INSIGHTS FROM THE AKIS COORDINATION BODIES MEETING IN HELSINKI
CORENET and EU4ADVICE join forces at the EU-wide AKIS Coordination Event to advance SFSC integration and collaboration within national advisory systems
A three-day event took place in Helsinki from 20 to 22 May 2025, hosting the General Assembly of AKIS Coordination Bodies from every EU country under the ModernAKIS project.
What better setting than this to spotlight the role of our Short Food Supply Chain advisory network?
Fedele Colantuono from COREnet and Patricia Mora from EU4ADVICE attended the event, actively representing both projects during engaging interactive sessions and networking opportunities. Valuable insights emerged from the diverse experiences and stories shared by participants, deepening our understanding of AKIS structures across Europe and helping to refine the next steps for better positioning the SFSC advisory network within them.
As part of the programme, participants visited a research farm in a rural area near Helsinki. There, they met experts from Finland’s national farm advisory service (NSL), who shared their ongoing field trials, farmer support strategies, and innovative projects. The visit also shed light on the challenges they face in ensuring the long-term impact and uptake of these initiatives by end users.
While there is still significant work ahead to fully integrate SFSC advisors into AKIS, the potential of SFSC is evident in every country. Through collaboration and shared learning, we can maximise our collective impact.
Below you can find a photo gallery with some pictures from the event.
We are sincerely grateful to the ModernAKIS team for the excellent organisation and for warmly hosting us at this important event.
Photo credits: Fedele Colantuono, Ondrej Bocek via Unsplash
