Objective(s):
Farmers, advisors and policymakers find it difficult to identify and adopt effective Digital Agricultural Technology Solutions (DATSs) due to multiple information and evolving market. The QuantiFarm Toolkit addresses this need by offering a single platform that combines digital solutions, practical guidance, and real-world data to improve farm related decision-making. 

Result(s):
Through its user-friendly online interface, the QuantiFarm Toolkit provides access to an extensive inventory of tools from cost–benefit calculators and benchmarking to policy monitoring dashboards and DATSs recommendation tools. These tools are informed by real data from test cases and research. By featuring multiple language options and continuous updates, the Toolkit simplifies the search for solutions that match each farm’s unique conditions.

Practical Implications/Recommendations:
For farmers, advisors and policymakers the QuantiFarm Toolkit serves as a time-saving resource that offers direct recommendations on technology adoption and various tools related to agriculture.

• QuantiFarm Toolkit

Objective(s):
The QuantiFarm Benchmarking Tool offers a way to digitally document cultivation activities, calculate indicators and compare data across multiple farms or periods. By linking each recorded activity to relevant Digital Agricultural Technology Solutions (DATS), the tool helps users assess the effectiveness of various technologies.
 

Result(s):
Through an intuitive web-based dashboard, the Benchmarking Tool automates the calculation of key performance indicators e.g. yield. Users can generate comparisons and aggregations data between different farms, crops or seasons, making it easier to improve practices. This process is completed by incorporating also DATS information, thus allowing farmers and advisors to associate performance gains with specific DATS. 

Practical Implications/Recommendations:
Implementing the Benchmarking Tool can lead to more informed, data-driven decision-making in farm management. By automating record-keeping and metric calculations, it saves time and reduces administrative tasks.

• QuantiFarm Benchmarking Too

Objective(s):
Farming professionals face the challenge of identifying the most suitable digital solution from various tools on the market. The QuantiFarm Recommendation Tool addresses this need by guiding farmers and advisors to choose a Digital Agricultural Technology Solution (DATS) that is relative with their specific needs, e.g. farm size, crop type, etc. The tool combines hundreds of DATS from various sources including the FairShare inventory.
 

Result(s):
Through a user-friendly web interface, the QuantiFarm Recommendation Tool generates targeted suggestions of DATS. Each recommendation is accompanied by a description of the solution’s functionality and other requirements. Furthermore, continuous updates ensure that newer DATS are incorporated over time thus keeping recommendations up to date.
 

Practical Implications/Recommendations:
Using the QuantiFarm Recommendation Tool can save significant time and effort. Farmers and advisors can receive a clear suggestion about what tool to use according to their input conditions. This can lead to accelerating technology adoption that enhances productivity and optimizes use of fertilizers, water, energy, etc. Also, users who adopt specific DATS can share their experiences back into the tool’s database, thus generating information that can be used as a knowledge base for the community.

• QuantiFarm Recommendation Tool

Objective(s):
The QuantiFarm Policy Monitoring Tool collects, aggregates and visualizes up-to-date, specific information on how Digital Agricultural Technology Solutions (DATS) impact farm performance. The tool provides policymakers and other stakeholders like farmers and advisors with an accurate, real-time view of aggregated outcomes, using data from QuantiFarm test cases, as well as external datasets (e.g., EO data, open European GIS services).

Result(s):
The Policy Monitoring Tool offers a user-friendly dashboard where farmers, advisors and policymakers can filter data by country, region, year and crop type to generate analytical reports with maps, charts and comparisons. It highlights differences in indicators (e.g. water consumption, fertilization, etc.) between parcels that employ DATS and those that do not. 

Practical Implications/Recommendations:
By offering clear, visual insights into regional agricultural conditions and the influence of DATS, the tool helps farmers and advisors to observe trends, identify successful practices and select investments in technologies that promote economic and environmental gains. Furthermore, the tool supports policymakers to adjust policies that encourage the wider adoption of DATs in order to reduce costs, enhance productivity and improve environmental parameters.

• QuantiFarm Policy Monitoring Tool

DIA Overview

Over the past decade, digital technologies have transformed agriculture, becoming indispensable for enhancing operational efficiency, cutting costs, and boosting productivity. Despite significant investments and clear benefits, the adoption rate among EU farmers remains low, falling short of sectoral expectations. A key barrier is the lack of specialized knowledge among farm advisors, who play a crucial role in guiding farmers toward digital solutions. To address this, QuantiFarm launched a Digital Innovation Academy (DIA) to strengthen the capacities of farm advisors and rural consultants in the field of digital farming, addressing the prevailing skill mismatch as well as the gaps in current training provision. The DIA provides advisors with the knowledge and (technical and soft) skills needed to deliver innovative, personalized advisory services regarding the selection, uptake and application of DATSs, based on the unique needs of individual farmers.

PROGRAMME DETAILS
Training approach: Train the Trainer & End-user training 
Delivery mode: Face-to-face & Online
Target group: Farm advisors, rural consultants, DIHs 
Requirements: Prior working experience as agricultural advisors, proficiency in English, 
Curriculum structure: 7 sessions for TTT and 3 sessions for end-user training
Duration: 9,5 hours (delivery time)
EQF reference level: EQF level 5 
Learning outcomes: 41 intended learning outcomes 
Assessment: Multiple choice questionnaire

WHAT WILL YOU LEARN
-Understand the factors influencing DATSs adoption and non-adoption of DATSs by farmers.
-Obtain insights into DATSs categories, application scope, benefits costs, and sustainability impact. 
-Use the QuantiFarm toolkit for personalized advisory services.
-Support farmers in using DATSs in real-life production conditions and adopting appropriate business or operational interventions.

• Digital Innovation Academy

The corn's test case on Precision Irrigation in Portugal demonstrated that integrating advanced technologies, such as soil moisture sensors and climate modeling, allows for optimized water use, reduced waste, and increased productivity. By leveraging a data-driven approach, farmers can make more precise irrigation decisions tailored to regional climate variations, leading to greater water efficiency and sustainability.
Combining precision irrigation with smart farm management enhances crop yields, reduces operational costs, and minimizes environmental impact, making it a viable solution for addressing water scarcity and climate change challenges.
DATS help determine the precise water needs for different field sections, preventing water waste while ensuring crops receive the optimal amount of water. In the case of Agromais Plus, which provides technical support to its members, two farms in the Golegã region highlight the benefits of DATS adoption. Farm 1 is a 300 ha family business, experienced in using DATS, that achieved improved efficiency and cost reductions, particularly in irrigation energy consumption. The test case evaluated and monitored a 30-ha experimental plot yielded a financial benefit of approximately €917/ha. Farm 2 is a 12 ha smaller farm and the plot with DATS presented a reduction in water consumption and a yield increase of approximately 2 tonnes/ha.
These results confirm that DATS adoption contributes not only to cost reduction and financial benefits but also to the sustainability of farms and their surrounding environments.

• Irristrat

Objective:
The project focuses on addressing the challenge of ensuring high-quality oyster production in the Mediterranean region, where water conditions and environmental factors can significantly impact oyster health and safety. It aims to seize opportunities by developing advanced sensor technologies to monitor and assess oyster quality in real time, ensuring compliance with food safety standards and improving marketability.

Result:
The project has introduced innovative sensor-based solutions, including:

Water Quality Sensors: Devices that continuously monitor key parameters such as temperature, salinity, pH, and dissolved oxygen, which are critical for oyster health.

This project tackles key challenges in wheat farming while unlocking new opportunities:
Inefficient Use of Inputs – Traditional farming can lead to excessive or insufficient application of fertilizers, pesticides, and water, impacting yields and efficiency.
High Production Costs – Rising agrochemical and fuel prices reduce farm profitability, making cost-effective strategies essential.
Climate and Weather Uncertainty – Unpredictable weather conditions affect crop health and yield stability, making precision farming critical.
Slow Decision-Making – Without real-time data, farmers rely on estimates, delaying responses to pest outbreaks, irrigation needs, and fertilization timing.
Key Results & Innovative Solutions
Higher Efficiency & Profitability – DAT adoption resulted in an average net benefit of €426.66 per hectare, optimizing input management and increasing yields.
Fast Payback & Cost Reduction – The initial €70,395.60 investment paid off in just 3 months, proving its economic feasibility.
Optimized Resource Use – Precision farming reduced unnecessary pesticide and fertilizer use, lowering costs. However, slight nitrogen increases require monitoring to minimize environmental impact.
Better Decision-Making – Real-time data from satellites, weather stations, and instrumented machinery improved fertilization, irrigation, and pest control, enhancing productivity.
Practical Recommendations for Farmers
Increase Data Collection Frequency – Regular monitoring ensures timely adjustments in crop management.
Enhance Training & Support – Ongoing education on digital tools and data interpretation maximizes efficiency.
Benchmark Performance – Comparing results with industry standards helps refine strategies for better outcomes.
Monitor Environmental Impact – Sustainable nitrogen use should be optimized to balance yield growth with lower emissions.
By adopting DATs, wheat farmers can increase profits, reduce input costs, and enhance sustainability while securing higher yields through smarter

• vectr-farming

AgroSmart is an advanced raw material quantity and quality management system designed to integrate all processes in the agricultural storage and trading business. This system helps address key challenges faced by farmers and agricultural companies aiming to increase operational efficiency and accuracy.

Key Challenges and Opportunities: 

Process Integration: Traditional methods are often fragmented, making data management and analysis difficult. AgroSmart integrates all processes into a single platform, enabling centralized information management. Increasing Productivity: Manual processes can be slow and prone to errors. An automated system allows operations to be performed more quickly and accurately, thereby increasing productivity.

Project Results and Innovative Solutions: 

Centralized Management: AgroSmart enables both large corporations and smaller companies to manage their businesses centrally by adapting the system to individual needs. Data Accuracy: The system ensures precise data on raw material quantity and quality, allowing for informed decision-making and reducing the risk of errors.

Practical Recommendations and Benefits: 

Implementation Costs: While the initial investment in the system may be significant, it pays off in the long run due to increased efficiency and reduced errors. Benefits to End Users: Farmers and companies using AgroSmart can expect higher productivity, better control over raw material quality, and more efficient resource management, ultimately leading to increased profitability.

The project addresses the process of investing in an Automatic System for Irrigation and Fertigation in strawberry and blueberry production as the next level of automation and digitalization of the production process. Production takes place in greenhouses (for strawberries) and plastic containers (for blueberries).

The first challenge is water usage, as over 70% of available drinking water is used for crop irrigation, and more than 60% of irrigation water is lost due to over-irrigation. A more efficient approach to water use is necessary, and this system allows for a programmable irrigation and fertigation plan, ensuring water is supplied at the right time and in the exact amount needed. Over-irrigation depletes natural soil nutrients, hindering healthy crop growth.

Investing in this system requires a considerable amount of capital, but the primary benefits include significantly higher yields (up to 200%) and improved product quality. Additionally, it enhances water productivity and increases nutrient efficiency. Since blueberries and strawberries are highly sensitive plants, fine-tuning water management and nutrient composition is crucial for success.

The main costs of this technology can be spread over several years. Beyond its core benefits, this system also provides flexibility, allowing the introduction of new crops into production. This adaptability enables farmers to respond effectively to changing market conditions.

• netajet-4g

Objectives:
Highlight the benefits of Variable Rate Applications (VRA) when utilizing the Augmenta Field Analyzer for operations like In-Season Nitrogen Applications, Insecticide Applications (for small insects), Plant Growth Regulators and Harvest Aids (Defoliants & Desiccants) in cotton cultivation when compared to the conventional agricultural practices. That happens while this sensor controls spreaders/sprayers by applying precise amounts of Fertilizer/Agrochemical in real-time with a single pass by reducing inputs while promoting a more sustainable crop production.

Results:
As expected, data analysis suggests that Digital Agriculture Technology Solution (DATS) might contribute to a more sustainable production of a highly demanding crop such as cotton. Reduction of multiple inputs was realized during the production process (PGR, HA, N fertilizers, Insecticides) without compromising productivity, which means a reduced environmental input and production cost for the farmers.

Recommendations:
DATS offers a solution that can realise multiple benefits to the farmers. The savings achieved during multiple agrochemical applications, when translated to reduction of the production cost can be used as an indicator to assist in deciding whether to adopt DATSs or not. The tendency of increased productivity can be used as a complementary indicator, since the yield increase is directly translated in increased income.  
The benefits are usually proportional to the farm size and highly dependable to the crop type. Thus, cost reduction and income increase should be evaluated in this context in order to estimate the respective ROI.
In addition, using a different VRA type of operation, the farmer can gather insights about his farm that will define future decisions about his cultivation practices. E.g. using Nitrogen VRA, he can identify low productivity areas, using PGR he can identify areas with extensive vegetation etc
 

• Augmenta Field Analyzer

This test case focuses on understanding economic, social, and environmental impacts of using milking robots in a pasture-based Irish dairy system. The project assesses how milking robots can help solve key challenges like labor including how to manage labor shortages, labor costs, and the limited availability of skilled, seasonal workers. Farmers are looking to mitigate rising input costs and fluctuating profits, meet changing environmental regulations (water quality, GHG emissions, animal health standards) while striving for better work-life balance. Milking robots have the potential to redistribute the daily labor schedule giving cows and farmers more freedoms, as both aren’t tied to morning and evening milking regiments. Milking robots can optimise sustainable dairy production through fully automatic milking coupled with sensors, precision feeding, and real time data analytics, enhancing labor efficiency, milk yield consistency and animal welfare, while integrating with broader Farm Management System apps.

Results suggest using milking robots in the predominately grass-based Irish dairy system can provide increased efficiencies and profitability through features such as automating milking tasks for greater scheduling flexibility and improving animal welfare through proactive health alerts sent to a mobile phone app. Additional research is needed to assess national economic, social, and environmental gains of milking robots in a pasture-based system. In reality, there has been slow uptake of milking robots in Ireland with less than 5% implementation rate to date. Milking robots are suitable and beneficial to some farmers (i.e. with financing, appropriate herd size matching robot capacity, infrastructure, technology affinity) and not to others (i.e., where high costs outweigh benefits, prefer to maintain current farm system, lack technical affinity). What could help increase the uptake of milking robots are policies which provide farmers with financial supports

This QuantiFarm test case explored how Animal Tracking Systems, Automatic Feeding Systems, and Automatic Milking Systems can improve farm productivity, reduce costs, and enhance decision-making for better herd management. The project focuses on addressing key challenges in dairy farming while unlocking new opportunities for farmers:

• FRAHER
• lacto-genimico

Objective

The primary objective of this Test Case is to promote the adoption of Digital Agriculture Technology Solutions (DATSs) for the protection and monitoring of beehives. By leveraging advanced technologies, beekeepers can ensure the effective care of bee colonies, contributing to the sustainability of apiculture, improving agricultural productivity, and fostering a healthier environment. Given the crucial role bees play in pollination and ecosystem balance, implementing smart monitoring systems can enhance their protection, reduce colony losses, and support sustainable agricultural practices.

Results

The implementation of automated monitoring technology provided valuable insights to the beekeeper, enabling more informed decision-making. By continuously tracking key hive parameters—such as temperature, humidity, hive weight, and bee activity—beekeepers were able to detect early warning signs of potential issues, such as disease outbreaks, unfavorable environmental conditions, or food shortages. This proactive approach allowed for timely interventions, ultimately improving hive health, optimizing beekeeping practices, and enhancing overall colony survival rates.

By integrating DATSs, beekeepers in the boreal region can not only improve hive management but also contribute to broader environmental conservation efforts, ensuring the long-term sustainability of pollinators and the ecosystems they support.

Bananas are one of the most important agricultural products of the Canary Islands. However, banana cultivation is highly water-intensive, making efficient irrigation crucial for sustainability and cost reduction. QuantiFarm has played a key role in helping farmers understand how Digital Agriculture Technology Solutions can enhance not only their environmental sustainability but also their economic efficiency by optimizing water usage.

By leveraging data-driven decision-making, farmers are able to improve resource management, ensuring a more sustainable and efficient production process. However, for these benefits to be fully realized, it is essential to provide farmers with proper training on digital tools. Helping them understand how to effectively integrate these technologies into their daily operations is key to maximizing their potential.

One of the main challenges in adopting digital farming solutions is the required investment. Farmers often hesitate due to initial costs, making it crucial to demonstrate a fast return on investment (ROI). Overcoming this challenge will be essential to accelerating the adoption of smart farming practices and ensuring long-term benefits for both farmers and the environment.

This Test Case of the QuantiFarm project aims to enhance the sustainability and productivity of olive farming in Messinia, Greece, by using the "gaiasense" smart farming system which helps farmers grow more crops while using fewer resources and lowering costs. The “gaiasense” system integrates multi-source data from field sensors, in-situ observations, farm calendars, and EO data to power advanced scientific models calibrated to each site’s conditions, generating tailored predictions and recommendations for optimal farming practices, including water management, nutrition/fertilisation management and strategic planning. 

Results:
The implementation of "gaiasense" in olive farming is being tested over three years (2023–2025) to evaluate its impact on sustainability, productivity, and profitability. The testing involves 5 farms using the gaiasense system and 5 farms not using it, allowing for a direct comparison of results.Findings from the first two years indicate that digital monitoring significantly reduces irrigation (59%) and fertilizer usage (31.4%), as observed in the comparison between the 10 farms. This reduction is attributed to improved resource management and sustainable practices.

Recommendations:
-Encourage the systematic documentation of cultivation practices and detailed farm logs. This facilitates timely and comprehensive data collection, resulting in more precise recommendations.
-Provide training to farm personnel to effectively use DATS for optimal resource use and better decision-making.
-Emphasize the role of farm advisors in interpreting recommendations and guiding implementation.

Objectives:
This test case of QuantiFarm project aims to improve potato farming using digital technology. It uses the "gaiasense" Smart Farming to help farmers grow more crops while using fewer resources and lowering costs. The “gaiasense” system integrates multi-source data from field sensors, in-situ observations, farm calendars, and EO data to power advanced scientific models calibrated to each site’s conditions, generating tailored predictions and recommendations for optimal farming practices, including water management, nutrition/fertilisation management and strategic planning. 

Results:
The implementation of "gaiasense" in potato farming in Greece is being tested over three years (2023–2025) to evaluate its impact on sustainability, productivity, and profitability. The testing involves four farms using the gaiasense system and four farms not using it, allowing for a comparative assessment of results. Findings from the first two years indicate that digital monitoring can significantly reduce water and fertilizer use, as demonstrated by the comparison between the eight farms. This improvement is attributed to better resource management and sustainable practices. The analysis shows a 27% reduction in water consumption, while the usage of three out of four fertilizer types decreased, showcasing the system's effectiveness in optimizing nutrient application.

Recommendations:
-Encourage the systematic documentation of cultivation practices and detailed farm logs. This facilitates timely and comprehensive data collection, resulting in more precise recommendations.
-Provide training to farm personnel to effectively use DATS for optimal resource use and better decision-making.
-Emphasize the role of farm advisors in interpreting recommendations and guiding implementation.

Objective: Highlight the benefits arising from the adoption of a Digital tool supporting the decision making process of the farmer in all the main phases of the tomato crop management. 
The use of a web-based Decision Support System (DSS) was tested in 10 farms in the North of Italy. A comparison was done among fields managed according to the DSS outputs, and fields with the traditional farmer management. A thoughtful data collection was performed, recording the use of technical inputs, water, labor, yield, in accordance with the Assessment framework defined by the Project. This allowed to perform a cost-benefit analysis and to determine sustainability impact of the implementation of the DSS. 
Results: Even in a challenging cropping season as 2024, the DSS proved to have a positive impact in the management of the tomato crop in the monitored farms. The use of the DSS supported the optimization of fertilization, advising farmers to increase Potassium inputs. The DSS also provides risk alerts for the main pest and diseases, thus supporting phytosanitary intervention, and saving in water (-21%) thanks to a more rational use. The parcels in which the DSS was used resulted in higher yields and better quality of the harvested product. 
The cost-benefit analysis highlights a net benefit also from an economic point of view, due to decreased expenditures for technical inputs, and increased revenues due to an improved quality of the harvested tomatoes. 
Practical recommendations: the digital tool has an annual subscription fee, but the activities carried out in the frame of the project QuantiFarm prove that benefits achievable are greater. Moreover, the adoption of the tool can support improved agricultural practices, with clear benefits on the sustainability of the crop management.

• pomodoro-net

Objective: Highlight the benefits arising from the adoption of a Digital tool supporting the decision making process of the farmer in all the main phases of the grapevine crop management, both under organic and Integrate Pest Management. 
The use of a web-based Decision Support System (DSS) was tested in a farms in the North of Italy, which tested both the organic and the integrated pest management approach. A comparison was done among fields managed according to the DSS outputs, and fields with the traditional farmer management. A thoughtful data collection was performed, recording the use of technical inputs, water, labor, yield, in accordance with the Assessment framework defined by the Project. This allowed to perform a cost-benefit analysis and to determine sustainability impact of the implementation of the DSS. 
Results: Even in a challenging cropping season as 2024, the DSS proved to have a positive impact in the management of grapevine in the monitored vineyards, both under organic and integrated pest management. The DSS provides risk alerts for the main pest and diseases, thus supporting phytosanitary intervention, resulting in a decrease of the amount of Plant Protection products of 16% in the organic management, and 26% in the integrated pest management. 
The cost-benefit analysis highlights a net benefit also from an economic point of view, due to decreased expenditures for technical inputs.
Practical recommendations: the digital tool has an annual subscription fee, but the activities carried out in the frame of the project QuantiFarm prove that benefits achievable are greater. Moreover, the adoption of the tool can support improved agricultural practices, with clear benefits on the sustainability of the crop management.

• vite-net

Objective: Highlight the benefits arising from the adoption of a Digital tool supporting the decision making process of the farmer in all the main phases of the wheat crop management. 
The use of a web-based Decision Support System (DSS) was tested in 10 farms in the Mardin region of Turkey. A comparison was done among fields managed according to the DSS outputs, and fields with the traditional farmer management. A thoughtful data collection was performed, recording the use of technical inputs, water, labor, yield, in accordance with the Assessment framework defined by the Project. This allowed to perform a cost-benefit analysis and to determine sustainability impact of the implementation of the DSS. 
Results: The DSS proved to have a positive impact in the management of the wheat crop in the monitored farms. The use of the DSS supported the fertilisation decision, allowing to reduce Nitrogen (-37%) and Phosphorus (-25%) amount distributed per hectare. The DSS also provides risk alerts for the main pest and diseases, thus supporting phytosanitary intervention, which led to a reduction of 6% in the amount of Plant Protection Products. The parcels in which the DSS was used resulted in higher quality of the product, and slightly higher yields. 
The cost-benefit analysis highlights a net benefit also from an economic point of view, due to decreased expenditures for technical inputs, and increased revenues due to an improved quality of the harvested grain. 
Practical recommendations: the digital tool has an annual subscription fee, but the activities carried out in the frame of the project QuantiFarm prove that benefits achievable are greater. Moreover, the adoption of the tool can support improved agricultural practices, with clear benefits on the sustainability of the crop management.

• Granoduro net

Objective: Year-round greenhouse vegetable production in the boreal zone requires artificial lighting for several months. Growers must also meet sustainability demands by conserving water and energy while minimizing nutrient leaching. To address these issues, the difference in sustainability performance between two highly automated greenhouses was studied in a 3-year trial when the other adopts dimmable LED lights (Signify with Philips GrowWise stepless control) instead of HPS (High Pressure Sodium) lamps and drainage fertigation recirculation (Kathari UF1 system by van der Ende Group) in tomato growing in boreal zone.
Results: During the 1st crop cycle (2022-23, normally 11–11.5 months), electricity prices spiked midwinter. The HPS grower stopped production for 2.5 months, laying off staff, while the LED-Kathari grower continued, optimizing kilowatt use and benefiting from peak market tomato prices. In 2023-24, the HPS grower then extended the cycle to 13 months but still earned k€300/ha less due to higher electricity, water, and fertilizer use and lower yields. The early restart meant he arrived on the market during the summer when prices of tomatoes were the lowest, and his plants were older in winter, reducing light efficiency. 
The HPS grower’s decisions in response to electricity prices had lasting negative effects on scheduling and profitability. In 2023-24, while heating fuel costs in the LED-Kathari greenhouse were k€140/ha higher, electricity savings of k€300/ha offset this. Water savings were k€11/ha, fertilizer savings k€35/ha, and total revenues k€350/ha higher.
Practical implications: The results strongly suggests that economic, environmental and social sustainability of year-round tomato production in the boreal zone can be improved with dimmable LED lights and water recirculation. New technology enabled resiliency in abruptly changed production conditions due to external shocks. Data from the 3rd cycle are needed to confirm the results.

• Philips GrowWise
• Signify
• Kathari UF1 ultrafiltration system by van der Ende Group

The adoption of automated monitoring technologies in pig farming has the potential to enhance efficiency and decision-making. This study evaluated the use of digital agricultural technology Solutions (DATSs) including CloudFarms sow management software, smart counting cameras, and the Fancom system for feed, water, and climate monitoring. While these technologies streamlined farm operations, their direct financial benefits remained uncertain.
A key challenge was ensuring timely and complete data collection. Farmers often required additional guidance to ensure submission of all requested data. Despite this, farmers recognized that DATSs simplified daily tasks. The smart counting cameras, for instance, allowed for more precise tracking of pig movement, reducing errors in manual counting. Similarly, the climate monitoring system provided better insight into farm conditions, helping farmers to identify irregularities that might otherwise go unnoticed.
However, differences in farm size influenced the overall outcomes. The farm using DATSs had significantly more sows, making direct cost-benefit comparisons difficult. While no clear financial gains were reported, because not all pigs were reared on farm, farmers valued the increased precision and ease of management.
Overall, the integration of automated monitoring systems appears to be more beneficial for improving work efficiency rather than for generating direct economic gains. The results suggest that further research is needed to explore the long-term impacts of these technologies. Better communication strategies and support mechanisms could encourage farmers to participate more actively in data collection and evaluation processes, leading to a better understanding of the benefits and limitations of DATSs. Additionally, policymakers should assess digital technologies in livestock farming using both quantitative and qualitative measures, considering their impact on management and decision-making beyond financial outcomes.

• Smart counting camera in action