CODECS (maximising the CO-benefits of agricultural Digitalisation through conducive digital ECoSystems) is a four year Horizon Europe project that gathers 33 partners all around Europe and which is coordinated by the University of Pisa (https://www.horizoncodecs.eu/. The project aims to improve the motivation and the capacity of European farmers to understand and adopt digitalisation as an enabler of sustainable and transformative change.
Deployment of CODECS results in the framework of the AgriDataValue project represents a strategic alignment designed to bridge the gap between complex technical infrastructure and practical, human-centric adoption in the agri-food sector. While AgriDataValue focuses on the robust technical architecture of big data spaces and smart farming tools, CODECS provides the essential “soft” methodologies—tested engagement tools, digital readiness frameworks, and validated communication pathways—that ensure these technical results are accessible, trusted, and widely adopted by the farming community.
A primary application of CODECS results lies in the customization of training programs through specialized digital readiness frameworks. By segmenting stakeholders—such as individual farmers, cooperatives, or SMEs—based on their specific technical skills and organizational capacities, trainers can tailor capacity-building activities to meet the audience where they are. This targeted approach ensures that complex topics, such as value-chain analytics, are presented in a context that is relevant and manageable for the end-user.
Furthermore, CODECS offers vital insights into data governance and interoperability frameworks. Practical dissemination is further enhanced through the adoption of CODECS’ validated “Farminar” (farm-based webinar) methodologies. These methodologies prioritize high-quality practical content and dynamic facilitation over traditional, theory-heavy lectures. By implementing the five prioritized CODECS principles—practicality, expert facilitation, user-centered design, targeted recruitment, and interactivity—AgriDataValue can ensure its dissemination events are not only informative but also inclusive. This “social-by-design” approach is crucial for reaching those with lower digital literacy, ensuring that technological barriers do not prevent the most vulnerable or traditional stakeholders from benefiting from the project’s innovations.
Ultimately, the synergy between these two projects transforms technical data into actionable knowledge. By embedding CODECS’ practical insights and ranked good practices into its dissemination protocols, AgriDataValue ensures a consistent quality of outreach across various European countries and pilot activities. This collaborative approach fosters a culture of participation and clarity, strengthening the long-term adoption potential of digital tools and moving the European agri-food ecosystem toward a more sustainable, data-driven future.
Union “Farmers’ Parliament” as partner of Codecs Latvian Living Lab worked to understand the practical realities, motivations, and concerns of Latvian farmers regarding digital transformation. Acting as a bridge between technological developers and end-users, the organization ensured that farmers’ voices were systematically integrated into the testing and validation of CODECS tools. Through participatory workshops, surveys, and on-farm demonstrations, the Living Lab explored barriers to digital uptake—ranging from limited digital skills and connectivity issues to concerns about data ownership and unclear return on investment.