Context

High Technology Farming is a broad concept which refers to a wide range of new tools (Robotics, ICT, Big Data, Earth Observation, etc.). The synergic use of these instruments allows the shifting to the new paradigm of Sustainable Precision Agriculture (SPF).The need for a shifting towards this new paradigm is well acknowledged at EU level and some papers from EU Institutions already provide good analysis and suggestions:

• The study “Precision Agriculture and the Future of Farming in Europe”, published by the European Parliament Research Service in September 2016;
• The outcomes of the EIP AGRI Focus Group on Precision Farming, published by the EIP AGRI Service Point in November 2015.

Tuscany Region has promoted a specific focus on High Tech Farming under the European S3 AGRIFOOD Platform, as it believes that shifting towards Precision Farming is of utmost importance for our agricultural system.

Year established: 2017

Mission

The mission of the partnership is to facilitate interregional and cross-border cooperation and projects, thus accelerating the uptake of Sustainable Precision Farming in European agricultural systems. Activities are developing towards two main directions:

1. Interregional Pilot Projects. The Partnership is developing a series of pilot projects based on shared priorities. Two Pilots have already been established (FreshFruit and Podur), other Pilots are under development.
2. A joint undertaking to support interregional shared services among regional innovation ecosystems. The Partnership is aiming at consolidating the Interregional collaboration through a specific governance model that can better connect and support the different Regional Innovation Ecosystems and joint funding operations.

Objectives

The partnership is developing joint activities for accelerating the adoption of high and new technologies. Specific objectives are:

• To adopt advanced agri-technologies in small and family farms;
• To find new solutions for early detection of pests and diseases and the improvement of livestock health and wellbeing;
• To foster new value chains and leverage the creation of new commercial opportunities, particularly through the development of a joint undertaking to provide new interregional services to companies and farmers.
• To create new businesses;
• To reduce costs in farming operations, environmental impacts and time-to-market of new solutions;
• To establish an association of European value. This step would allow a strong socio-economic impact as, at the moment, there are no such form of initiatives devoted to integrate regional innovation ecosystems on this specific topic;
• To promote pro-active collaboration among regional innovation ecosystems and some pilot projects.

Shared smart specialisation areas

Smart Agrifood

Tags

Precision farming; agritech; farm management systems; decision support systems; drones and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV)

Regions (lead and partner)

• Leading regions: Tuscany (IT)
• Participating regions: Aragon (ES), Autonomous Province of Trento (IT), Basilicata (IT), Bretagne (FR), Catalonia (ES), Central Macedonia (EL), Centro (PT), East Netherlands (NL), Emilia Romagna (IT), Estonia (EE), Extremadura (ES), Flanders (BE), Friuli-Venezia Giulia (IT) Galicia (ES), Gelderland (NL), Kanta-Häme (FI), Limburg (NL), Marche (IT), North Brabant (NL), North East Romania (RO), North Netherlands (NL), Northern Ireland (UK), Norway (NO), Pays de la Loire (FR), Požega-Slavonia (HR), Provincia Autonoma di Bolzano (IT), Randstad (NL), Slovenia East (SI), South Holland (NL), South Ostrobothnia (FI), Veneto (IT), Weser-Ems (DE), Western Macedonia (EL)

Organisations involved

Every region of the HTF partnership involves its quadruple-helix innovation ecosystem.

Related projects

• Smart Agri Hubs: SmartAgriHubs is a €20 M EU project under the Horizon 2020 instrument and brings together a consortium of well over 164 partners in the European agri-food sector. The project aims to realise the digitisation of European agriculture by fostering an agricultural innovation ecosystem dedicated to excellence, sustainability and success. (https://www.smartagrihubs.eu/)
• agROBOfood: agROBOfood is an EU funded project aiming to build a European ecosystem for the effective adoption of robotic technologies in the agri food sector, which in turn will become more efficient and competitive. The heart of the project is formed by Innovation Experiments, organised and monitored by Digital Innovation Hubs.(https://agrobofood.eu/)
• ERA-NET ICT AGRI FOOD: The ERA-NET Cofund ICT-AGRI-FOOD is a Horizon 2020 project aimed at bringing together actors from across the entire agri-food systems including primary producers (comprising both conventional and organic), advisors, SMEs, food processors, food retailers, consumers and the public sector (e.g. ministries, policy makers and regulatory bodies) with researchers in a multi-actor approach, to enable digital technology solutions for a transition towards sustainable and resilient agri-food systems. (https://www.ictagrifood.eu/)

Contact

• Alessandra Gemmiti: alessandra.gemmiti@regione.toscana.it
• Fausta Fabbri: fausta.fabbri@regione.toscana.it
• Roberto Scalacci: roberto.scalacci@regione.toscana.it

Latest news and upcoming events

2023 ERIAFF Annual Conference in Bolzano, 22-24 May on Green and Climate Transition Plans in agriculture and in agroforestry systems

Other relevant information

http://www.eriaff.com/