The Global Forum for Rural Advisory Services: A Case Study

Kevan Lamm
Mar 6, 2024
2 min read

Updated: Aug 13

Food systems around the world are improved by extension services. These services connect the researchers and policymakers guiding the future of agriculture to the actual farmers on the ground. When working properly, extension services help farmers adopt innovative practices, improve productivity, and address critical issues.

Extension professionals are able to make a major impact on not only food security but also sustainable agriculture and overall rural development. These professionals can explain cutting-edge research to farmers, provide technical assistance, and facilitate community engagement. The future of resilient and thriving agriculture systems depends heavily on these individuals empowering farmers with the latest information in the field. Below I've summarized a case study manuscript I worked on with several amazing colleagues analyzing the history and evolution of the Global Forum for Rural Advisory Services (GFRAS).

Over the course of eight years, each year marked by an annual meeting, the Global Forum for Rural Advisory Services has experienced tremendous growth and development.

Emancipation (2010): GFRAS emerged from the Neuchâtel Initiative, striving to establish itself as a global institution advocating for the significance of extension in agricultural development.
Consolidation (2011): Regional networks solidified, shaping the institutional landscape of extension worldwide.
Positioning (2012): GFRAS focused on defining the role of advisory services within agricultural innovation systems, leading to the development of "The New Extensionist" framework.
Broadening (2013): The network expanded its scope beyond the public sector, engaging producer organizations and the private sector in extension efforts.
Strengthening (2014-2015): Emphasis on policy development, knowledge sharing, and capacity building reinforced GFRAS's impact across regions.
Deepening (2016-2017): GFRAS delved into nontraditional topics like agripreneurship and prioritized inclusion of marginalized groups, intensifying its outreach efforts.
Partnering (2018): Collaboration became paramount as GFRAS sought to extend its influence beyond the extension community, forging partnerships to address global agricultural issues.

Despite notable progress, challenges persist:

Resource Constraints: GFRAS's donor dependency highlights the need for a sustainable funding strategy.
Stakeholder Engagement: Attracting diverse stakeholder groups like farmer organizations and the private sector remains a challenge.

A networked and integrated approach is essential for extension services to continue to adapt to societal shifts. I've included the original manuscript and a link to the research below if you would like to learn more. Please share your perspectives and contribute using the comments below!

Davis, K., Dolly, D., Lamm, A. J., & Lamm, K. W. (2018). The future of extension: A network emergence perspective from the case of the global forum for rural advisory services. Journal of International Agricultural and Extension Education, 25(4), 40-51. https://newprairiepress.org/jiaee/vol25/iss4/3/