“Kotinos” aims to reduce farmers’ production costs in olive cultivation, through representative pilot applications.
This will be achieved by analyzing and adapting Smart Farming models and services during the first growing season, as well as implementing effective advice during the second growing season.
A key role is played by the new research infrastructure of the telemetry stations and the increased precision station that will be installed in the regions, with the aim of highlighting the comparative advantages of reducing costs and the environmental footprint of production.
Methodology
The methodology is based on the multifactorial involvement of partners, ensuring the necessary interactions between researchers, businesses, producers, etc., related to olive cultivation.
The implementation of the project follows 3 separate steps:
- A) Preparation of analysis of soil and climate zones, the optimal placement of equipment and the collection of requirements
- B) Installation of the equipment, collection and analysis of heterogeneous data, as well as adaptation of the models and the development of the IA advisory system.
- C) The implementation of IA services, with the necessary user training and feedback for the optimization of services. Throughout, the project results will be evaluated, disseminated & exploited.
Brief Description of the tasks:
One (1) edible olive pilot plant in the region of Halkidiki (Disease: Cycloconium) and another two (2) olive oil pilot plants in the Peloponnese, Messinia and Ilia (Diseases: Cycloconium, Gliosporium).
It is important to mention that:
- Measurements will be carried out in the field (soil analyses) to adjust and feed the scientific models.
- Creation of thematic maps to determine the spatio-temporal variability of the field and estimate the crop’s nutrient and irrigation needs.
- Use of enhanced precision station to adjust weather forecast models.
- Adaptation of irrigation, fertilization and plant protection models from heterogeneous sources.
Expected results
- Provision of intelligent agriculture services to produce edible and oilable olives, adapted to the particularities of each unit (microclimatic conditions, irrigation system and soil).
- Offering the services to a network of ~159 producer members of the participating cooperatives and potentially to ~409,000 olive producers in Greece.
- Reduction of use of fertilizers by ~30%, pesticides ~45%, water ~30% & production costs by ~34%.
- Reduction of pesticide residues in the final product, improving quality and increasing its value, by ~10% on average gross value.
- Avoiding excess fertilizers on the ground, reducing the risk of their runoff into the water table.
- Reduction of nutrient leaching due to over-irrigation, which has both an economic and environmental impact.
- Reduction in the occurrence of diseases, due to the improvement of humidity levels.