CONSULAI, CONSULTORIA AGRO INDUSTRIATRIAL LDA

Their core work

CONSULAI is a Portuguese agro-industrial consultancy based in Beja (Alentejo region) that bridges the gap between agricultural research and farm-level practice. They specialize in advisory services for sustainable farming systems, helping farmers adopt digital tools, precision agriculture, and integrated pest management strategies. Their consistent role across 13 EU projects points to deep expertise in facilitating multi-actor knowledge exchange — translating research outputs into practical decision-support for farmers, advisors, and rural policy makers. They operate at the intersection of agricultural consulting and innovation brokerage, connecting EU research networks with on-the-ground farming realities in Southern Europe.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

CONSULAI's early H2020 work (2018-2019) centered on digital transformation of agriculture — precision farming tools, digital innovation hubs, and smart farming adoption — alongside foundational sustainability research on grasslands and water reuse. From 2020 onward, their focus shifted noticeably toward food system outcomes: food quality authentication, climate-neutral farming, agri-food trade modelling, and integrated pest management. This evolution shows a consultancy maturing from "help farmers go digital" toward "help farming systems become sustainable and market-competitive."

CONSULAI is moving toward climate neutrality and food quality assurance, making them a strong partner for projects targeting the farm-to-fork transition and sustainable food value chains.

How they like to work

CONSULAI has never coordinated an H2020 project — they operate exclusively as a participant, which positions them as a reliable consortium partner rather than a project leader. With 333 unique partners across 33 countries in 13 projects, they work in large, multi-actor consortia (typical for CSA and RIA projects in agriculture). This means they are well-practiced in collaborative frameworks, comfortable delivering specific work packages on advisory services or regional case studies, and bring an extensive pan-European contact network without demanding a leadership role.

With 333 unique consortium partners spanning 33 countries, CONSULAI has one of the broadest networks you'll find in a Portuguese agricultural SME. Their connections span the full EU agricultural research ecosystem, from universities and research institutes to farmer organizations and policy bodies.

What sets them apart

CONSULAI stands out as a Southern European agricultural consultancy that genuinely operates at the science-practice interface — not just in name, but across 13 projects consistently focused on getting research into farmers' hands. Based in Beja, in Portugal's main agricultural region (Alentejo), they bring Mediterranean and dryland farming perspectives that many Northern European-led consortia lack. For consortium builders, they offer a rare combination: a private-sector SME with deep EU project experience, practical farm advisory credentials, and regional knowledge of Southern European agriculture.

Highlights from their portfolio

• SUPER-G
  Their largest funded project (EUR 630K) running 6 years, focused on sustainable permanent grassland systems — represents their deepest single commitment.
• ClieNFarms
  Their most recent project (2022) and second-highest funding (EUR 394K), targeting climate-neutral farms — signals their current strategic direction.
• SmartAgriHubs
  Part of one of H2020's flagship digital agriculture initiatives with open calls and innovation experiments, showing their connection to the broader AgriTech ecosystem.