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HORIZON-CL6-2022-FARM2FORK-02-04-two-stage: Smart solutions for the use of digital technologies for small and medium-sized farms and farm structures: Seeking EU partners specialized in fruit farming /viticulture/agricultural economics

Country of Origin: Italy
Reference Number: RDIT20220112001
Publication Date: 13 January 2022

Summary

An Italian consulting and planning company operating in the agri-food sector is implementing, in accordance with current European digital transformation strategies, the use of digital technologies for the detection and processing of spatial data and images in agriculture. They seek European partners, e.g. research institutes, specialized in fruit farming, viticulture and /or agricultural economics for the constitution of the consortium for the Horizon Europe call (first deadline 23 Feb 2022)

Description

The Italian consulting and planning Company (SME) has more than 35 years of experience in the Integrated Management and Control System (S.I.G.C.) of Community Contributions in the Agricultural sector (CAP) and has several R&D projects in progress aimed at integrating various relevant on site technologies with cutting-edge sensors, machine learning, analysis of multispectral and multitemporal satellite and aerial images, processing of big statistical, economic, agro-meteorological and environmental data to be applied to agroforestry, urban and infrastructural contexts.

The project idea for the Horizon Europe call consists in the implementation of digital technologies (e.g. laser scanner, RGB camera, thermal camera, GPS) for the detection and processing of spatial data and images in agriculture. The main goal is to apply these new digital approaches in orchards and vineyards in order to simplify their management and increase their production efficiency, with a focus on yields forecast and consequently on organizing the harvesting and logistics phases. The ground surveys could be integrated with multitemporal satellite data and images, from drones or sensors in situ, in order to improve the survey output. In the post-survey phase, the data will be processed to implement decision support systems and algorithms.

The Italian Company believes that the participation in the project of these categories of European partners is important:

- One European research institution specialized in the field of agronomy applied to orchards and / or vineyards;

- One European research institution specialized in the field of agricultural economics for all aspects related to economic convenience and sustainability expressed in the call;

- One or more EU representatives of the production area specialized in fruit farming and / or viticulture.

Advantages and Innovations

Innovative aspects:

- Implementation of digital technologies in agriculture;

- Human-in-the-loop approach in medium-small farms;

- Integration of multiple digital technologies (form field sensors to satellite imagery);

- Possibility to better manage the harvest the subsequent logistics;

- Possibility of implementing Digital Twin technologies in agriculture.

Requested partner

The italian company looks up for 2 types of partner for the constitution of the consortium for the Horizon Europe call: research institutes and SMEs. 



The research institutes should be specialized in fruit farming, viticulture and /or agricultural economics.



The SMEs companies should:

- be representative of the production area specialized in fruit farming and / or viticulture;

- have in-depth knowledge of the cultivation (e.g. pruning, yield estimates) and harvesting phases;

- have experience in managing the logistical phases following the harvesting;

- have the possibility of interaction with specialized field technicians.