• AB Vassilopoulos, Greece
• American school, Greece 
• American Agricultural School, Greece

The innovative Smart Farming programme is the result of the partnership between Bodossaki Foundation, AB Vassilopoulos and the American Farm School, to support Greek primary production. All three organisations share the same love for the best of the Greek land and a common vision for the creation of those conditions so that Greeks Producers to stay and continue to highlight the food culture of our country.

Together they present a new and innovative initiative, the Intelligent Agriculture Program, which introduces high technologies to the primary sector of our country. With technology as an ally, the Program brings innovations, generates value and opens new paths for modern Greek Producers.

Smart agriculture is an integrated approach to managing agricultural activity. The application of high technology in the daily practice of the Greek farmer is perhaps the biggest bet for the success and sustainability of the next generation of farmers.

The programme introduces new technologies in Greek’s primary production and is an important step for the development of intelligent agriculture in our country.

Using proven practices, 12 state-of-the-art telemetry devices will be installed over a 6-month period, which will accurately and immediately inform producers of parameters affecting their farms:

• Meteorological parameters, such as temperature and relative humidity, precipitation, and solar radiation.
• Soil parameters such as soil moisture and temperature.

This will enable them to make informed decisions based on important meteorological and soil parameters. This equipment was further enhanced with appropriate software, to maximise the benefits to local producers. The areas selected are associated with the production of agricultural products of key significance to the local and national economy.

The program aspires to incentivize the creation of a "community of action" that will unite early adopters and allow them to operate multiplying.

In different regions of the country, telemetric field monitoring devices will be installed that will provide tools, which will essentially contribute to decision-making by producers, e.g., determining the necessity of irrigation and/or the quantity of irrigation water. These devices will be cloud-connected to send real-time information on various soil parameters.

The information is accessible both via computer and via smart mobile devices and is presented in a user-friendly format via maps.

Furthermore, the program includes training and education services for producers with dissemination days as well as educational visits by groups of students from the agri-food sector at the points of application.

As part of the program, a dedicated Facebook page has been created, with the aim of developing communication between the beneficiary groups and disseminating information to third parties.

The 12 stations will be installed in:

• 4 vineyards in Kavala, Kilkis and Peloponnese,
• 2 olive groves in Kalamata and Halkidiki,
• 4 kiwifruit production estates in Central Macedonia,
• 2 grassland sites in Elassona and Xanthi.

In practical terms, the programme is directly benefiting about 155 farmers, while this number will significantly increase with the addition of indirect beneficiaries, who will have access to an open data platform to be developed and made publicly available. Producers will become familiar with the use of new technologies, while being able to manage their farms more precisely.

• They will be informed of the efficient use of production resources, fertilizers and pesticides.
• They will get used to the new technologies and to harmonize with the rest of the European farmers.
• They will join in a "community", which will allow direct communication and exchange of knowledge and ideas.
• They will come in a contact with established and budding industry scientists through demonstration visits to estates with precision agriculture devices installed.
• They will contract in the protection of the environment.

SMART AGRICULTURE PROGRAM
American College of Agriculture
Marinou Antipa 54
T.Th. 60097, 570 01, Thermi Thessaloniki
T: +30 2310492851
Email: info@smartfarminginitiative.gr
Website: https://smartfarminginitiative.gr/

Effie Tsili (CONNEXIONS)