ClimateSmartAdvisors

The overall objective of the ClimateSmartAdvisors project is to mobilize the EU agricultural advisory community to facilitate the widespread adoption of climate-smart farming practices for climate protection among farmers across Europe. The project seeks to strengthen the role of agricultural advisors and advisory service providers by equipping them with the necessary technical know-how and methodological expertise to be able to provide personalized guidance. By implementing and sharing the innovative approaches and tools resulting from the implementation of the ClimateFarmDemo project, ClimateSmartAdvisors aims to promote the implementation of its practices throughout the farming community on a wider scale, in EU Member States and Associated Countries.

The seven-year duration of the project from April 2023 to March 2030 is inextricably linked to the core goal of the ambitious strategy of the European Green Deal, which concerns the reduction of net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030 in comparison to 1990 levels. While agriculture is responsible for producing 10.1% of these emissions, it also has enormous carbon storage potential in agricultural soils. The challenge is to find ways to minimize emissions without compromising food production. Recognizing the need to adapt to climate change, the agricultural sector must assess and implement innovative mitigation and adaptation solutions, taking into account their replicability across regions and Member States.

An important role in this transformation of agriculture is played by agricultural advisors, who are recognized as the main actors in promoting innovative climate smart solutions and sharing valuable knowledge with farmers. Their role is clear: to accelerate the transition to climate-smart farming systems across Europe, ensuring a sustainable future for agriculture while actively dealing with climate change. This is the main idea and perception that the ClimateSmartAdvisors project aims to promote and further develop.

Main activities and responsibilities of GAIA EPICHEIREIN:

GAIA’s main role is to act as National Coordinator directly in accordance with the activities and WPs of the project. The National Coordinators of the project have the responsibility to supervise and organize activities related to Communities of Practice created throughout the project, at a national level.

In the framework of the Communities of Practice, GAIA EPICHEIREIN, in addition to the responsibilities of National Coordinator, will simultaneously have the role of “Climate Smart Advisor”, but also “Climate Smart Trainer”. In this way, the Communities of Practice will develop a “Train-the-Trainer” model during the project, where the trainer will also be the learner, promoting the continuous circulation of new information, data and experiences between the members of the Communities and different National Coordinators, thus forming a network of qualified and constantly evolving agricultural advisors.

Finally, GAIA as a National Coordinator will also be responsible for the dissemination and communication of the project and its various actions and achievements at national level.