On Tuesday, 1 July 2025, the AgriDataValue project hosted an in-depth online workshop dedicated to data privacy, legal, and ethical dimensions within the context of Task 5.1. Organized by Netcompany, the event brought together AgriDataValue partners, Advisory Board members, legal experts, and representatives from related EU-funded projects.

The objective of the workshop was to identify and validate key ethical, legal, social, and privacy-related topics linked to the AgriDataValue platform. It also served as an opportunity to review data flow mappings between the project’s technologies, user types, and integrated services — a vital exercise for ensuring compliance, transparency, and responsible data governance.

The session began with opening remarks by Ioannis Chrysakis (Netcompany), followed by presentations from three sister projects. Despina Brasinika (INLECOM) and George Christou (Technical University of Crete) introduced the Green.Dat.AI project and its secure data ecosystem. Anneleen De Visscher (ILVO) provided an overview of CEADs, while Irene Diamantopoulou (Netcompany) presented the GEORGIA project.

The legal session featured Eleftherios Cheiloudakis (HomoDigitalis), who explored smart agriculture through the lenses of GDPR and the AI Act, and Arzum Koca (Arthur’s Legal), who discussed data access and sharing in light of the new Data Act.

The final technical session turned to AgriDataValue’s own developments. Project coordinator Theodore Zahariadis (Synelixis) shared how AgriDataValue supports digital farm transformation. This was followed by Ioannis Oikonomidis (Netcompany), who detailed the project’s approach to privacy and how these principles are integrated into its design and implementation.

With vibrant Q&A sessions, expert insights, and cross-project knowledge exchange, the workshop reinforced AgriDataValue’s dedication to ethical, legal, and user-respectful innovation in agriculture.

A sincere thank-you goes out to all presenters and attendees for making this workshop a collaborative success.

Vicky Inglezou, Project Manager at the NILEAS Producers Group, participated in an important informational event focused on strengthening the resilience of agroforestry to the risks of climate change. The event was organised by the Institute of Mediterranean Forest Ecosystems (IMDO) of ELGO DIMITRA and took place on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, at the facilities of the International Olympic Academy (IOA) in Ancient Olympia.

During her speech, she reflected on the 24-year journey of the NILEAS Producers Group, whose activities centre on olive cultivation and the production of extra virgin olive oil, with a strong emphasis on environmental responsibility, quality, and cultural heritage.

She also presented key insights from the AgriDataValue Project, which aims to revolutionize European farming. Funded by Horizon Europe, this 2023–2029 initiative is developing an intelligent, distributed “platform of platforms” to support smart, sustainable agriculture across 14 countries.

With 23 pilots in 7 use case clusters, involving more than 2,000 animals across five species, over 1,800 hectares, and more than 4,500 sensors generating real-time data, AgriDataValue aspires to become a game changer in the digital transformation of smart farming and agri-environmental monitoring.

She outlined ADV’s five-step approach:

1. Design and develop a flexible, fully distributed platform to collect, process, enrich, and integrate diverse and heterogeneous data.
2. Utilise historical data and collect new data via sensors, drones, and satellites from 23 pilot sites (crop and livestock).
3. Implement federated AI models to address key challenges in crop and livestock management.
4. Apply AI models in real-world conditions and gather feedback over a 1+3-year period.
5. Adapt and retrain AI models to enhance performance and outcomes.

By blending big data, AI, edge computing, and FAIR data spaces, AgriDataValue is driving competitiveness, environmental sustainability, and fair income for farmers across Europe.

AgriDataValue was presented at the European Space Agency’s Living Planet Symposium 2025, which took place in Vienna, Austria, from 23 to 27 June. As one of the world’s largest Earth observation conferences with participants from 119 countries, the symposium gathered experts, researchers, and stakeholders to discuss the vital role of Earth observation in addressing global environmental challenges.

The five-day event focused on the transition from observation to climate action and sustainability, structured around six core themes:

• Earth Science Frontiers – Enhancing our understanding of Earth’s complex systems through observation data.
• Climate Action & Sustainability – Supporting environmental monitoring and adaptation to reduce impacts.
• Earth Observation Missions – Presenting results from ESA, Copernicus, meteorological, and national missions.
• Digital Innovation & Green Solutions – Exploring how digital technologies enable sustainable market transformations.
• Industry Partnerships for New Applications – Boosting commercialization through New Space collaborations.
• Global Cooperation & Policy Support – Promoting the adoption of space-based data in international policy-making.

During the symposium, AgriDataValue coordinator Dr. Theodore Zahariadis delivered a dedicated presentation showcasing the project’s goals, current status, and key outcomes. He highlighted how AgriDataValue leverages and advances digital technologies to empower farmers and support the implementation of EU policies on sustainability, food security, and climate resilience. The project’s contribution to digital innovation in agriculture demonstrates its potential to deliver scalable, green solutions aligned with Europe’s environmental and societal objectives.

The 2nd Advisory Board Meeting of the AgriDataValue project was held online on June 4th, 2025, with the participation of the project’s external advisory board experts and the consortium partners.

The meeting was opened by the project coordinator, who welcomed the participants and provided a general overview of AgriDataValue’s scope and progress. The consortium then delivered a series of presentations highlighting the current status of each Work Package, ongoing developments, and key milestones achieved.

Special focus was given to the pilot activities and the overall progress in implementing the AgriDataValue platform and services. Each Work Package Leader presented the current work and results, followed by an open discussion.

The external experts provided valuable comments, recommendations, and strategic input, offering both technical and policy-level perspectives. Their contributions are expected to support the successful implementation of the project and further enhance its scientific, technological, and societal impact.

AgriDataValue continues to promote collaboration and innovation across the agri-food value chain, aiming to unlock the full potential of big data and AI in sustainable agriculture and environmental monitoring.

In the green countryside of Vecauce, Latvia information technologies are empowering the decision making at the dairy farm. Vecauce dairy barn, is a modern, data-driven facility that’s integrating advanced digital tools to transform traditional livestock farming.

As part of the AgriDataValue project, the dairy barn serves as a real-world testbed for smart farming solutions. One of the solutions used are cow pedometers. Cow pedometers are small, wearable sensors that are redefining how farmers monitor and care for their animals.

From Steps to Insights: The Role of Cow Pedometers

Much like fitness trackers for humans, cow pedometers are attached to each animal to continuously measure movement, steps, and activity levels throughout the day. But this data goes far beyond simple step counts. These pedometers provide critical insights into:

• Heat detection: Increased activity often signals the optimal time for breeding, helping farmers improve reproductive success.
• Health monitoring: A sudden drop in movement can indicate illness or lameness, allowing for earlier intervention and improved animal welfare.
• Feeding behavior: Variations in activity patterns can reflect changes in feed intake, alerting farm staff to potential issues in diet or digestion.

By integrating pedometer data into digital dashboards and farm management software, the staff at Vecauce can make real-time, data-informed decisions – ensuring cows receive timely care, optimizing productivity, and reducing operational costs.

The application of cow pedometers is a clear step toward precision livestock farming, where each animal is monitored individually, and decisions are tailored accordingly. This not only boosts efficiency but also aligns with higher standards of animal welfare and sustainability – one of the goals of the AgriDataValue project.

Why It Matters for AgriDataValue

The data collected from cow pedometers doesn’t stay on the farm – it becomes a valuable part of the broader AgriDataValue ecosystem, feeding into models that enhance interoperability, data analytics, and evidence-based policy-making across the EU agri-food chain.

By showcasing success stories like Vecauce, AgriDataValue demonstrates the tangible benefits of digital transformation in agriculture—making farms more resilient, productive, and responsive to both market and societal demands.

AgriDataValue proudly participated in the 1st One-Health Agri-Tech Workshop, held on May 27th, 2025, at OTE Academy in Athens, Greece. Organized under the Horizon Europe project NESTLER and coordinated by Synelixis, the workshop brought together key actors in smart, cybersecure, and sustainable agriculture.

For AgriDataValue, the event served as a prime opportunity to showcase its contributions to the digital transformation of agriculture through a secure and interoperable data-sharing ecosystem. Our participation emphasized how integrated data-driven services can empower stakeholders across the agri-food value chain while aligning with the EU’s Farm to Fork strategy and One-Health principles.

Throughout the workshop, AgriDataValue engaged in dialogue with over 50 participants from Europe and Africa—both onsite and online—highlighting its collaborative role within the broader Horizon Europe landscape. Alongside projects like GEORGIA, our team shared insights on interoperability, AI-driven analytics, and the application of harmonized data models to foster sustainable food systems.

Running in parallel at the same venue, the Data Week 2025 event, created additional opportunities for cross-collaboration among EU-funded initiatives, particularly those operating in the agriculture and data ecosystems. These co-located events enhanced synergies and supported the integration of cutting-edge digital solutions into agricultural practices. Our involvement reaffirmed AgriDataValue’s commitment to shaping the future of agriculture through trust-based data sharing, environmental responsibility, and cross-sector collaboration.

The AgriDataValue project was recently showcased at the Infoagro Exhibition 2025, held from May 21st to 23rd in Almería, Spain. Infoagro is a key international event focused on intensive agricultural production, particularly greenhouse farming. It brings together industry professionals, researchers, and technology providers to explore innovative solutions for the agri-food sector.

Tecnova, presented the AgriDataValue project both at their stand and through a dedicated 7-minute pitch presentation during the exhibition. Attendees had the chance to learn about the project’s objectives, key innovations, and the benefits it offers to the agricultural value chain.

AgriDataValue is working to transform agricultural data into actionable insights, supporting more efficient, sustainable, and informed decision-making across the sector. The exhibition provided an excellent opportunity to engage with stakeholders and share how the project contributes to the digital transformation of European agriculture.

We thank all those who expressed interest in the project and look forward to future opportunities to connect and collaborate.

AgriDataValue attended the 2025 Conference on the Vision for Agriculture and Food, held on 8 May 2025 at The Square, Brussels. The project coordinator represented the initiative at this high-level event, which offered a valuable opportunity to strengthen collaboration with other projects and engage directly with stakeholders aligned with a common European agricultural vision.

The conference, themed “Shaping the Future of Farming and the Agri-Food Sector,” brought together a wide range of key actors — including representatives from the European agri-food sector, civil society, rural communities, consumers, think tanks, academia, EU Member States, and Members of the European Parliament (MEPs). The gathering aimed to foster dialogue and encourage meaningful contributions toward a more sustainable, resilient, and attractive agri-food sector for current and future generations.

The event focused on three main objectives:

• -Continuing engagement and dialogue with stakeholders around the Vision and its roadmap
• -Collecting feedback on the next steps and key initiatives outlined in the Vision
• -Discussing the future direction of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) beyond 2027

AgriDataValue remains committed to contributing to the ongoing transformation of agriculture and food systems through data-driven innovation and active participation in shaping Europe’s agri-food future.

Tecnova will participate as an exhibitor at the international fair Infoagro Exhibition, which is held in Almeria on 21^st to 23^rd of May 2025, one of the key events for the intensive agriculture sector. This meeting brings together companies, technology centres and professionals from the agro-industrial field interested in the application of technologies to optimise production processes. In this context, Tecnova will take the opportunity to present the project and communicate its results.

During the event, the Tecnova team will have its own stand where it will exhibit the AgriDataValue project. A presentation is planned focused on the contribution of the project to the sustainable digitalization of the agri-food sector.

AgriDataValue aims to build a European agri-environmental data space through a distributed architecture that allows heterogeneous platforms and sensors to be integrated. Tecnova contributes by validating solutions in real environments, as is the case of the pilot located in its experimental centre in Almeria.

In this pilot, a SynField smart agriculture system has been installed in a greenhouse with hydroponic tomato and cucumber cultivation. This system includes a central weather station and peripheral nodes that collect real-time information on climatic (temperature, humidity, radiation, water pressure) and edaphic (humidity, temperature and soil conductivity) variables.

The data collected is visualized on an intuitive platform that allows technicians and farmers to monitor the crop environment and make informed decisions about irrigation and fertigation. The data are used within the framework of the project to train predictive models that will allow certain agronomic recommendations to be automated.

The medium-term objective is to have an agronomic management model that not only optimises the use of water resources and fertilisers but also increases the profitability of the producer and reduces the environmental impact. This approach is aligned with the objectives sought in AgriDataValue and to which Tecnova actively contributes.

With this action, Tecnova reinforces its commitment to applied innovation and technology transfer, showing at Infoagro how AgriDataValue contributes to digitally transforming the European agri-food sector.

The European farming community continues to grapple with a longstanding and formidable challenge: pest infestation. From sprawling maize fields in Spain to the apple orchards of Eastern Europe and the rice paddies of Italy, pests are responsible for substantial agricultural losses annually. According to the European Commission, pests and diseases can reduce crop yields by up to 40%, resulting in billions of euros in economic losses, increased dependency on chemical pesticides, and declining biodiversity. In this context, innovative, data-driven approaches to pest management are not just a necessity—they are a lifeline.

Addressing this pressing issue, the Multimedia and Vision Research Group at Queen Mary University of London has developed a pioneering pest classification model powered by Vision Transformers (ViTs)—a state-of-the-art deep learning architecture that is transforming the landscape of computer vision. This model marks a significant leap in the application of artificial intelligence to precision agriculture, offering farmers across Europe a tool to identify and respond to pest threats more efficiently and sustainably.
Vision Transformers, originally proposed by researchers at Google, differ from traditional convolutional neural networks (CNNs) by leveraging mechanisms known as self-attention. Rather than analyzing visual data in small local patches (as CNNs do), ViTs process the entire image as a sequence of patches, much like how natural language processing models handle text. This allows the model to capture global context at an early stage, resulting in improved performance on complex visual recognition tasks such as pest identification, where subtle inter-class variations can significantly affect outcomes.

The Queen Mary research team trained their model using an extensive dataset comprising over 80,000 images, painstakingly gathered from peer-reviewed literature, open-access agricultural databases, and scientific repositories. The resulting model is capable of detecting and classifying 80 distinct classes of pests that attack key European and global crops such as apple, cashew, cassava, cotton, maize, mango, rice, sugarcane, tomato, and wheat. These crops form the backbone of both smallholder and industrial farming systems, and improved pest detection has the potential to significantly mitigate economic losses.

In addition to these crop-specific pests, the model has been designed to identify broader signs of pest infestation and related agricultural diseases. This includes challenging categories such as weed infestations, brown spot, common rust, flag smut, fruit fly, gray leaf spot, leaf curl, smut, red cotton bug, tungro, and wilt. The inclusion of these classes enhances the model’s utility in real-world agricultural settings, where early signs of disease or infestation often overlap with multiple causes.

One of the most promising aspects of this research is its commitment to accessibility and real-world impact. The trained Vision Transformer model is being integrated into a mobile application specifically designed for use by farmers and agricultural workers. With a simple smartphone camera, users will be able to capture images of suspected pest infestations and receive on-the-spot identification and guidance. This mobile-first approach is particularly valuable in rural and semi-rural areas where access to expert agronomists may be limited.

The potential implications for the European farming community are substantial. With climate change contributing to shifts in pest migration and the emergence of new pathogens, traditional pest control methods are increasingly inadequate. This AI-powered solution empowers farmers to adopt more targeted and timely interventions, reducing the need for indiscriminate pesticide use and helping to protect the health of both crops and ecosystems.
Moreover, by reducing yield loss and input costs, such technologies could contribute to improved food security and economic resilience in European agriculture. For policy makers and stakeholders in the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), tools like the pest classification model developed at Queen Mary University represent a critical step toward modern, sustainable farming that leverages digital innovation.

In sum, the Multimedia and Vision Research Group’s work is not just a technological achievement—it is a practical response to one of agriculture’s most urgent threats. By harnessing the power of Vision Transformers, they are delivering intelligent, scalable solutions that promise to reshape pest management in Europe and beyond. As the farming community moves toward a more data-driven future, such research stands at the forefront of digital transformation in agriculture.

This research has been supported in part by the AgriDataValue project, funded by the European Union under the Horizon Europe programme (Grant Agreement No. 101086416). The Multimedia and Vision Research Group (MMV) at Queen Mary University of London, as a project partner, acknowledges the critical role of AgriDataValue in fostering data-driven innovation for sustainable agriculture. The development of the Vision Transformer-based pest classification model aligns with AgriDataValue’s broader goals of enabling smart, interoperable, and AI-enabled agricultural solutions across Europe.