Prof. Alex Koutsouris is the Head of the Unit of Agricultural Extension, Rural Systems & Rural Sociology, Dept. of Agricultural Economics & Rural Development, Agricultural University of Athens. Specialist in agricultural extension (interactive innovation (and) communication) and agricultural education/training as well as in sustainable rural development with emphasis on participatory methods. Currently member of the GFRAS Board; past President of the steering committees of IFSA (International Farming Systems Association-European Group; 2016-2018) and ESEE (European Society/Seminar of Extension Education 2015-2017). Invited expert in SWG SCAR AKIS; invited expert in the TWG AKIS of the CAP Evaluation Helpdesc; member of the AUA advisory team to the Ministry of Rural Development and Food for Greeceโ€™s CAP Strategic Plan (topic: AKIS); past Co-Editor and currently member of the Editorial Committee, The Journal of Agricultural Education & Extension. He participates/ed in several research and collaboration projects including H2020 and ERASMUS+ projects; member of the International/Strategic Advisory Boards of the projects modernAKIS (H2020, ref: 101000250), NEFERTITI (H2020-RUR 12-2017, ref. 772705) and NEWBIE (H2020-RUR-2017-1, ref. 772835); member of the KIP (Knowledge Innovation Panel), EURAKNOS project (H2020-RUR-2018-1, ref. 817863); member of the EU-level Multi-Actor Platform, UNISECO (H2020-SFS-2017-2, ref. 773901). Past relevant projects include PRO-AKIS (2013-2014), CORASON (2004-2006), LEARNing (2002-2005).

Most recent relevant publications:

  1. Pappa, E. and Koutsouris, A. (2024; under publication) The agronomist to trust as my advisor: A Greek case study, Journal of Agricultural Education & Extension
  2. Iwiล„ska,, Bieliล„ski, J., Kraszewska, M., Koutsouris, A., Calheiros, C. and Mikusiล„ski, G. (2023) Underlying the fundamental factors of private-sphere pro-environmental behavior in five European countries using hierarchic linear models, Journal of Cleaner Production, 393, 20 March 2023, 136330.
  3. Sutherland, L-A, Adamsone-Fiskovica, A., Elzen, B., Koutsouris, A., Laurent, C., Strรฆte, E. P. and Labarthe, P. (2023) Advancing AKIS with Assemblage Thinking, Journal of Rural Studies, 97: 57-69 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2022.11.005
  4. Charatsari, C., Lioutas, E., Papadaki-Klavdianou, A., Koutsouris, A. and Michailidis, A. (2022) Experiential, social, connectivist, or transformative learning? Farm advisors and the construction of agroecological knowledge. Sustainability 2022, 14, 2426. https:// doi.org/10.3390/su14042426
  5. Koutsouris, A. and Zarokosta, E. (2021) Farmersโ€™ Networks and the Quest for Reliable Advice: Innovating in Greece. Journal of Agricultural Education & Extension https://doi.org/10.1080/1389224X.2021.2012215

Main Projects:

1. Activate and trigger actors to deepen the function of Innovation Support Services (ATRACTISS) (Grant Agreement 101061060โ€” HORIZON-CL6-2021-GOVERNANCE-01)
2. Connecting advisers to boost interactive innovation in agriculture and forestry (i2connect) (Grant Agreement 863039/ H2020-RUR-2018-2020/H2020-RUR-2019-1)
3. Farm Advisory digital Innovation tools Realised and Shared (FAIRshare) (Grant Agreement 818488/ H2020-RUR-2018-1; 2018-2023)
4. Strategies and technologies to achieve a European Fossil-energy-free agriculture (AgroFossilFree) (Grant Agreement number: 101000496 โ€” AgroFossilFree โ€” H2020-FNR 2020 / H2020-FNR-2020-1)
5. Accelerating Innovative practices for Spraying Equipment, Training and Advising in European agriculture through the mobilization of Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Systems (INNOSETA) (Grant agreement 773864/H2020-RUR-2017-1; 2018-2021)