Organic Advice Contest

Innovative Organic Advice Contest

‍‍ On 30 April 2026, the monthly EUFRAS “Coffee Break” event took place in collaboration with our OrganicAdviceNetwork project. The aim of the event was to present the winners of the Innovative Organic Advice Contest to advisors all over Europe.
The event was opened by Anita Dzelme from EUFRAS, who welcomed more than 40 participants and introduced the topic, as well as two outstanding advisory services. These networks were recognised for their innovation, impact, and forward-looking approach.

The “Coffee Break” continued with  Anna Wilhelm, who provided a broader overview of the OrganicAdviceNetwork project and the “Innovative Organic Advice Contest” initiative.

The first winning advisory service was represented by  Caroline Tostain, an organic farming advisor from Normandy (France) and representative of the “GIEE LAIT BIO BAS CARBONE” network. She shared insights gained from long-term work with organic dairy farms. She highlighted that the role of the advisor is changing—from an expert to a process facilitator who creates an environment in which farmers can learn and develop independently. Emotional and social support is equally important, as quality of life matters alongside technical improvements. Over five years of cooperation with 12 dairy farms, significant reductions in carbon emissions were achieved while simultaneously improving the farms’ economic performance. Caroline also emphasised the importance of creativity in advisory work, using co-creation methods and unconventional solutions to address specific challenges.
The second winning network representative was Anika Füger from the German organisation “SoLaWi Netzwerk”. She presented the principles of Community Supported Agriculture (CSA), where consumers and producers share both risks and costs. In this model, the advisory system is supported by 24 volunteer experts who provide initial free consultations. The main focus is placed on organisational, communication, and technical aspects, as well as agronomy. At the same time, this approach helps restore the true value of food within society.

If you were unable to join online this time, you are invited to watch the event recording.

A sincere thank you to Anika Fuger and Caroline Tostain for sharing their valuable experiences and presenting their inspiring advisory services. We would also like to thank EUFRAS for the opportunity to present the OrganicAdviceNetwork project to the wider European advisory community.
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OrganicAdviceNetwork is funded by the European Union (Grant no. 101134850) and by the Swiss State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (Grant no. 23.0639, 101134850). Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union, European Research Executive Agency or Swiss State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation. Neither the European Union nor any other granting authority can be held responsible for them.