The future of rural development consultancy is being shaped at USAMV Cluj-Napoca

On 5–6 February 2026, our university hosted an important event dedicated to rural development consultancy at the Transylvanian Institute for Advanced Horticultural Research, organised in partnership with the Romanian-American Foundation, the Civitas Foundation and the University of Georgia – UGA Extension.

On the first day of the event, where USAMV Cluj-Napoca was represented by academic staff from the Faculty of Agriculture, the Faculty of Animal Science and Biotechnology, and the Faculty of Horticulture and Business in Rural Development, the implementation status of the three pilot agricultural consultancy projects was presented, designed according to the American ‘land-grant university’ model, launched in June 2025, while the future activities necessary for the development of action plans were outlined.

The agricultural extension pilot projects are coordinated by the University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Bucharest, the “King Michael I” University of Life Sciences Timișoara and USAMV Cluj-Napoca.

Special guests included representatives from Săndulești Town Hall, the Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, the Blaj Research and Development Station for Viticulture and Winemaking, alongside representatives from the Cenana Cooperative and the NGO Terra Gloria.

The second day of the event was set aside for meetings with representatives of the local communities participating in the pilot project led by the team from USAMV Cluj-Napoca: the Someș-Arieș Agricultural Cooperative, the Agrobob Ardeal Agricultural Cooperative, GAL Someș Transilvan, the Bonțida Rural Discovery Centre, as well as the local councils of Apahida, Bonțida, Dăbâca and Jucu.

Discussions focused on ways in which universities with an agricultural focus (agronomy, horticulture, animal husbandry) can contribute to the development of rural communities. For further details, please contact us via email at [email protected] , WhatsApp chat – https://tinyurl.com/xdz9uvrz or by phone on +40 772115 501.

Congratulations to all participants and good luck!