Franz Fischler was born in Absam, Tyrol, Austria on September 23, 1946. At the age of 14, while attending secondary school at the Franziskaner Gymnasium in Hall (Tyrol), he had to run his grandparents' small farm. After leaving school, he chose to study agriculture at the University of Soil Science in Vienna, graduating in 1973. After that he held various academic posts until 1979.

Franz Fischler's career as a representative of the agriculture sector began in 1979 when he joined the Tyrol Chamber of Agriculture. He dealt with environmental issues, education and training, culture and land-use planning until 1984, when he became Director of the Chamber. In 1989, by which time he had four children, he was appointed Federal Minister of Agriculture and Forestry. In that capacity he played an important part in the negotiations for Austria's accession to the European Union. In 1990 and again in 1994, he was elected to the Austrian Parliament but did not exercise his mandate as an MP because of his ministerial post.

From 1995 to 1999 he was European Commissioner for agriculture and rural development. When the new Commission was appointed in September 1999, he also acquired responsibility for Community fisheries policy (until 2004).

Since the end of 2004, Franz Fischler has been mainly involved with consultancy work, teaching, educational courses and is also president of the EcoSocial Forum Europe.