Cognitive Systems & Robotics Laboratory

Field -testing and demonstration of digital and space based technologies with agro-ecological and organic practices in systemic innovation ‎ ‎

Field -testing and demonstration of digital and space based technologies with agro-ecological and organic practices in systemic innovation

PestNu targets the field -testing and demonstration of digital and space based technologies (DST) and agro-ecological and organic practices (AOP) under a systemic approach to reduce the pesticides and fertilisers use, as well as loss of nutrients. Specifically, PestNU is a 36-month innovation action project that will bring under systemic innovation novel (DST) combined with AOP already at TRL5, which will be further deployed, upscaled, field-tested and demonstrated to TRL7, in novel circular economy food production systems, such as aquaponics and circular horticulture systems as closed/semi-closed hydroponic greenhouses, and in open-field vegetable cultivation, under different conditions, soils and crops (tomato, cucumber, pepper). The consortium brings novel developed DST including AI robotic traps for real time pest monitoring (mainly insects); Autonomous self-navigating robots for pesticide monitoring (fungal diseases, insects) and 3D spot spraying; ESA next-generation Earth Observation (EO) missions with robust Agroradar AI algorithms to map agricultural anomalies through smart sampling and differentiated management using Copernicus programme data/services; and robust in-situ and real-time digital UVC nutrient analysers. All the DST will be interconnected in a systemic approach under a user-centric cloud-based Farm Management System which will be integrated with an already developed blockchain system (TRL5) for data evidence, integrity and AI model verification and with a cybersecurity platform (TRL5) to prevent cyber-attacks and IoT vulnerabilities. The user-centric system features a robust Decision Support System (DSS) with rich data visualizations and visual analytics based on machine learning algorithms enabling informed decisions and automated decision processes for Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and Integrated Nutrient Management (INM). To reinforce the reduction of pesticides, fertilisers use and loss of nutrients the consortium will systematically combine the interconnected set of DST innovations with AOP. The AOP include the further deployment and upscaling production processes of a foliar biopesticide product (formulated by circular bioeconomy operations) targeting fungal diseases with nutritional effect that will be field tested and demonstrated in use from the autonomous robot for 3D spot spaying on plant leaves. The showcase systemic DST & AOP solutions will be demonstrated and tested in aquaponic and hydroponic greenhouse and open-field vegetable cultivation in Greece and Spain. A Pesticide Reduction Program will evaluate the Maximum Residue and the Acceptable Daily Intake levels to ensure vegetable’s food safety and LCA activities will be performed. All these systemic approaches will be performed under a strong collaboration among all the Farm to Fork stakeholders and European Commission services. PestNu has already established an Industrial Advisory Board (IAB) with 140 signed-up stakeholders from Farm to Fork located in the 9 consortium countries from North to South, for building synergies to support sustainability, food safety, multiple food and agricultural ecosystem resilience & security, new business models, circularity and recycling, diversity and efficiency.