2013

EUFRAS is part of the global network of advisory services, the Global Forum for Rural Advisory Services (GFRAS) .Founding EUFRAS took place as side event during the global annual meeting of GFRAS 22.-26.9.2013 in Berlin.

The foundation of EUFRAS was prepared in a workshop in Wroclaw, Poland, 25th – 26th Feb 2013. The meeting was initiated and organized by the German extensionists’ network IALB and inspired by the EU projects RENE and ProAkis, both dealing with rural extension.

In Wroclaw, it was agreed to formulate EUFRAS as a European Association open to members of public and private advisory/extension service providers. Representatives of European rural advisory institutions were invited to participate in the founding process and a second preparatory meeting in Dublin (letter of common interest).

In autumn 2013 in Berlin, a decision is made to establish a society!

At 23rd September of 2013, agricultural and rural advisory services from 20 European countries founded EUFRAS, the European Forum for Agricultural and Rural Advisory Services

The founding members were:

• International Academy for Agriculture and Home Economics Advisors (IALB – GER, AU, CH, IT)

• Latvian Rural Advisory and Training Center

• TEAGASC (Ireland )

• AGRIDEA (CH)

• EkoConnect e.V. (GER)

• Knowledge Center of Agriculture (DK)

• MEDSOFTORG Ltd. (HU)

• Chamber of Agriculture and Forestry of Slowenia

• Agro Information Center of Azerbeijan

• National Agricultural Advisory Service of Bulgaria

• University of Western Hungary

• Institute for Consultancy and Training and the Association for farmers‘ rights defense (Georgia )

In the founding meeting following persons were elected to the board:

• Pablo Asensio (IALB)

• Eva Gleerup (Knowledge Center of Agriculture Denmark)

• Edgars Linde (Latvian Rural Advisory and Training Center)

• Michael Kügler (Association of the German Agricultural Chambers)

• Dr. Tom Kelly (TEAGASC Ireland)

As chairman of EUFRAS the board elected Dr. Tom Kelly, Director of Knowledge Transfer at TEGEASC

Vice chairman is Edgars Linde from the Latvian Rural Advisory and Training Center.