We are pleased to share our latest publication, “Sustainability Challenges in the Bovine Sector and the Implementation of Waste Management Policies within the EU Framework.”

The paper examines the environmental impact of the bovine industry and explores how EU policies, circular economy strategies, and smart farming technologies can transform waste into valuable resources. It highlights the need to align science, policy, and practice to advance sustainable, low-impact livestock production and support Europe’s climate goals.

Read the full article here: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.focha.2025.101129

You may find the AgriDataValue Publications here  

On 24–26 September 2025, the National Paying Agency (NPA), Lithuania, invited the paying agencies of the Baltic States and Poland to the conference “Innovations and Technologies – the Driving Force of the Strategic Plan for Agriculture and Rural Development 2023–2027”. Agricultural progress, good farming practices, and the use of artificial intelligence in the paying agency activities were the main topics discussed by the conference participants this year.

The conference was dedicated to discussing current issues in the agricultural sector, innovations and sharing experience in support administration.

NPA Director Fortunatas Dirginčius welcomed the conference participants and emphasized that today, in the field of agriculture, when implementing the Strategic Plan for Agriculture and Rural Development of Lithuania 2023–2027 (Strategic Plan), many tasks are being taken over by robots and automated systems: “Modern methods of plant fertilisation, automated processes, innovations that allow monitoring farm activities and performing their analysis are no longer the future. Farmers are already using such tools today.”

The presentations delivered during the conference included those by NPA’s Director Fortunatas Dirginčius presenting digital solutions in implementing the Strategic Plan, by the Control Department Director on ALNSIS 1.0 and 2.0 regarding control and administrative systems, followed by presentations of the Latvian paying agency representative about shared Earth Observation platforms, insights from private innovation providers (on image classification, Sentinel-2 image use). Representatives of agencies from Estonia and Poland held discussions on the digital and information technology solutions used in their activities and stressed their importance in administering support measures.

In addition, during the conference a cooperation agreement was signed with the Polish Paying Agency (ARMA). A particularly relevant topic was discussed too – the conclusion of the 2014–2020 Rural Development and Aghriculture programming period. Conference participants shared the challenges they are facing and looked for ways to overcome them.

Active and meaningful discussions with colleagues from the Latvian, Estonian, and Polish paying agencies were especially valuable in seeking joint solutions on how to improve the support administration process and ensure smooth and high-quality agency work.

The presentation delivered by the NPA Deputy Director Tomas Orlickas focused on the NPA’s international projects, the interplay of support measures under the Strategic Plan, and lessons learned through its implementation. The international projects were presented as elements integrated in an overall digital ecosystem that includes parcel delineation, crop classification, and remote sensing, supporting Lithuania’s CAP Strategic Plan and more biodiversity-sensitive agricultural policy. In his presentation the NPA Deputy Director also focused on the international projects as part of a wider area modeling and monitoring system being developed by the National Paying Agency, highlighting the Horizon Europe AgriDataValue project among them:

Horizon Europe AgriDataValue project – with its purpose to advance the digital transformation and agri-environmental monitoring of agriculture by creating a distributed (not centralized) smart-farming data platform. The project activities include:

• – Use big data to optimize production, enhance environmental sustainability, and ensure fair income for farmers.
• – Build systems for area monitoring, sensor networks, climate / area change monitoring (soil moisture, erosion, crop damage, yield forecasting), and crop & object auto-classification from geotagged photos.
• – Integrate or align with existing satellite / remote sensing platforms (e.g. Sentinel data) and related projects under Horizon, etc.

As a result a pan-European, open-source data space will be created for agriculture, fostering smart farming and agri-environmental monitoring through an innovative “platform of platforms”. Key results include a functional, federated platform for data sharing and interoperability, the development of new business models for data monetization, innovative AI and federated machine learning tools for increased trust in AI adoption, and the implementation of large-scale pilot projects across 9 EU countries to test these solutions in real-world conditions. The results of the project will allow the farmers to get access to a much wider diversity of relevant data, that will facilitate a smoother and faster transition towards smart agriculture.

Representatives of agencies from Estonia and Poland held discussions on the digital and information technology solutions used in their activities and stressed their importance in administering support measures.

In addition, during the conference a cooperation agreement was signed with the Polish Paying Agency (ARMA). A particularly relevant topic was discussed too – the conclusion of the 2014–2020 Rural Development and Aghriculture programming period. Conference participants shared the challenges they are facing and looked for ways to overcome them.

Active and meaningful discussions with colleagues from the Latvian, Estonian, and Polish paying agencies were especially valuable in seeking joint solutions on how to improve the support administration process and ensure smooth and high-quality agency work.

On 9–11 September, 2025, the IACS Community Exchange (ICE) annual conference, organised by the Joint Research Centre (JRC) in collaboration with the EC DG AGRI and the French Paying Agency (ASP) took place in Reims, France. The event brought together representatives of the European Commission (EC), national authorities, research institutes, and industry to discuss the future of agricultural monitoring and data-driven policy in the EU.

The 3-day programme covered a broad range of topics dedicated to the implementation and evolution of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). Key sessions focused on: IACS quality assessment and upcoming reporting obligations; data sharing for evidence-based policymaking and farm-level services; advances in LPIS updates, including the use of AI; integration of space and Earth Observation (EO) technologies into CAP monitoring; experiences of Member States (MS) and candidate countries with Area Monitoring System (AMS) implementation; the role of industry and innovative solutions in supporting Paying Agencies.

At the ICE conference Lithuania was represented by Tomas Orlickas, the Deputy Director of the National Paying Agency (NPA). He familiarised the conference participants with the status and vision of the AMS in Lithuania, with the possibilities of developing smart, data-driven public services and with the respective Horizon 2020, Horizon Europe and LIFE projects.

Alongside the technical sessions, the conference also offered opportunities for EU MS, EU candidate countries and stakeholders to exchange best practices on agricultural monitoring, climate adaptation, biodiversity, and carbon accounting.

At the conference the Deputy Director of the NPA Tomas Orlickas delivered a presentation titled “What’s Next After AMS? Strategy of Lithuania.” The presentation outlined Lithuania’s forward-looking vision of the AMS and its evolution into a more integrated, data-driven approach to agricultural governance.

Alongside the projects funded under Horizon 2020, Horizon Europe and LIFE programmes, including Horizon 2020 ENVISION and EIFFEL, a key focus of Mr. Orlickas’s contribution at the ICE conference was on the Horizon Europe project AgriDataValue, which supports the development of an innovative, distributed platform for smart farming. By combining satellite data, on-the-ground sensors, and big data analytics, the project aims to:

• Enhance farm-level insights for precision agriculture;
• Strengthen environmental sustainability and monitoring;
• Support evidence-based policymaking;
• Ensure a fair income for farmers while improving the resilience of agricultural systems.

Within this framework, the NPA contributes to advancing the Area Monitoring & Sensors System, which will integrate EO data with sensor-based monitoring to improve the detection of crop conditions, soil health, and environmental pressures. This work will also help prepare Lithuania for the future of climate-smart agriculture, ensuring that monitoring tools not only support compliance but also provide added value to farmers and policymakers.

By engaging in projects such as AgriDataValue, and by actively contributing to EU-wide dialogue at the ICE conference, Lithuania demonstrates its commitment to modernising agricultural policy, supporting farmers with innovative tools, and aligning with Europe’s broader sustainability and digital transformation goals.

The Agency for Payments and Intervention in Agriculture (APIA) is honoured to contribute to a European research project dedicated to one of the greatest challenges of our time: the impact of climate change on agriculture and the transition towards sustainable farming practices.

As the Romanian authority responsible for implementing the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund (EAGF), the Common Agricultural Policy ‘s “first pillar”, APIA has extensive experience in supporting farmers and ensuring that EU agricultural policies translate into tangible benefits at the national level. Within this project, APIA has the opportunity to extend its expertise to the European scale.

Our contribution focuses on several key activities:

• Macro-level CAP analysis at the EU level: looking at the overall framework, objectives, and instruments of the CAP, and evaluating how they support farmers in adapting to climate risks such as droughts, floods, soil degradation, or biodiversity loss.
• Coordination of the CAP component: ensuring that the project outputs include a clear and consistent view of how CAP can foster resilience and sustainability across all Member States.
• Technical contributions to climate impact projections: working alongside European partners to link Agri-climate indicators with farming practices, soil health, and biodiversity, and to benchmark potential adaptation measures.

This work is essential because agriculture is one of the sectors most vulnerable to climate change. At the same time, it is also part of the solution: through sustainable practices, innovation, and targeted policies, farming can adapt and even help mitigate the effects of a changing climate. The Common Agricultural Policy plays a central role in this process, providing financial support, incentives, and a common framework for all EU countries.

By engaging in this project, APIA contributes to a better understanding of how CAP functions at a European scale and how it can evolve to meet the challenges ahead. Our aim is to help shape recommendations that will make European agriculture more resilient, more sustainable, and better prepared for the future.

AgriDataValue has released a new informative video showcasing the project’s aims, objectives, and technological innovations. Discover how AgriDataValue aspires to be the “Game Changer” in Smart Farming digital transformation and agri-environmental monitoring, enhancing competitiveness, fair income, and smart-farming capacities through its innovative, open-source, multi-technology Agri-Environment Data Space (ADS).

👉 Follow us on YouTube and social media to stay connected and learn more about our journey!

The AgriDataValue project was recently showcased at the agricultural and livestock equipment exhibition Agro Vision 2025 in Filiatra, Messinia. The Agro Vision exhibition took place from September 5 to 7, 2025. It is the leading agricultural fair in the Peloponnese, showcasing the full spectrum of agricultural production and agri-technology. Visitors had the opportunity to learn about the project’s goals, its key innovations, and the benefits it brings to the agricultural value chain.

We are pleased to announce the release of our fifth AgriDataValue newsletter, featuring the latest news and updates from the project.

Read the newsletter here.

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.