Advisory services in organic agriculture: theory and empirical analysis through case studies

Agricultural advisors are a cornerstone of the Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation System (AKIS), acting as key intermediaries between scientific research and farming practice. Despite increasing academic and policy attention to advisory services, limited research has examined their structure, organisation, and performance within the organic farming sector. This doctoral thesis analyses AKIS in organic farming with a focus on advisory services in three countries. Its main objective is to strengthen theoretical and empirical understanding of organic AKIS by identifying key stakeholders involved in advisory and extension activities, examining their interactions, and developing policy recommendations and practical strategies to improve the effectiveness and sustainability of advisory systems. The study adopts a comparative mixed-methods design, integrating qualitative and quantitative approaches at macro and micro levels. The research combines theoretical and empirical components. A systematic literature review and the development of an analytical framework provide the conceptual basis for analysing knowledge, information, and advisory functions in organic farming systems and guide the empirical investigation. The empirical analysis is based on three national case studies: Italy, Sweden, and Chile. Qualitative data from interviews and case studies capture contextual dimensions of advisory practices, while quantitative data reveal broader structural patterns. The comparative analysis shows how differences in agricultural policies, advisory structures, education systems, and professional networks shape the functioning of organic advisory systems. The Italian and Swedish cases highlight context-specific strengths and weaknesses, while the Chilean case broadens the understanding of advisory systems by examining both formal services and informal peer-to-peer networks. Overall, this doctoral research advances theoretical and empirical knowledge of advisory systems and AKIS within organic farming by integrating economic, political, and social perspectives. It contributes to the academic debate on sustainable knowledge systems and offers practical insights for policymakers, practitioners, and researchers seeking to foster equitable, innovation-oriented, and sustainable agricultural development.