Agricultural advisors from across Europe are in Galway this week for the two-day EUFRAS General Assembly 2025, hosted by the Agricultural Consultants' Association (ACA).

The theme of the event is 'Advisors and their place in AKIS' (Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Systems) and involves a conference and workshops at the Dean Hotel in Galway city today (Wednesday, February 19), followed by a field trip tomorrow.

The field trip includes a visit to Teagasc BIA Innovation Centre Athenry and Teagasc Animal and Grassland Research and Innovation Centre.

The ACA has around 200 members operating from 164 offices across the country providing agricultural advisory services to about 55,000 farmer clients.

The nature of that advice includes technical, financial, and general farm management in relation to national and European farm scheme applications.

EUFRAS (European Forum for Agricultural and Rural Advisory Services) is a network of advisory organisations established in 2013 with the aim of supporting agricultural advisory services across Europe.

It aims to foster collaboration, advocate for advisors, and drive innovation in agricultural knowledge and practices to support sustainable rural development.

As part of Ireland's Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) Strategic Plan, there are key areas identified to be addressed in Ireland for AKIS.

President of ACA, Michael Ryan said: "One of those is greater collaboration between key stakeholders and agreeing structures to research and new adaptations to Irish farmers.

"We will not reach any sectoral targets unless there is greater collaboration and agreed structures across all elements of the AKIS, particularly the key players and in advisory that is ACA and Teagasc.

"Significant and continuous investment in training and upskilling of private advisors by DAFM [Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine] is critical," he added.

The ACA has already stated that a publicly funded ACA office is required to help with the ambitions of the AKIS and sectoral targets and to ensure private advisors and their farmer clients are included.

This funded office would aim to establish strong links with government agencies and other stakeholders.

General secretary of ACA, Breian Carroll added that the challenges and experiences of advisors across Europe have many common themes.

Access to the latest research and data, better communication, and workload support for advisors were common themes discussed among delegates at the conference.

Both ACA and Teagasc are members of EUFRAS.

Chair of the EUFRAS board, Rui Almeida spoke to Agriland (video below) about the importance of collaboration among agricultural advisors across the EU.

During the General Assembly today, members of EUFRAS were invited to put forward contributions to the organisation's policy on the next CAP.

Some of the topics or issues members want addressed in the policy position include the importance of supporting sustainability and innovation; climate-smart advisors; capacity within advisory services to provide knowledge and information for farmers about diversification; and the removal of barriers in the processing of schemes, especially in terms of conditionality.