• This project addresses one of the greatest challenges for modern agriculture: improving efficiency in the use of plant protection products while reducing their environmental impact.
• RENOVATE will run for 4 years and has a budget of 3 million of euros funded under the Horizon Europe programme.
• The consortium developing this initiative is made up of 16 partners from 8 European countries, including several Spanish entities

Madrid, 13 February 2025.- The European project RENOVATE is progressing in its aim to promote the exchange of practical know-how between farmers and thus optimize sustainable crop management through innovation. Under the title ‘Development of an easy-to-use interactive platform to renovate training experiences and networking for farmers in the field of sustainable crop management’, this initiative has a budget of €3 million, funded under the Horizon Europe programme.

A training platform

To promote digitalization in the agricultural sector and to optimize the use of plant protection products for more efficient and sustainable agricultural production, RENOVATE is working on the development of a unique, attractive and comprehensible integrated training platform to improve farmers’ access to specialized training and practical knowledge.

Through serious games, simulations, practical databases and the creation of a networked community to share knowledge and available materials, these farmers will be able to implement a more sustainable, innovative and digital crop management. This will make it easier for them to ensure the efficient application of Integrated Pest Management, as well as to understand and comply with the EU legislative framework that affects them.

The RENOVATE platform will provide farmers, advisors and training programme managers with centralized access to new and existing resources, applicable legislative information, best practices, practical and real data (including cost information) on the implementation of innovations in the field of plant protection optimization, incorporating innovative technologies such as online games or simulators,’ according to Prof. Emilio Gil, Professor at the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, the project coordinator through its Agricultural Mechanization Unit.

Objectives

Three main objectives have been set for the development of the RENOVATE project. The first one has to do with the identification of farmers’ needs with regard to training programmes on crop protection, factors and challenges that influence the degree of adoption of new technologies and legislation. In this regard, work is underway to propose tailor-made solutions derived from the planned Focus Groups.

Secondly, the development of tailor-made, easy to understand and practical training contents is envisaged, to be disseminated on the RENOVATE platform in a didactic way. In this way, farmers and advisors are expected to have easy access to training materials and official databases and information. In addition, the implementation of online games, simulators and the incorporation of artificial intelligence are important innovations that will contribute to the improvement of training.

The third objective aims to accelerate the adoption of innovation and new technologies by implementing Advanced Knowledge Transfer Actions (AKTA), intensifying cooperation between researchers, advisors and farmers, and building on previous research projects and Operational Groups. It should also be noted that RENOVATE’s development actions are intended to implement other developments obtained in the framework of other European projects in a practical way.

Expected impact

In short, RENOVATE aims to provide a decisive impetus for a comprehensive transformation and modernization of the agricultural sector through the promotion of knowledge, innovation and digitalization. Furthermore, with the development of the RENOVATE platform, it is hoped that the practical, didactic and legislative knowledge available for optimising the use of plant protection products and improving sustainable crop management will be brought together in an easy and attractive way.

Moreover, it aims to reduce and optimize the use of plant protection products in a sustainable way, thereby reducing soil and water pollution and protecting biodiversity. Finally, it is also expected to contribute to the objectives of the European Green Deal, promoting a greener and more sustainable agriculture, compatible with the objectives of reducing carbon emissions and preserving the natural environment.

Consortium

The consortium developing RENOVATE has a multidisciplinary character, bringing together experts and reference entities such as universities, research centres, public administrations, technological companies, associations, cooperatives and SMEs.

It is made up of 16 organisations from 8 European countries, under the coordination of the Agricultural Mechanisation Research Group of the Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC). In addition, the Italian University of Turin (UNITO), the National Institute for Agronomic Research in France (INRAe), the Portuguese farmer advisors DaTerra, the Belgian institute PCFruit (intensive R&D centre), the Polish Institute of Horticulture (INHORT), the Ministry of Agriculture of Cyprus, the Italian Regional Agency of Sardinia (LAORE), the Czech Phytomedicine Society (CPS), the main farmers’ cooperative in Cyprus (PEK), the Federation of Agri-Food Cooperatives of the Valencian Community (CACV), the Spanish companies TALLENTTO and VIRMEDEX, and the Italian company HORTA. The consortium also includes the participation of the Spanish consultancy ARTICA INGENIERÍA E INNOVACIÓN (artica+i) and the Italian national research centre (CNR-Stems).