Second meeting of the SCIA-AKIS Coordinating Body Advisory Working Group

On September 26, the Agri-Food Advisory Working Group of the SCIA Coordinating Body (AKIS) held its second meeting, under the coordination of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. This group, made up of experts in agri-food advice from different areas, met to further analyze the Agri-Food Advisory System and the entities that provide Agri-Food Advisory Services in the Autonomous Communities and to advance in the preparation of the documents that will be presented to the European Union. These documents will reflect the work carried out with the aim of promoting advice in the agri-food sector, thus promoting the modernization and transformation of the entire production chain in Spain.

One of the central points of the meeting was the analysis of the Agricultural Advisory System (FAS), regulated by Article 15 of Regulation 2115/2021. During this section, a brief historical review was made of the evolution of the system, as well as an evaluation of its current situation for the period 2023-2027 in the different Autonomous Communities (CCAA). The managers of the CCAA participated in a round of interventions where they presented the current state of the calls for agricultural advice in their respective regions, pointing out the problems perceived and the challenges they face.

The debate also included the situation of entities that offer agricultural advisory services in the Autonomous Communities, with the presentation of data collected by the AKIS Advisory Platform. The representatives of the Communities discussed the publication and visibility of these entities, as well as the need to strengthen their role in supporting the sector.

Another highlight of the meeting was the presentation of the roadmap for the Policy Briefs , key documents that will guide advisory policies in specific areas. Under the leadership of the SGID (Subdirectorate General for Innovation and Digitalisation), the strategy for the preparation of these reports was established, which will cover topics such as sustainable nutrition, organic production and the promotion of innovation. Experts such as Luis Orcaray Echeverría (INTIA), Auxiliadora Vecina (ECOVALIA) and Lola de Toro (CeiA3) outlined the next steps to be taken in each of these areas, in order to ensure that agricultural advice responds to the contemporary challenges of the sector.

These types of Advisory Working Group meetings are essential to articulate a common approach between the regions and ensure that the agri-food advisory system in Spain is effective and aligned with the European objectives of sustainability and modernisation of the sector.