project - Research and innovation

Harnessing Robotics, XR/AR, and 5G for a New Era of Safe, Sustainable, and Smart Agriculture

Project identifier: 2024HE_101183158_AgRibot
Ongoing | 2024 - 2028 Greece, Belgium, Italy, Denmark, Spain, Switzerland
Ongoing | 2024 - 2028 Greece, Belgium, Italy, Denmark, Spain, Switzerland

Contexte

Advancing the agricultural sector into a sustainable digital age

The agricultural sector plays a key role in transitioning to more sustainable practices and technologies as well as in advancing developments in artificial intelligence and automation. The EU-funded AgRibot project will develop a range of solutions using extended reality technologies to improve working conditions, reduce the environmental footprint and address workforce shortages in the agricultural sector, all while maintaining competitiveness and advancing sustainability efforts. The project will also support strategic initiatives such as the Common Agricultural Policy post-2022 and the Farm-to-Fork Strategy, whilst promoting the adoption of essential digital technologies.

Objectives

AgRibot aims to revolutionise agriculture by developing and deploying cutting-edge robotics and AR/XR technologies that are both practical and scalable. The project seeks to improve working conditions in farming by reducing manual labour and exposure to chemicals, while also helping to address the growing labour shortage across the sector. By enabling precise applications of inputs like fertilisers and pesticides, AgRibot will reduce the environmental impact of agricultural practices and contribute to more sustainable and climate-smart farming systems. At its core, the project strives to enhance the resilience and competitiveness of European agriculture, in full alignment with the EU’s Farm-to-Fork Strategy, the reformed Common Agricultural Policy, and the Digital Transition objectives. Through inclusive innovation, AgRibot supports a fairer agricultural model that works for farmers, workers, and the environment.

Activities

AgRibot brings together researchers, farmers, engineers, and advisors to co-design and test a new generation of adaptable agricultural robots tailored to European farming conditions. AgRibot will conduct pilot tests of six robotics technologies across Europe, including:

  • Weed identification and spot spraying in Greece;
  • Robotic spaying of weeds in potato and volunteer potatoes in Denmark & Switzerland;
  • Robotic fertilisation management for leafy vegetables in open field conditions in Italy;
  • Robotic technologies for crop monitoring and management in soilless tomato cultivation in Italy;
  • Robotic harvesting in orchards in Belgium;
  • Robotic pruning and thinning with XR in orchards in Spain & Belgium.

These activities will be complemented by training sessions, field demonstrations, and impact assessments to ensure the solutions are practical, scalable, and ready for uptake by farmers of all sizes.

Project details
Main funding source
Horizon Europe (EU Research and Innovation Programme)
Type of Horizon project
Multi-actor project
Project acronym
AgRibot
CORDIS Fact sheet
Project contribution to CAP specific objectives
  • SO1. Ensuring viable farm income
  • SO2. Increasing competitiveness: the role of productivity
  • SO3. Farmer position in value chains
  • SO4. Agriculture and climate mitigation
  • SO5. Efficient soil management
  • SO6. Biodiversity and farmed landscapes
  • SO7. Structural change and generational renewal
  • SO8. Jobs and growth in rural areas
  • Environmental care
  • Fostering knowledge and innovation
Project contribution to EU Strategies
  • Achieving climate neutrality
  • Reducing the overall use and risk of chemical pesticides and/or use of more hazardous pesticides
  • Fostering organic farming and/or organic aquaculture, with the aim of increased uptake
  • Reducing nutrient losses and the use of fertilisers, while maintaining soil fertility
  • Improving management of natural resources used by agriculture, such as water, soil and air
  • Protecting and/or restoring of biodiversity and ecosystem services within agrarian and forest systems
  • Facilitating access to fast broadband internet in rural areas

EUR 4 966 380.00

Total budget

Total contributions including EU funding.

EUR 4 966 380.00

EU contribution

Any type of EU funding.

Ressources

Contacts

Project email

Project coordinator

  • AGRICULTURAL APPLICATIONS IKE

    Project coordinator