AgrarKontakte International (AKI) e.V.

What AgrarKontakte International (AKI) e.V. does

AgrarKontakte International (AKI) e.V. is a Stuttgart-based non-profit association (eingetragener Verein), founded in 1990, that develops and connects sustainable rural areas worldwide through knowledge and technology transfer in the agricultural and food sector. It runs an international traineeship programme that places agricultural vocational and agronomy students from partner countries — primarily Kenya, Ukraine, Moldova, and Burundi, plus paused tracks in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Georgia, and Russia — on family-run host farms in southern Germany (Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, southern Hesse, Rhineland-Palatinate) for 6–9 month practical internships. The 37th annual intake is planned for spring 2027, with 80 Kenyan trainees selected for 2026 from over 300 applicants at Bukura Agricultural College and 23 Ukrainian trainees placed on German farms.

The organisation operates three core service lines: (1) Praktikantenprogramme (country-specific traineeship programmes), (2) Projektmanagement (agricultural development project management, including Burundi projects on sustainable farming, energy-saving stoves, and mini-biogas), and (3) Delegationsreisen und Fachseminare (delegation visits and expert seminars), supported by Aus- und Weiterbildungsprogramme such as online seminars (e.g., with BayWa AG on digital farming tools), excursion weeks, and introductory seminars at DEULA Baden-Württemberg. It does not sell commercial products; its revenue mechanics are grant-funded via multi-year public-sector contracts with the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ, channelled through GIZ Green Innovation Centres), the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL, via the FABU project with ADT Project Consulting), the Baden-Württemberg Ministry for Rural Affairs (MLR), and SEZ on behalf of the state parliament. AKI is governed by a volunteer honorary board (chaired by Hans-Benno Wichert with Siegfried Schwab as deputy) and a small full-time team of seven led by Managing Director Falk Kullen, supported by project managers including Teklezghi Teklebrhan (Burundi), Dr. Olena Kalinina (Ukraine), Verena Jauß, Anastasiia Fomina (Kenya/Georgia), Olga Rybakova, Markus Roßkopf (Kenya/Georgia), and Julia Fendel (delegations).

Name

AgrarKontakte International (AKI) e.V.

Legal name

AgrarKontakte International (AKI) e.V.

Website

https://agrarkontakte.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

AKI is a Stuttgart-based non-profit association, founded in 1990, that places agricultural vocational students from partner countries on southern German host farms for 6–9 month internships and runs international agricultural development projects, funded by German federal and Baden-Württemberg government grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Agricultural Education and Development Cooperation

NAICS

All Other Schools and Instruction (61169), Other Technical and Trade Schools (611519)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Agricultural Services (700)

akta.pro primary industry

Provider-Run International Internship Programs (Multi-Country/Multi-Industry) (EDAIAFAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Agriculture & Food Production (EDABALAA)

Keywords

• Agricultural traineeship programs
• International vocational training
• Agricultural development cooperation
• Rural knowledge transfer
• Host farm placements

Headquarters

HQ city

Stuttgart

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Public Funding and Grants: AKI e.V. is a nonprofit association funded primarily through public grants and project funding from government bodies and development foundations. Funding sources include: the Ministry for Rural Affairs, Agriculture and Homeland of Baden-Württemberg (MLR), the State Parliament of Baden-Württemberg, the Baden-Württemberg Foundation for Development Cooperation (SEZ), the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), and GIZ (Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit) as implementing partner.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

AKI organizes international traineeship programs that place agricultural vocational and agronomy students from partner countries on family farms in southern Germany for 6-9 month practical internships. It also manages international agricultural development projects (e.g., in Burundi, Transitional Agriculture, DBV-AKKOR) funded by German federal and state governments, and runs delegation visits and expert seminars for cross-border agricultural knowledge transfer.

Product overview

AgrarKontakte International (AKI) e.V. is a non-profit association offering a portfolio of international agricultural education and cooperation services, centered around three core offerings: (1) Praktikantenprogramme - international traineeship programs placing agricultural students from partner countries (Kenya, Ukraine, Mongolia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, and others) on German farms for 6-9 month practical internships through country-specific Länderprogramme; (2) Projektmanagement - management of agricultural development projects including Transitional Agriculture and Burundi initiatives with government and foundation funding; and (3) Delegationsreisen und Fachseminare - organization of international delegation visits, expert seminars, and study tours for agricultural knowledge exchange. The programs are complemented by Aus- und Weiterbildungsprogramme including online seminars, excursion weeks, and alumni follow-up support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Praktikantenprogramme (Traineeship Programs) International traineeship programs placing agricultural vocational and agronomy students from partner countries (Kenya, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, etc.) on family farms in southern Germany for 6-9 month practical internships, including country-specific Länderprogramme with structured learning objectives.
• Länderprogramm Kenia (Kenya Country Program) German-African Trainee Program placing Kenyan agricultural students from Bukura Agricultural College on German farms, funded by BMZ as part of the Green Innovation Centres initiative, with 6-9 month internships. The 2026 cohort selected 80 trainees from over 300 applicants.
• Länderprogramm Ukraine (Ukraine Country Program) Traineeship program for Ukrainian agricultural students on German farms, supported by BMEL bilateral cooperation program FABU, providing 6-month practical internships. The 2026 program involved 23 trainees.
• Länderprogramm Aserbaidschan (Azerbaijan Country Program) Traineeship program placing Azerbaijani agricultural students on German farms for practical internships, part of AKI's country-specific traineeship portfolio.
• Projektmanagement (Project Management) Management and implementation of international agricultural development projects including Transitional Agriculture, bilateral cooperation projects (DBV-AKKOR 2009-2019), and development cooperation initiatives with funding from BMZ, BMEL, and state governments.
• Projektaktivitäten Burundi (Burundi Projects) Agricultural development projects in Burundi including sustainable farming training, energy-saving stoves, mini-biogas systems, and South-South knowledge exchange programs, funded through SEZ Baden-Württemberg.
• Delegationsreisen und Fachseminare (Delegation Visits and Expert Seminars) Organization of international delegation visits, expert seminars, and educational tours for agricultural professionals, including study trips to Germany for foreign delegations and German delegations abroad.
• Aus- und Weiterbildungsprogramme (Professional Training Programs) Comprehensive training and continuing education programs including online seminars (e.g., with BayWa AG on digital farming tools), excursion weeks (e.g., 2026 Stuttgart region), introductory seminars, and follow-up support for international trainees.
• Kontaktvermittlung (Contact Matching) Matching and contact brokerage services between German agricultural stakeholders (host farms, experts, associations) and international agricultural partners (trainees, delegations, institutions).

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 30 years of experience organizing international programs
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH — Green Innovation Centres (GIAE)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019GIZ, on behalf of BMZ, partners with AKI to implement the 'Green Innovation Centres in the Agri-Food Sector' (GIAE/GIAE) program. AKI has been funded since 2019 to run the German-African Trainee Program with Kenya, supporting smallholder farmers' income, employment, and food supply through agricultural innovations.
• Bukura Agricultural College (BAC) — KenyacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary partner agricultural college in Kenya that recruits and pre-selects students for AKI's German-African Trainee Program. BAC has been sending agricultural students to Germany since 2021. The partnership includes joint trainee selection visits, alumni follow-up programs, and coordination on curriculum alignment.
• Agricultural and Rural Advisory Center (CCAR) — MoldovaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCCAR, affiliated with the Moldovan Ministry of Agriculture, partnered with AKI in 2026 to organize a study trip for 10 specialists from Moldova to Baden-Württemberg. The trip included training on modern agricultural technology, digitization, farm management, research, and advisory services.
• FABU Project (Förderung der Berufsausbildung an landwirtschaftlichen Colleges in der Ukraine) / ADT Project Consulting GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFABU, funded by BMEL and implemented by ADT Project Consulting GmbH, has partnered with AKI since 2009 for the Ukrainian internship program, supporting practical vocational training for Ukrainian agricultural college students on German farms.
• Ordre Saint Camille — BurundicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing local partner in Burundi for AKI's agricultural development projects, including training on energy-saving stoves, sustainable organic farming, biochar production, and climate-resilient agriculture. Works with Pater Walter Stärk as the key liaison.
• Maschinenring Foundation GmbH — GermanyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner involved in AKI's Burundi projects, contributing to project coordination and knowledge sharing as part of the development cooperation activities.
• Char2Cool e.V.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerman nonprofit organization that collaborated with AKI and Ordre Saint Camille to deliver practical training on sustainable organic farming and biochar production in Burundi. Char2Cool provided financial support and facilitated the involvement of Kenyan expert Samuel Safari Elijah as trainer.
• Landesbauernverband in Baden-Württemberg (LBV) e.V.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLBV has partnered with AKI on delegation visits and expert seminars, providing presentations on the structure of German agricultural associations and supporting the exchange between German and international agricultural professionals.
• Bauernschule Bad Waldsee / Haus der bayerischen Landwirtschaft Herrsching (HdbL)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAgricultural training institutions that have partnered with AKI for delegation visits and study trips, providing educational programs and facilities for international agricultural delegations.
• Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology — KenyaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPotential new university partner in Kenya explored during AKI's November 2025 visit. Discussions focused on future cooperation possibilities for agricultural education and training programs.
• Wissenschaftlich-Methodisches Zentrum für Hochschul- und Berufsbildung der Ukraine (WMZ VFPO)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUkrainian coordination body for the FABU internship program that works with AKI to coordinate trainee selection and program delivery for Ukrainian agricultural students in Germany.
• BayWa AGminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBayWa AG partnered with AKI for online seminars delivered to trainees, providing insights into digital farming technologies including VariableRain irrigation management and Next Farming digital farm management systems.
• DEULA Baden-Württemberg GmbH — Kirchheim/TeckminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAgricultural training institute in Germany that has partnered with AKI to host introductory seminars for international trainees, providing facilities and training programs for trainee orientation upon arrival in Germany.
• Baden-Württemberg International (bw-i)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment trade and investment promotion agency for Baden-Württemberg that partnered with AKI to organize and support delegation trips abroad, including the 2020 India delegation under State Secretary Friedlinde Gurr-Hirsch.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Welthungerhilfe (Deutsche Welthungerhilfe e.V.): Large German nonprofit focused on fighting hunger and promoting rural development through agricultural projects in developing countries. Comparable mission, German nonprofit structure, and government funding profile, though at much larger scale.
• AIESEC: Global nonprofit facilitating international internship and exchange programs across multiple sectors and disciplines. Comparable as a provider-run multi-country international internship organization, though much larger and broader in scope than AKI's agricultural focus.
• GIZ (Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit): Germany's leading federal development agency and AKI's primary implementing partner (via Green Innovation Centres). Directly comparable as a German-government-funded organization delivering international agricultural and vocational cooperation programs across multiple developing countries, though at vastly larger scale.
• IAESTE (International Association for the Exchange of Students for Technical Experience): Global nonprofit operating paid international traineeship programs for students from technical and agricultural universities across 80+ countries. Comparable as a provider-run multi-country international internship organization, though not agriculture-specific.

Direct peers

• Schorlemer Foundation (Stiftung Schorlemer): German foundation supporting international agricultural exchange programs for young farmers and agricultural trainees. Closely comparable target audience (young agricultural professionals) and program model (international internship/exchange placements) to AKI's traineeship programs.
• DEULA Baden-Württemberg GmbH: German agricultural training institute that delivers vocational and continuing education programs for the agricultural sector. AKI partners with DEULA for trainee orientation seminars, and both organizations share a focus on practical agricultural skills development in southern Germany.
• Andreas Hermes Akademie (AHA): German nonprofit providing international agricultural education, leadership training, and capacity building for farmers' associations and rural professionals. Directly comparable mission and funding model (German nonprofit, agriculture-focused international training programs).
• IAK Agrar Consulting GmbH: German agricultural consulting firm specializing in international development projects, including training programs in transition and developing economies. Comparable in delivering German-funded agricultural training and consulting services in partner countries.
• ADT Project Consulting GmbH: German consulting firm that implements the FABU/BMEL bilateral cooperation program — AKI's direct partner for the Ukraine internship program since 2009. Comparable role as German-based implementer of publicly funded international agricultural training projects.
• Maschinenring Foundation GmbH: German foundation affiliated with Maschinenring, working on international agricultural development cooperation. AKI partner on Burundi projects; comparable in combining German agricultural sector networks with international development project delivery.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/agrarkontakte-international-aki-e-v

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about AgrarKontakte International (AKI) e.V.