Workshop Spotlight: Practical Facilitation Tools for Advisors in Local Food Systems
Tools for Mentoring in #AgriFood event
As part of the EU4Advice project, our partner Ceska Zemedelska Univerzita v Praze (Czech University of Life Sciences in Prague) actively contributed to the international workshop “Practical facilitation tools for advisors in local food systems” during the #AgriFood event. Representing the consortium, they showcased innovative, hands-on methods that empower advisors, mentors, and local actors to navigate complex agrifood and climate challenges. Their session provided participants with practical facilitation and mentoring tools designed to foster collaboration, support local food system transformation, and strengthen the European advisor network promoted by EU4Advice.
The session focused on hands-on facilitation methods that help advisors, mentors, and local actors turn complex agrifood and climate topics into shared understanding and concrete next steps. They worked with three complementary tools and closed with open resources advisors can begin using immediately.
What was presented?
1) Agri’Food Collage (AFC): systems thinking made practical.
Our partner introduced the Agri’Food Collage, a collaborative, card-based workshop that maps today’s food system—its actors, farming systems, impacts and feedbacks—in a visual, engaging way. AFC is designed to be fun, non-partisan and evidence-based; the cards synthesize >150 sources (FAO, IPCC, WHO, IPES-Food, EC, etc.), reviewed by external experts. It runs with minimal materials (cards, paper, pens) and reliably catalyzes informed dialogue across farmers, processors, consumers, and public bodies.
2) Climate Fresk: from head to heart to hands.
It was demonstrated how Climate Fresk helps groups transition from a causal understanding of climate dynamics to a reflective discussion and then to an actionable plan. The typical 3-hour flow—Discover relationships → Creativity & cohesion → Expression & emotions → Discussion & actions—works equally well for team-building, ESG/CSR strategy work, or community meetings. Roles and logistics are clearly defined (organizer, facilitator, knowledge source), and the method is available in both in-person and digital formats (Miro/Mural/Klaxoon).
3) Flourishing Business Canvas (FBC): aligning models with ESG.
To connect system insights with practice, the FBC was presented as a simple, stakeholder-centred canvas that integrates environmental and social value alongside economic viability. Advisors can use it with SMEs or producer groups to make strategy tangible (current vs. future model), structure partner engagement, and communicate plans for funding or supplier alignment. Example use cases ranged from startups to large manufacturers.
Ready-to-use resources for advisors
It was a closing by showcasing open resources that participants can deploy right away:
- Online learning platform with multi-language modules (leadership, finance, digital skills), case studies and trainer materials—useful as pre-work or to structure short workshops.
- AI-assisted mobile app (skill map) that helps mentees self-assess competencies using ESCO, receive tailored suggestions, and track progress—an effective entry point for first mentoring sessions.
Why does this matter for EU4Advice?
These methods directly support EU4Advice goals: building a European advisor network for Short Food Supply Chains, equipping it with a practical training toolbox, and piloting approaches in bioregional “living lab” settings—backed by open resources and a collaborative expert community. Advisors are invited to use the tools, share practice, and co-develop localized adaptations.
