AGRIDEA - La centrale de vulgarisation agricole

What AGRIDEA - La centrale de vulgarisation agricole does

AGRIDEA (Association suisse pour le développement de l'agriculture et de l'espaces rurales / Swiss Association for the Development of Agriculture and Rural Areas) is a Swiss non-profit association founded in 1958, operating within the national Agricultural Innovation and Knowledge System (LIWIS/SCIA) as a designated competence center for agricultural extension. With approximately 120 employees across four locations—Lindau (headquarters), Lausanne, Cadenazzo, and Bern—AGRIDEA covers German, French, Italian, and increasingly English-speaking linguistic regions of Switzerland. Its mandate is to collect knowledge from agricultural research and farming practice, prepare it didactically, and disseminate it in a target-group-oriented manner to farmers, agricultural advisors, cantonal agricultural offices, and research institutions.

The organization's product portfolio spans approximately 450 publications in print and digital formats; over 100 training courses annually reaching about 2,500 participants, with a 94% participant satisfaction rate; proprietary software including ACORDA (farm management) and AGRO-TECH; the Agripedia.ch free digital knowledge platform; online technical fact sheets; and custom software development and web services for agricultural organizations. Service offerings include project management for agricultural innovation projects, facilitation and moderation using participatory methodologies (RDP, PLA, Outcome Mapping), and operational hosting of multi-actor networks such as the Thematic Soil Network and Climate Farm Demo's Swiss national pilot farm network.

AGRIDEA's business model is a non-profit, multi-stream operation with funding from federal grants through the Federal Office for Agriculture (UFAG), cantonal contributions, member association fees, course tuition, publication and software sales (perpetual and rental licenses), and project-based service mandates billed on time-and-materials or fixed-price terms. Distribution is sales-led through an online shop and direct outreach, supplemented by event-driven and community-led motions via annual symposia, the KOLAS Climate Conference, and CECRA-certified agricultural advisor training. International reach is exercised through European Horizon projects—Climate Farm Demo (1,500 pilot farms across 27 countries) and DIGI-Rangeland (13 European partners)—with AGRIDEA serving as Switzerland's national coordinator.

Name

AGRIDEA - La centrale de vulgarisation agricole

Legal name

Agridea - Association suisse pour le développement de l'agriculture et de l'espaces rurales

Website

https://agridea.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1958

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

AGRIDEA is a Swiss non-profit association founded in 1958 that develops and disseminates agricultural knowledge, training, publications, and software for Swiss farmers, advisors, cantonal offices, and research institutions under the national LIWIS/SCIA extension mandate.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agricultural Extension Services

SIC

Agricultural Services (700), Services-Prepackaged Software (7372), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Nutrient Management Planning & Fertility Programs (AFACABAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Carbon, Sustainability & Farm Certification Support (Agro-Environmental Advisory) (AFACABAL), Agriculture & Food Production (EDABALAA), Farm Management & Decision Support Software (FMIS, ERP, Recordkeeping) (AFAGALAA)

Keywords

• Agricultural extension services
• Agricultural knowledge transfer
• Rural advisory services
• Agricultural training courses
• Farm management software

Headquarters

HQ city

Belmont-sur-lausanne

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Training Courses: AGRIDEA delivers over 100 training courses annually with approximately 2,500 participants. Revenue generated through course fees, with special pricing for member organizations and partner cantons.
2. Publications and Documentation: Sale of approximately 450 publications and technical documents in print and digital formats covering all aspects of Swiss agriculture.
3. Software Licenses: Distribution of agricultural software solutions including ACORDA and AGRO-TECH, with perpetual licenses and rental models available.
4. Project Management Services: Service mandates for agricultural projects including design, planning, support, implementation, and conclusion. Billed on time-and-materials or fixed-price basis.
5. Membership Fees: Association fees from member organizations providing access to reduced course rates and other member benefits.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

AGRIDEA collects knowledge from agricultural research and farming practice, prepares it didactically, and disseminates it to the Swiss agricultural and food economy. Its core offerings comprise approximately 450 publications (digital and print), more than 100 training courses per year attended by 2,500 participants, agricultural software products (ACORDA, AGRO-TECH), custom software and web development, project management mandates, and facilitation services using participatory methods (RDP, PLA, Outcome Mapping).

Product overview

AGRIDEA offers a comprehensive portfolio of knowledge transfer products and services for Swiss agriculture. The core offerings include Publications (digital and print format), over 100 annual Courses, and Software solutions (ACORDA farm management software, AGRO-TECH, custom software development, and website services). These are complemented by digital platforms (Agripedia.ch for free specialist knowledge), Project Management services, Facilitation and Moderation services using participatory methods (RDP, PLA, Outcome Mapping), and collaborative Networks and Platforms. The organization also provides online technical sheets. The overall approach is a multi-channel knowledge dissemination model combining printed/digital publications, in-person training, software tools, and collaborative platforms to serve agricultural advisors, farmers, researchers, and public administration.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Agripedia.ch: Digital knowledge platform providing free specialized articles on agriculture and food industry topics.

Products and services

• Publications High-quality publications for agricultural advisory, teaching, administration and farming practice, available in both digital and print formats. Approximately 450 titles covering all aspects of Swiss agriculture.
• Training Courses (Formations et cours) Continuing education courses bringing together research experts and practitioners, covering up-to-date agricultural information, knowledge exchange and professional network building. Over 100 courses delivered annually to approximately 2,500 participants with a 94% satisfaction rate.
• ACORDA Farm management software designed for Swiss agricultural operations, available through perpetual license and rental models with included support for the first 90 days.
• AGRO-TECH Agricultural technology software adapted to the needs of Swiss agricultural sectors, distributed through AGRIDEA with licensing and rental options.
• Software Development Services Custom software development services for agricultural applications, delivered by AGRIDEA's software team to agricultural organizations.
• Internet Sites Services Website development and hosting services for agricultural organizations, provided by AGRIDEA.
• Agripedia.ch Digital knowledge platform offering specialist articles on agriculture and the food industry. Operated as part of AGRIDEA's dissemination portfolio alongside the thematic Soil Network platform.
• Project Management Services (Gestion de projets) Initiation, design, planning, support, implementation and conclusion of innovative projects across agricultural and food economy themes. Billed on time-and-materials or fixed-price basis, with travel time and expenses charged additionally.
• Moderation and Methods Services (Modération et méthodes) Facilitation techniques and participatory methods for knowledge generation, experience exchange and decision-making, including RDP (Regional Development Projects), PLA (Participatory Learning and Action) and Outcome Mapping methodologies.
• Networks and Platforms Services (Réseaux et plateformes) Facilitation and encouragement of collaboration between actors in the Swiss agricultural knowledge system (SCIA/LIWIS), including operation of the Thematic Soil Network with operational groups on soil quality and sustainable land use.

Quantifiable outcome

• 94% participant satisfaction rate for courses
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Climate Farm Demo ConsortiumcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026AGRIDEA coordinates the Swiss national network of pilot farms for this European Horizon programme involving 1,500 farms across 27 countries, focused on climate-smart agriculture.
• Federal Office for Agriculture (UFAG)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAGRIDEA operates under a funding agreement with the Swiss Federal Office for Agriculture (UFAG), implementing agricultural knowledge transfer activities as part of the national agricultural policy framework.
• Conference of Cantonal Agricultural Directors (KOLAS/CDCA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAGRIDEA collaborates with KOLAS on joint initiatives including the KOLAS Climate Conference and development of activities for 2026-2029 under the agreement with UFAG.
• IALB (Internationale Akademie für ländliche Beratung)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAGRIDEA is a member of IALB, the International Academy for Rural Advisory Services, providing access to European network and professional standards.
• GFRAS (Global Forum for Rural Advisory Services)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAGRIDEA participates in GFRAS, the global forum for rural advisory services, facilitating international knowledge exchange and best practice sharing.
• CECRA (Certificate for European Consultants in Rural Areas)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAGRIDEA participates in the CECRA certification program for European rural consultants, supporting professional development standards.
• DIGI-Rangeland ConsortiumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAGRIDEA is one of 13 European project partners in this Horizon Europe project promoting digital innovation in grazing livestock farming systems.
• Forum la Vulg Suisse (FVS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAGRIDEA and FVS jointly operate the Thematic Soil Network, organizing operational groups that work on soil quality and sustainable agricultural land use.
• EJP Soil (European Joint Programme for Soil)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Thematic Soil Network originated from an EJP Soil survey that identified increased need for exchange and networking in soil-related topics.
• Verzone Woods ArchitectesminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartnered on landscape quality studies for Meyrin and other regions, contributing architectural and landscape planning expertise.
• CSD EngineersminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCollaborated on landscape quality contributions in the Léman shores region, providing engineering and environmental expertise.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• 365FarmNet: Major European farm management software platform offering recordkeeping, planning, and decision support; comparable to AGRIDEA's ACORDA and AGRO-TECH software products and a credible commercial competitor.
• John Deere Operations Center: Global farm management platform from a major equipment OEM offering agronomic data tools and decision support; competes with AGRIDEA's software offering at a much larger scale.

Direct peers

• Agroscope: Swiss federal agricultural research institute that AGRIDEA complements by translating research into practice; comparable as a public-sector node in Switzerland's agricultural knowledge system.
• KTBL (Kuratorium für Technik und Bauwesen in der Landwirtschaft): German association that develops methods, data, and publications for agricultural practice and advisory; comparable as a non-profit knowledge broker producing publications, software tools, and standards for advisors.
• Teagasc: Ireland's national agricultural authority providing research, advisory, training, and publications to farmers; comparable as a publicly funded agricultural extension and knowledge-transfer body serving a national farming base.
• ADAS: UK-based agricultural and environmental consultancy offering agronomy, policy advice, and training to farmers and government; closely comparable in the advisory/extension and applied research translation space.
• Chambres d'agriculture France: French network of chambers of agriculture providing extension, training, and consulting to farmers; comparable as a regionalized public-advisory network delivering knowledge transfer and project services to a national farming base.
• FiBL (Research Institute of Organic Agriculture): Europe's leading organic agriculture research institute with offices in Switzerland, Germany, and Austria; comparable in mission (applied agricultural research dissemination) and in collaborating with Swiss farmers and advisors.

Others

• GFRAS (Global Forum for Rural Advisory Services): Global network for rural advisory services in which AGRIDEA participates; comparable as a peer coordinating body shaping international standards and methodologies for agricultural extension.
• IALB (Internationale Akademie für ländliche Beratung): European academy for rural advisory services of which AGRIDEA is a member; comparable as a peer institution in the rural advisory community and a coordination point for the CECRA certification program.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/agrideaagridea
• Facebookfacebook.com/agrideach
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/agridea

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about AGRIDEA - La centrale de vulgarisation agricole