaptation, structured across 12 thematic areas, each led by a thematic leader and supported by knowledge-sharing platforms.

It was highlighted that climate change represents a complex “wicked problem,” meaning that advisors need not only technical expertise but also methodological skills — systems thinking, co-creation, and group facilitation. These competencies are strengthened through active collaboration networks, especially Communities of Practice, which form a central part of the project.

The project operates on multiple levels: local and regional advisor groups focus on specific topics and connect to national climate-smart farming networks, collaborating with farmers, researchers, policymakers, and other key actors. Additionally, a network of 12 thematic leaders facilitates international knowledge exchange and links with other initiatives and sister projects.

Key activities within these networks include peer-to-peer learning, multi-actor knowledge exchange, and training, offering advisors:

  • opportunities to strengthen competencies through experience sharing across Europe;

  • access to a wide network of advisors, farmers, researchers, and other stakeholders;

  • participation in both in-person and online trainings;

  • a growing repository of methods and practices, including advisory examples and farmers’ experiences.

Participants also shared their own insights and experiences. Lies emphasized that these networks and resources are open to all interested advisors, supporting the development of both professional knowledge and the skills required for high-quality climate-smart advisory services.

Missed the live session? Watch the event now!

A presentation of the event is also available.

Some useful links:

Riga str 34, Ozolnieki, Jelgavas novads, LV-3018, Latvija

Phone: +371 29736468

mail: anita.dzelme@llkc.lv

Requisites:

Biedrība "Eiropas Lauksaimniecības un lauku konsultantu asociācija"

NGO " European Forum for Agricultural and Rural Advisory Services"

Reg nr. 40008219277

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