Periodic Reporting for period 1 - PATH2DEA (Paving the Way towards Digitalisation Enabling Agroecology for European Farming Systems)
Reporting period: 2023-01-01 to 2024-06-30
Agroecological farming as a holistic concept has the transformative potential to enhance the sustainability performance of agricultural systems in Europe and worldwide. Yet, its full uptake by the sector is hampered by uncertainties about achieving competitiveness on the market and coping with complex management demands. Here, digital technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), sensors, robotics and remote sensing, may support the agroecological transformation through implementing custom-tailed farm management processes and “just-in-time” interventions of low-input nutrient and pest control. Digital technologies also allow identifying biodiversity indicators and measures of ecosystem health and functionality. In fact, PATH2DEA is grounded on the vision of digitalization as a true enabler of agroecology, with the premise that digital tools are implemented in a bottom-up, multi-actor, and multi-stakeholder approach that is fully aligned with agroecological farming principles. As such, digital agroecological systems are intrinsically knowledge-based, foster food system resilience, and strengthen local socio-economies. PATH2DEA is committed to unlocking digitalisation’s catalysing power to foster European agriculture’s transition towards enhanced sustainability. It builds on farmers’ competences and views and matches them with the rich repertoire of digital solutions already available for agriculture. Thus, the project aims at tailoring digital technologies to users’ needs and fostering wide-range adoption of digital agroecological farming in the EU and associated countries.
PATH2DEA strategically engages with multiple actors, including early adopters of digital agroecological farming represented by six Showcase farms located in different pedo-climatic regions. Via surveys and interactive discussion rounds, specific situations regarding digital technology uptake and use are explored and brought to consideration by actors and stakeholders for increasing awareness and understanding.
PATH2DEA provides to its stakeholders a robust knowledge base in the frame of an Open Source Repository of digital tools and technologies in agroecology with decision support functionalities. The “PATH2DEA Open Repository” is being established as an online platform / market place for digital technology tools for widespread use by the agro-sector. Criteria contained therein consider data safety and transparency and other ethical concerns and as well as socio-economic and regional/local usability aspects from diverse users and stakeholders, including hands-on experience from a set of representative digital agroecology showcases. PATH2DEA designs its Open Repository as a living platform, allowing continuous exchange of needs, solutions and innovations by users and providers.
The “PATH2DEA R&I Roadmap” includes detailed analysis of showcases, aimed to strategically address research and innovation needs to accomplish agroecological transformation of European farming systems as supported by continuous, decentralized technological innovation. Roadmap development is done through circular iteration and co-creation loops, involving experts on multiple farming systems, advisory groups, digital platform technology providers, data and business ethics specialists as well as national and EU policy makers and customer and citizen representatives.
PATH2DEA provides to its stakeholders a robust knowledge base in the frame of an Open Source Repository of digital tools and technologies in agroecology with decision support functionalities. The “PATH2DEA Open Repository” is being established as an online platform / market place for digital technology tools for widespread use by the agro-sector. Criteria contained therein consider data safety and transparency and other ethical concerns and as well as socio-economic and regional/local usability aspects from diverse users and stakeholders, including hands-on experience from a set of representative digital agroecology showcases. PATH2DEA designs its Open Repository as a living platform, allowing continuous exchange of needs, solutions and innovations by users and providers.
The “PATH2DEA R&I Roadmap” includes detailed analysis of showcases, aimed to strategically address research and innovation needs to accomplish agroecological transformation of European farming systems as supported by continuous, decentralized technological innovation. Roadmap development is done through circular iteration and co-creation loops, involving experts on multiple farming systems, advisory groups, digital platform technology providers, data and business ethics specialists as well as national and EU policy makers and customer and citizen representatives.
While digital tools and technologies for use in agroecological farming are already available, they are not yet widely put into use. At the same time, there are strong user-driven EU initiatives, networks, and research projects focusing on agroecology, which are partly insufficiently connected with a solid knowledge base on relevant digital technologies suitable for agroecology. PATH2DEA fosters connectivity among these isolated, major assets in digital agroecology, basically presented by (i) available digital tools and technologies for use in agriculture, (ii) farmers’ (traditional) knowledge, and (iii) relevant expertise in science and technology. PATH2DEA delivers a robust knowledge base in the frame of an Open Source Repository of digital tools and technologies in agroecology with decision support functionalities and a well-aligned R&I Roadmap for guiding digital agroecology transition.