By Laura Hollis
Smallholder farmers face increasingly complex challenges. Climate change, emerging pests and diseases, and changing market requirements are increasing the demand for reliable agricultural advice. However, access to extension services remains unequal, with women, younger and older farmers, and those in remote communities facing structural, institutional and cultural barriers that can limit their access to information and support.
Traditional models of agricultural extension have often centred on public-sector delivery of technical information and technologies to improve crop production. However, farmers increasingly need support beyond production, including market access and compliance, value addition, climate adaptation, and sustainable farming practices. At the same time, as public-sector financing for extension becomes scarcer, farmers seek advice from multiple sources, including agro-dealers, non-governmental actors, fellow farmers, and the media.
The future of agricultural extension therefore requires a shift toward more connected, pluralistic, and inclusive advisory systems that are market-oriented, demand-responsive, digitally enabled, and climate-resilient. Such systems must draw on expertise from different providers, respond to farmers’ economic and environmental needs, and combine digital technologies with practical, face-to-face support.
FAO Science and Innovation Forum
At the 2026 FAO Science and Innovation Forum, CABI’s Janny Vos joined a panel discussion representing CABI’s work in agricultural development and extension. The discussion titled, From field to future: reimagining agricultural extension for smallholder food security, explored how agricultural extension and advisory services must evolve to strengthen smallholder food security and the broader food system.
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