Synergy Days is designed to celebrate and showcase European research projects that are transforming the European agri-food sector. Who are they, and how are they using digital technology to innovate the sector? We spoke to QuantiFarm to learn more about the project, its goals and journey.

 

 

What inspired the creation of your project? 

“How do we know what’s the best technology for a given farm?” This is the question that led to the founding principle of QuantiFarm, which aims to explore if and how well digital tools perform in commercial agriculture. The challenges faced by farmers in the field are diverse and complex, calling for new practices and tools that address farmers’ actual needs in terms of productivity, cost-effectiveness, sustainability, and resilience. 

QuantiFarm steps in to bridge the gap by evaluating Digital Agriculture Technology Solutions (DATSs) in real-world settings. This innovative and unique project sets forth a comprehensive, inclusive, and human-centered approach to facilitate the adoption of DATSs among farmers, supporting their decision-making process, and most importantly, helping them understand the wide range of benefits associated with digitalization in agriculture. 

Can you share some of the key milestones or successes your project has achieved to date?

In the first two years of its implementation, QuantiFarm has successfully accomplished all its initial objectives and achieved important milestones, setting the stage for further advancement and development. 

Firstly, QuantiFarm conducted in-depth research to investigate the behavioural factors affecting the adoption of digital solutions by farmers, completing the initial research cycle successfully. The project also developed a fully fledged assessment framework grounded on over 100 performance indicators for reliably evaluating the cost, benefits and sustainability gains of DATSs, both at individual production steps and at a “whole-farm approach”. This framework is a dynamic resource that will continuously evolve and be refined based on results from test cases. 

The first cycle of piloting activities was executed across the 30 established test cases to assess the actual cost, benefits, and sustainability implications of various pre-selected commercially available Digital Agriculture Technology Solutions (DATSs) using the developed assessment framework. 

Additionally, QuantiFarm released the initial version of its toolkit, which includes assessment and decision support tools, as well as the Policy Monitoring tool for farmers, farm advisors, and policymakers. A comprehensive and innovative curriculum was also created to train farm advisors in the field of DATSs. 

Finally, QuantiFarm formulated a robust methodology for developing actionable policy recommendations aimed at enhancing the sustainability and competitiveness of the agrifood sector through the proliferation of agricultural solutions. 

This is only the beginning for us and the whole QuantiFarm team looks forward to the promising developments that lie ahead. 

What innovative technologies or methods are you most excited about within your project? 

One of the project’s main results is the innovative QuantiFarm toolkit, a web-based user-friendly dashboard, which uses different specialised tools and offers tailor made support to a range of stakeholders, presenting the assessment outcomes for the evaluated DATSs. These outcomes provide real-world evidence of the benefits and challenges when specific DATSs are used in specific contexts, taking into account the three sustainability dimensions: economic, environmental, and social.  

As mentioned earlier, the initial version of the toolkit has already been released and is available for users to explore, comprising 4 assessment and decision support tools and the Policy Monitoring tool, targeting farmers, farm advisors and policymakers. The toolkit is intended to increase awareness and data availability, regarding digital solutions and support evidence-based decision-making. In its current version, the toolkit contains information for more than 300 digital solutions, including the assessment results from the DATSs applied in our test cases.  

This unique platform allows users to input their individual data and properties’ characteristics, and obtain customised assessments and personalised advisory services. Since this is only the initial version of the toolkit, we are currently working on feedback and recommendations received from related stakeholders and users to enhance its functionality and turn it into an inclusive, personal “advisor” for all users.  

What advice would you give to other innovators looking to make an impact in the agricultural / food sector through digital technologies? 

Making an impact in the agrifood sector can be challenging; however, investing in the right people and targeting the suitable audience is key to successful outreach. Understanding the sector, leveraging available cutting-edge technologies, and focusing on sustainability are essential starting points for all innovators who want to make a difference.  

Creating a vibrant and diverse ecosystem and fostering collaborations and partnerships are invaluable assets for the innovation sector, as they can enhance impact maximisation and establish a foundation for knowledge exchange and diffusion. Lastly, focusing on scalability to deliver tangible benefits, while staying informed and up-to-date with the latest technologies, can boost your flexibility and adaptability, equipping you with the necessary tools to navigate changing conditions. 

What is the added value of Synergy Days for your project? 

This is the second time that QuantiFarm participates in the unique two-day conference, following last year’s great organisation in Thessaloniki, Greece, in early October 2023. Having the opportunity to connect, create new collaborations and enlarge our network, QuantiFarm’s impact reached a significant maximisation, making the Synergy Days Conference a memorable event for the whole project team.  

In addition, showcasing our ambitious project in various ways, including a pitch presentation, an interactive booth in the exhibition area and, of course, through thematic workshops, sparked the interest of numerous visitors and other EU projects that focus on the agrifood sector. All in all, Synergy Days offers a unique space for the digital innovators of the European agri-food sector to meet, debate and exchange knowledge, while also bringing together ​EU projects, policy-makers, European and Digital Innovations Hubs, farmers and more.  

Want to meet them and learn more about the project? Join QuantiFarm at Synergy Days 2024! More details and how to register.