Project description
Empowering farmers with digital agriculture
Big producers are increasingly embracing digital technology in agriculture, but small and medium-sized farmers (SMFs) often struggle to access the benefits of these digital innovations. In this context, the EU-funded PHITO project developed a platform to provide SMFs with the means to incorporate digital technology. Specifically, the platform connects SMFs with valuable resources, such as free soil, water and crop advice. This not only fosters collaboration among farmers but also strengthens local agricultural knowledge and innovation systems. PHITO’s approach to digital farming is innovative, as it leverages open geo-databases and seamlessly integrates them into local food systems. The overarching goal of the project is to enhance SMFs’ decision-making processes and improve their economic and environmental performance.
Objective
PHITO (Platform for Helping small and medium farmers to Incorporate digital Technology for equal Opportunities) introduces a ground-breaking digital tool specifically for small and medium farmers (SMFs) that are currently unable to benefit from the digital innovation increasingly adopted by larger producers. The platform connects data and people through a low-barrier app with two main purposes: (1) offering free data-driven farm advice on soil, water and crops tailored to SMFs (global element), and (2) improving synergic collaboration between farmers, consumers, and service providers while strengthening the local Agriculture Knowledge and Innovation Systems (AKIS ) (local element). PHITO distinguishes itself from previous initiatives as a key example of frugal innovation , by downscaling the complexity of digital farming and making smart use of existing open geo-databases (through public domain data harvesting), and embedding this in the various local food systems and networks. Through co-creation together with SMFs and numerous local farmer representatives, PHITO will help to bridge the digital divide by providing better access to information and local networking, helping SMFs to improve their decision-making processes and consequently their economic and environmental performances.
Fields of science
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
HORIZON-IA - HORIZON Innovation ActionsCoordinator
6708 PB Wageningen
Netherlands
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Participants (17)
6703 AA WAGENINGEN
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
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35122 Padova
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700506 Iasi
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5370-347 Mirandela
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ORANJESTAD
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BONAIR KRALENDIJK
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45019 Taglio Di Po
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6708 PB Wageningen
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37044 Cologna Veneta
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46001 Valencia
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3572 ZT Utrecht
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
3904 JJ Veenendaal
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1033 BUDAPEST
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
1001 Tirana
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1502 Fushe Kruje
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