The AgriSpin project has fifteen participating partners representing twelve different European countries: Denmark, the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, Latvia, France, Italy, Finland, Eire, Romania, Greece, and Spain. Learn more about the AgriSpin partners by visiting their websites.
SEGES P/S (Denmark)
SEGES is the Danish national centre for agriculture. The organisation bridges the gap between research and agricultural practice by evaluating and transforming research results into new knowledge for the benefit of all Danish agricultural advisers and farmers. SEGES also directs a large number of research and innovation projects either in collaboration with national or international universities and companies or on its own.
Dutch Southern Farmers Organisation (the Netherlands)
Zuidelijke Land- En Tuinbouworganisatie (ZLTO) is a Farmers Union which aims at improving the situation of their farmer members. The organisation does so by organising policymaking, training, individual support and counselling. Together with innovative farmers, they also direct projects with an innovative scope such as innovative co-operatives, renewable energy, sustainable plant and animal protection techniques, new products and innovative commercialisation.
University of Hohenheim (Germany)
Both the university’s Faculty of Agricultural Science and the Department of Rural Sociology at the Institute for Social Sciences in Agriculture participate in the AgriSpin project. The Faculty of Agricultural Science provides an excellent infrastructure for agricultural research and the Department of Rural Sociology focuses on enhancing social processes in rural areas and managing innovation processes that increase the sustainability of land uses and lifestyles.
Union of Chambers of Agriculture (Germany)
Verband der Landwirtschaftskammern E.V. (VLK) is the central organization of the chambers of agriculture in Germany, which are independent service providers for agriculture, forestry, horticulture, freshwater and coastal fisheries and rural areas. VLK assist agricultural businesses in their decision-making processes.
Innovation Support Centre for Agriculture and Rural Development (Belgium)
Innovatiesteunpunt (ISP) is an innovation support service, embedded in a Belgian farmers’ organisation. ISP informs farmers about new innovative opportunities and provide support to farmers with developing and implementing concrete projects. The organization specializes in multi-actor approaches and participatory processes and is well known among Belgian farmers as a one stop shop for innovation.
International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements – European Union Regional Group (IFOAM EU) (Belgium)
The IFOAM EU group is the European umbrella organisation of the organic food and farming sector. With more than 160 member organisations, it covers the entire organic production chain comprising production, processing, trade, research, certification, inspection, advisory and civil society organisations. Thus, it promotes the diffusion of knowledge, principles and practices of organic agriculture across language and cultural barriers. Also, it is the secretariat organisation behind TP Organics, the European Technology Platform (ETP) for organic food and farming research.
The Latvian Rural Advisory and Training Centre (LRATC) (Latvia)
The LRATC is a consultancy enterprise consisting of 26 branches scattered throughout the territory of Latvia. The company has wide-ranging experience with coordinating and implementing rural development measures as well as providing advisory assistance to the Latvian farmers.
ACTA (France)
ACTA is the network leader of 15 technical agricultural institutes (ITA) operating at the interface of oriented research and advisory services. Thus, ACTA carries out research on transversal and cross-cutting innovative themes and methods in cooperation, both with national and international organisations whereas the ITAs aim at meeting the farmers’ demands for directly applicable results and solutions.
Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Dévelopment (CIRAD) (France)
CIRAD is a scientific organisation which specialises in development-oriented research. The organisation makes recurrent use of participatory and action-research principles and approaches in its work. Also, CIRAD is actively engaged in interdisciplinary research dealing with both innovation systems and links between science and local knowledge in French overseas regions and developing countries.
Regional Government of Tuscany (Italy)
The regional government of Tuscany acts as Managing Authority of the Rural Development Operative Programme. In this capacity, the Tuscany Region allocates resources, fosters innovation and selects innovative projects and initiatives related to the rural and agricultural sectors.
ProAgria South Ostrobothnia (Finland)
ProAgria is a full service business consultation and advisory service provider. ProAgria provides farmers and rural businesses with business consultation in all aspects of entrepreneurship from starting a new business to running and selling it. ProAgria also provides advisory service on the production process in different branches of agricultural production and runs a wide range of research, development and innovation projects.
The Agriculture and Food Development Authority (Teagasc) (Eire)
Agriculture and food research, education and advisory services for the sector are all provided within Teagasc and present an integrated innovation support interface for the agri-food sector. In partnership with farmers, industry partners, government and other national and international public and private stakeholders, Teagasc indentifies, prioritises, develops and disseminates knowledge-based innovations to its farmer and food company client base.
Fundatia Adept (Romania)
Fundatia Adept is one of the leading NGOs in Central and Eastern Europe focused on conservation of biodiversity and broader ecosystem services through farming. It has pioneered innovative farm advisory services in Romania by linking a variety of Rural Development Programme measures and focusing on parallel developing markets and income diversification.
Agricultural University of Athens (Greece)
The Department of Agricultural Economic and Rural Development has a long tradition of teaching and conducting research on extension and rural knowledge management systems. Over the years, the department has built a wide network of contacts, especially through various innovative initiatives, and has specialised in transdisciplinary research.
Hazi Foundation (HAZI) (Spain)
Fundacion Hazi Funazioa is the public foundation of the Basque Government for the development of the rural and marine environment and the agri-food sector. HAZI’s main activities include acting as the connecting link between farmers and government as well as training rural agents and technicians. HAZI also participates as partner of a Basque innovation brokerage consortium called Katilu.