HIGHCLERE CONSULTING SRL

Their core work

Highclere Consulting is a Romanian consultancy specializing in agricultural policy, rural development, and food system innovation across Europe. They contribute expertise in multi-actor approaches — bridging farmers, advisors, researchers, and policymakers — within large EU research consortia focused on sustainable agriculture and rural communities. Their work spans knowledge management platforms, policy instrument analysis, and facilitating the transition toward more resilient food and land-use systems, with a growing focus on mountain regions and urban-rural connections.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In their early H2020 period (2016–2018), Highclere focused squarely on agricultural policy — Common Agricultural Policy reform, European Innovation Partnerships, and connecting farmers with advisory networks through projects like SALSA, AgriLink, and LIAISON. From 2020 onward, their scope broadened significantly toward food system transitions, climate change mitigation, mountain sustainability, and citizen empowerment, as seen in FoodSHIFT2030, MOVING, and FARMWELL. The shift signals a move from policy analysis toward applied sustainability challenges and community resilience.

Highclere is expanding from pure agricultural policy consulting toward broader food-climate-community resilience topics, making them increasingly relevant for Horizon Europe missions on adaptation and food systems.

How they like to work

Highclere operates exclusively as a consortium participant — they have never coordinated a project, which is typical for a small consultancy contributing specialized knowledge rather than managing large-scale research. With 117 unique partners across 30 countries, they are remarkably well-connected for an SME of their size, suggesting they are a trusted and sought-after partner. Their presence in both large RIA consortia and smaller CSA projects shows flexibility in adapting to different project formats.

With 117 unique consortium partners spanning 30 countries, Highclere has built an exceptionally wide European network for a small Romanian consultancy. Their partnerships are concentrated in the agri-food and rural development research community across Western and Eastern Europe.

What sets them apart

Highclere occupies a distinctive niche as a Romanian SME with deep roots in EU agricultural policy research — a rare combination of Eastern European perspective and pan-European policy expertise. Their consistent involvement in multi-actor projects means they understand how to translate between researchers, farmers, and policymakers, making them valuable for any consortium that needs to bridge the science-practice gap. For coordinators building agri-food proposals, they bring both policy fluency and a network spanning 30 countries.

Highlights from their portfolio

• LIAISON
  Their largest project (EUR 343K) and most central to their identity — linking actors, instruments, and policies for rural innovation across Europe.
• MOVING
  Second-largest funding (EUR 284K) and represents their strategic expansion into mountain sustainability, climate adaptation, and socio-ecological systems.
• FoodSHIFT2030
  Marks their entry into urban-rural food system transitions and citizen empowerment — a clear departure from their traditional agricultural policy focus.