Shining examples of advisory services showcased by European network

Horizon Europe project COREnet contributes to the improvement of advisory services by highlighting real stories of innovation from advisors supporting farms and other short food supply chain (SFSC) initiatives. One of these ‘golden cases’ is Belgian dairy farm IJshoeve De Boey, where the advisor and farm owners have built a successful advisory relationship based on mutual trust over many years.

Advisors play a critical role in facilitating access to knowledge and innovation to farmers, foresters and other rural entrepreneurs. COREnet is building a peer-to-peer learning network of advisors to support the development of more effective advisory services, focusing on SFSC. The Horizon Europe project seeks to improve the performance and impact of SFSCs by enabling the sharing of knowledge, experience and materials between advisors. One of the tools it is applying to strengthen advisory services is the identification and sharing of success stories across Europe: their golden cases.

The example of IJshoeve De Boey is one of these golden cases. In 2015, the owners of the farm had to change their vision for the business and reduce the number of animals on the farm. With the help of farm advisor Patrick Pasgang, they wrote a new future, setting out a long-term plan for a multi-functional and sustainable future-proof farm based on short food supply chains. Today, the farm makes and sells ice cream flavoured with fruit grown on the farm, and provides an income for several family members. Agricultural advisors from across Europe gain inspiration from this concrete case that shows how teamwork can help overcome challenges, incorporating different advisory methods and services and building trust.

In October 2023, advisors from across Europe visited IJshoeve De Boey, where they could ask questions to both the farmers and the advisor. This hands-on experience aimed to encourage knowledge sharing and inspire the participating advisors to take up new solutions.