This survey has been collaboratively developed by the Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation System (AKIS) Coordination Group (DAFM, ACA, Teagasc, CAP Network Ireland) to better understand the current needs of farmers in relation to how they currently source knowledge and information.

The survey is being administered by CAP Network Ireland and the results will be used to inform AKIS actors to help ensure a well-functioning Irish AKIS that connects people and facilitates knowledge flows between research, cooperation and advisory services and is more responsive to the growing information needs of farmers, rural economy actors, advisors, researchers and other food system & bio-economy stakeholders.

The word 'AKIS' includes farmers, advisors, researchers, and anyone working in agriculture and the rural economy.

AKIS is the combined organisation, knowledge flow, integration and interaction between people, organisations and institutions that produce, disseminate and use knowledge and innovation for agriculture and interrelated activities in rural areas.A key aim is to better connect science and practice and to boost knowledge exchange and innovation.

This will benefit European farmers and foresters, their advisors and rural communities.

In addition, the expanded policy scope and objectives that the agri-food sector needs to address (e.g., EU Green Deal, Brexit, Programme for Government, National Climate Action Plan, Food Vision 2030, Sustainable Development Goals, Digitalisation, Just Transition) all point to the need to further develop the AKIS approach to meet sectoral and societal challenges and threats.

The vision for the Irish AKIS is to better connect people and organisations through dynamic and consistent engagement to facilitate improved and speedier information flow between knowledge producers, innovation intermediaries, businesses, organisations, institutions and knowledge users.

A successful AKIS will ensure actors have the training and skills to be more responsive to societal challenges such as climate change and sustainable food systems and to the growing information needs of farmers, rural economy actors, advisors, researchers and other agri-food system and bio-economy stakeholders to address these challenges.

The survey takes five to 10 minutes to complete.