On January 29th, STRATUS, OrganicAdviceNetwork, and AdvisoryNetPEST co-hosted an interactive online workshop focusing on the essential soft skills required for farm advisors. This event brought together agricultural advisors from across Europe to discuss the challenges they face in their daily work and how improved communication, networking, and facilitation skills can enhance advisory services.
The workshop emphasized the importance of active listening, building trust, and fostering long-term relationships with farmers. Advisors also highlighted the need for strong facilitation and training skills to organize effective discussions and peer-to-peer learning activities. Participants recognized that empathy, flexibility, and problem-solving abilities are crucial in navigating complex farm situations.
In addition to identifying key soft skills, the event addressed challenges in advisory services, including engaging farmers, creating a sense of community, and staying up to date with innovations. Attendees called for more training, networking opportunities, and access to best practices, such as study trips, demonstration farms, and lifelong learning programs.
You can find the workshop results in this report
This collaborative initiative is part of a broader effort to support advisory networks across Europe in fostering sustainable and innovative farming practices. The workshop was funded by the European Union, the Swiss State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation, and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).
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🔗 STRATUS
