Welcome to the European Forum for Agricultural and Rural Advisory Services!

EUFRAS is a network of advisory organizations established in 2013 with the aim of supporting agricultural advisory services across Europe. Our network serves as a platform for collaboration, knowledge exchange, and advocacy among rural advisors, policymakers, agricultural communities, and other stakeholders. As a representative organization, EUFRAS promotes fairness and works to enhance the expertise and reputation of its members as essential contributors to agricultural knowledge and innovation system.

The primary objectives of EUFRAS include:

  • Developing a community of advisors and advocating on their behalf

  • Supporting the professional development of advisors

  • Responding to the challenges faced by advisory services in agriculture and rural development

Through various activities such as workshops, seminars, and conferences, EUFRAS promotes cooperation and innovation in advisory services. By enhancing the quality, effectiveness, and efficiency of advisory work, EUFRAS contributes to the sustainable development of rural areas and the agricultural sector in Europe.

Join us in our mission to promote sustainable agriculture, empower rural communities, and drive innovation in Europe's agricultural sector!

EUFRAS Vision

To be recognized as the leading reference organisation for rural advisors in Europe, promoting innovation, sustainability and quality of the agricultural advisory service, and contributing to the continuous improvement of the competitiveness and profitability of European farmers. EUFRAS seeks to be a reference in terms of training, capacity building and professional development, and to be recognized as an important advocate to European and international institutions, as well as with society in general, in the promotion of sustainable agriculture and food security. Through the strengthening and stimulation of effective Regional Advisory Services and AKIS networks, EUFRAS strives to enhance the accessibility and quality of agricultural advisory services for European farmers, while contributing to the overall sustainability, competitiveness, and profitability of the agricultural sector in Europe.

EUFRAS Mission

Promote and support the sustainable development of agriculture in Europe by providing rural advisors with the tools, knowledge and resources necessary to provide a high quality advisory service to European farmers.

Foundation Process of EUFRAS

European regions and countries has been achieved. There is a very active global representative body for advisory services (GFRAS) with subgroups set up in other continents. This organization has been very successful in getting funding for the development, delivery and evaluation of Agricultural and rural advisory systems. EUFRAS is the first European organization of farm advisory services and is affiliated to GFRAS.

The setting up of a new ogranization (EUFRAS)

In autumn 2013, agricutural and rural advisory services from 20 European countries founded EUFRAS, the European Forum for Agricultural and Rural Advisory Services, in Berlin on Monday, September 23.

The founding members were the International Academy for Agriculture and Home Economics Advisors (IALB – GER, AU, CH, IT), the Latvian Rural Advisory and Training Center , TEAGASC (Ireland ), AGRIDEA (CH), EkoConnect e.V. (GER), the 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, die 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) und 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.

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. Agenda and decisions taken.

The foundation of EUFRAS was prepared in a workshop in Wroclaw, Poland, 25th – 26th Feb 2013. The meeting was initiated and organised 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).

Please familiarize with the EUFRAS documents below: