Fields of Knowledge: EU-FarmBook and Climate Farm Demo Connect Farmers, Advisors and Researchers

On June 24, the EU-FarmBook and Climate Farm Demo projects jointly organized a farm excursion in Flemish Brabant, Belgium. The event brought together researchers, advisors, and project partners for a day of hands-on learning and cross-project exchange.

As members of EU-FarmBook, modernAKIS, ATTRACTISS, and Climate Farm Demo, Boerenbond invited 28 participants from Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Spain, Italy, Ukraine, and Belgium to take part in the first joint field trip. The group visited three farms showcasing diverse and innovative agricultural practices.

At Van Hellemont Fruit, participants explored how EU-FarmBook helps advisors and researchers access and apply agricultural knowledge across Europe. The session also featured insights into the Climate Farm Demo project and included a guided orchard tour.

The second stop, ’t Silsomhof in Erps-Kwerps, highlighted a cattle farm that combines on-site meat processing with short food supply chains and care farming.
The day concluded at Hof ten Dormaal, where participants connected with representatives from the ATTRACTISS project during their own field visit.

This first annual excursion aimed to show how EU-FarmBook addresses common challenges in advisory work and for research projects by offering high-quality, practical knowledge objects and encouraging peer-to-peer exchange.

“What consistently makes a difference on these field trips is the passion of the farmers,” said Robby Cloesen from Boerenbond. “Their enthusiasm remains strong despite short planning cycles, changing regulations, and the growing complexity of knowledge they need to manage. This is also a challenge for advisors, who must shift from simply providing knowledge to actively connecting it. That’s what we focused on during this visit.” He emphasized that
EU-FarmBook plays a key role in supporting this shift by improving access to relevant knowledge and fostering collaboration.

“When advisors and researchers meet innovative farmers who share their experience and open their farms, it’s more than just knowledge transfer — it’s mutual inspiration. These visits show how practice and research can shape the future together.”

The event provided a valuable opportunity to demonstrate how EU-FarmBook connects farms, researchers, and advisors — a central goal of the platform. The day wrapped up with informal discussions over local barbecue and beer, rounding off a productive and engaging exchange.