Innov'Sûre - Innovations technologiques au service de l'agriculture dans le bassin de la Sûre et ses environs

Objectives

The group's objectives are to assess and test the relevance of new technologies in a livestock farming region in response to environmental, economic, and societal challenges. For the farmers, these innovations should, for example, (I) reduce the use of inputs (plant protection products, fertilizers, etc.), (II) reduce the labor intensity for farmers, and (III) better predict plant growth and the development of diseases and pests.

Expected results

This project aims to test innovative technologies to make cattle farming more efficient and sustainable. We will concretely evaluate the following technologies: (I) Ruminal boluses to detect livestock health issues more quickly and avoid economic losses. (II) Ultra-localized weeding (ARA robot) to target only weeds such as docks in clover-rich pastures, with the goal of reducing herbicide use by more than 75% and preserving legume-rich grasslands. (III) Forecasting tools to better manage grass growth and optimize mowing, grazing, and cover crops. (IV) Virtual fencing to facilitate herd management and save valuable time. Finally, (V) the use of an artificial intelligence tool to simplify the entry of regulatory data into field logs. For farmers, these innovations should help reduce input costs (phytosanitary products, veterinary expenses) and labor intensity, while improving forage self-sufficiency and animal health. The goal is to provide them with concrete feedback and practical recommendations to determine "if," "when," and "how" these tools can be profitable in their farming system.