June 22, 2026

AKIS in action: Diversifying farm income: Providing advice and training for new energy solutions

Networking event on May 13, 2026 – Online

As part of ongoing efforts in modernAKIS to interconnect AKIS (Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Systems) actors across Europe, this event showcased how alternative and renewable energy solutions can create new income opportunities for farmers. It highlighted advisory and training approaches that support farmers in efficient on-farm energy-management and in integrating climate-smart energy models into their businesses. Using three countries as examples, the potential for new energy solutions on farms in these countries was highlighted, and aspects of profitability, sustainability and collaboration were discussed.

Fien van Esch, Energy Consultant at Boerenbond, Belgium demonstrated an energy advisory concept for farmers in transitioning to sustainable energy – a step-by-step guidance, from understanding energy use and reducing consumption to producing renewable energy and optimizing flexibility and collaboration. She emphasized that farms in Belgium have significant potential for renewable energy production, but choosing and implementing technologies (e.g., PV, agri-voltaics, digesters) requires tailored advice, pilot projects, and continuous exchange with research and industry. In her expert view, the overall success of the energy transition depends on a clear framework, strong multi-actor collaboration, and practical, hands-on learning approaches that enable farmers to make informed decisions.

Miika Kahelin, Savonia University of Applied Sciences from Finland presented the current state of farm-based biogas production in Finland, where around 55 plants—mainly located in dairy regions—use manure as the primary feedstock. He pointed out, that a survey of 12 farms – commissioned between 2019 to 2024 – showed that 10 out of 12 plants operate as expected, indicating generally reliable performance, with most processes being automated and requiring little daily workload. In his research profitability and long payback times were identified as key challenges, particularly due to high investment costs and limited energy demand on farms during parts of the year and requirements oflarge
amounts of manure (e.g. from around 300 cattle) to operate a biogas plant efficiently. Additional income opportunities, such as the utilization of CO₂ from biogas upgrading, were highlighted as potential improvements. Miika Kahelin also emphasized ongoing research on the use of digestate instead of raw manure, focusing on its advantages in handling, reduced odor, and improved nutrient availability for crops.

Klaus Engelmann, advisor on energy, climate and bio-resources at the Styrian Chamber of Agriculture, in Austria highlighted that energy advisory in agriculture builds on long-standing experience, with many of today’s key topics. In Austria, energy advisory has evolved into a broad and holistic service, supporting farmers across multiple areas (e.g. biogas, photovoltaics, and storage, e-mobility, and energy communities). However, energy remains a secondary concern for farmers, whose primary focus is agricultural production. Therefore, advisory work starts with a detailed understanding of each farm’s energy demand and goals, followed by tailored, farm-specific energy concepts.

Key elements of the advisory approach include:

While energy efficiency is identified as the most important first step, it is often less attractive to farmers than technologies like PV systems or batteries. In practice, combining measures such as renewable energy production and storage can significantly reduce costs and increase self-sufficiency. Renewable energy communities are also becoming increasingly important, enabling farmers to share or sell surplus energy and improve their economic outcomes.

Taken together, these findings show how AKIS stakeholders can help farmers use energy efficiently and, at the same time, generate a reliable additional source of income through energy solutions. A mix of economic feasibility, farm-specific conditions, and policy incentives drives adoption of energy technologies in agriculture. While many solutions show clear potential, their success depends on practical integration into farming systems, not just technical performance.

Here are a few key takeaways from the final discussion (Q&A)