The future of agriculture involves its digitization to improve its benefits and this topic will be discussed from February 28 to March 2, 2018 at the University of Almeria. The Almería campus will be the setting for the annual meeting of the European project Internet of Food and Farms 2020 (IoF2020)which seeks to make precision agriculture a reality.
It is expected that the partners’ meeting on February 28 will be attended by more than 150 researchers, companies and representatives of community organizations, while on March 1, dedicated to interested companies and institutions (Stakeholders’ day), an influx of between 250 and 300 people is expected. During the day of March 2, visits will be organized to show the activities related to the project that are developed in relation to the use cases and local tests.
Impact of IoT in agriculture
The University of Almería, through the research group “Automatics, Robotics and Mechatronics” (ARM), leads the trial on vegetables that is being developed by Spanish, Dutch and Italian entities within the IoF2020 project (www.iof2020.eu/trials/vegetables). In addition, he is responsible, together with the UAL-COEXPHAL Chair and COEXPHAL, for the case study on the IoT impact (Internet of Things) in the value chain of the integrated management of tomato productionwith the participation of collaborating entities such as the “Las Palmerillas” Experimental Station of the CAJAMAR Foundation, Luis Andújar SL, SAT Biosabor, CABASC SCA, Transportes J Carrión, VICASOL, CASI, SAT Las Hortichuelas.
The test consists of connect systems to allow an integrated and multidimensional vision of agricultural activities and enable a deeper understanding of how ecosystems work. This is based on the extensive use of information and communication technologies (ICT) that involve large amounts of data, physical and virtual sensors, control loops, networks, models and optimization techniques to improve the decisions of producers and consumers. Standardized information will increase interoperability throughout the production chain, with easier quality and safety management, improved products and processes, and reduced environmental impact as the result.
More than 70 European partners
HISPATEC is also participating in the organization of this meeting, which together with other entities is developing a trial related to olive cultivation in the project (www.iof2020.eu/trials/fruits/automated-olive-chain). In fact, the UAL, the COEXPHAL-UAL Chair, COEXPHAL, HISPATEC and CAJAMAR are forming a planning committee for the meeting.
More than 70 partners are part of IoF 2020, a consortium led by Wageningen University & Research, whose objective is to improve the competitiveness and sustainability of the agricultural sector in the European Union.
