Third FarmBioNet Capacity Building Training 3: The Art of Interviewing
The third capacity building training session brought together national network leaders for an interactive workshop titled “The Art of Interviewing”, focused on strengthening skills for conducting effective and ethical interviews with farmers.
The goal of the session was to support participants in capturing authentic farmer experiences (farmer portraits) and transforming them into meaningful stories that contribute to knowledge exchange within the FarmBioNet network.
Capturing Farmer Voices
The workshop began by introducing the concept of farmer portraits, highlighting real-life experiences, challenges, and innovations from the field. These narratives play a key role in strengthening communication and connecting stakeholders across the agricultural community.
Building Effective Interviewing Skills
Participants explored key principles of interviewing in agricultural contexts, including:
- Preparing for interviews by understanding the farmer’s background and context
- Using open-ended questions to encourage detailed responses
- Building trust through active listening, empathy, and respec.
A practical role-play exercise allowed participants to test and refine their interviewing techniques in real time.
From Conversations to Stories
A key focus of the session was learning how to identify strong story angles from interviews, particularly in relation to biodiversity-friendly farming practices. Participants explored how to turn raw insights into compelling narratives around:
- Innovation in farming practices
- Farm resilience and adaptation
- Problem-solving in real agricultural contexts
- Knowledge-sharing between farmers
- Through hands-on exercises, participants worked on transforming interview excerpts into clear and engaging story angles.
Ethical Storytelling
The session also emphasized the importance of ethical storytelling, highlighting honesty, accuracy, and respect for farmers’ voices. Participants discussed how to avoid bias, ensure consent, and keep farmers at the centre of their own stories.
Examples of good interview questions were shared, focusing on open, neutral, and respectful communication.
Key Takeaway
The training reinforced how effective interviewing can turn farmer experiences into powerful stories that support learning, inspire peers, and strengthen biodiversity-friendly farming across Europe.