Robotics, AI, drones and sensors

Digital tools for agriculture and forestry

Robots and drones are being designed to help farmers and foresters in their day-to-day work. Robot pepper pickers, for instance, work in the hot and humid environment of greenhouses where producers often struggle to find workers who are willing to endure these conditions. Milking robots allow cows to choose when they need to be milked, improving both animal and farmer welfare, and weeding robots can perform physically demanding work and allow farmers to reduce the use of herbicides. These are just a few of many examples.

Drones, also known as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), allow farmers and foresters to closely monitor and precisely manage crop and tree conditions. They can help farmers discover issues such as crops not being properly irrigated, or identify an area of a field that requires intensive scouting. Drones can also be used for soil and field analysis, showing moisture content and soil erosion through accurate 3-D maps. In forestry, drones can help identify potential fire hazards, or areas that are affected by disease, stress, or pest infestations.

Geographical Information Systems (GIS) allow users to create layered, interactive maps that visualise geo-spatial field and forest data. This allows farmers and foresters to map, for instance, soil types, nutrient and moisture levels, or tree health. GIS supports decision-making to address issues quickly when changes in patterns are detected.

Global Positioning Systems (GPS) are satellite-driven navigation systems that can give farmers and foresters accurate and real-time information on their fields or forests. They can be used to locate livestock and manage grazing patterns, to apply fertiliser or pesticides only where needed, or to guide autonomous machinery for high-precision planting or harvesting.
 

Latest news

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19 Nov 2024

Hybrid renewable energy systems solutions for increased farm resilience

Interreg Atlantic Area project builds sustainable agriculture through renewable energy.

  • Innovation, knowledge exchange & EIP-AGRI
Delivering more accurate and available precision agriculture services
08 Feb 2023

Delivering more accurate and available precision agriculture services

AgriBIT is a Horizon 2020 project all about increasing the precision, accuracy and continuity of precision agriculture services available to farmers.

  • Innovation, knowledge exchange & EIP-AGRI
Agrobofood
04 Jan 2023

Impact of Robotics in Food Processing

Professionals in food technology, food processing, and food production businesses, register to this free online webinar which will take place on 24 January.

  • Innovation, knowledge exchange & EIP-AGRI

Latest publications

Press Article - Using digital tools to promote sustainable and productive organic agriculture
Press Articles |

Press Article - Using digital tools to promote sustainable and productive organic agriculture

Digital tools to support management processes in viticulture.

  • Innovation, knowledge exchange & EIP-AGRI
EU CAP Network Factsheet - Digital tools for sustainable nutrient management
Factsheets |

Factsheet - Digital tools for sustainable nutrient management

All the information from the Focus Group on digital tools for sustainable nutrient management at a glance.

  • Innovation, knowledge exchange & EIP-AGRI
EIP-AGRI Brochure Digital revolution in agriculture: English version
Brochures |

EIP-AGRI Brochure Shaping the digital (r)evolution in agriculture

Digital technologies can support European farmers in providing safe, sustainable and quality food. They can also…

  • Innovation, knowledge exchange & EIP-AGRI

Latest events

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Conference

Tradition, Innovation, and Digital Tools for Sustainable Rural Development

  • CAP Implementation
  • Innovation, knowledge exchange & EIP-AGRI
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Network to Innovate: AI in Agriculture

  • CAP Implementation
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Latest good practices

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Inspirational Idea | 04 Oct 2024

A hive of digital activity

  • Innovation, knowledge exchange & EIP-AGRI
A person standing in a vineyard.
Inspirational Idea | 03 Oct 2024

Digital tools in organic agriculture

  • Innovation, knowledge exchange & EIP-AGRI
Group picture of Operational Group members
28 Mar 2024

Inspirational ideas: biosensors in dairy farming

Dairy farms in Estonia and Finland have some fundamental differences. Since 2018, Operational Group (OG) MAVAS has been working in parallel with Finnish OG SMARTFEED. They are both looking into the use of biosensors in daily dairy farming.

  • Innovation, knowledge exchange & EIP-AGRI

Digitalisation

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Precision farming, livestock farming, forestry and food processing

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