PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
The European Green Deal aims to transform the EU economy, requiring fresh policies on clean energy supply across the economy, including policies on taxation, production and consumption, large-scale infrastructure, transport, food and agriculture, construction and social benefits. The project Life-AIs allows producers to reduce significantly their use of agronomic inputs, such as pesticides, fertilisers, water, diesel and electricity, thus enabling the transition to net zero agriculture. It contributes to food security and to “a prosperous and inclusive society where economic growth is decoupled from resource use”, as outlined in the European Green Deal.
OBJECTIVES
The Life-Als project aims to combine the technologies of FEDE and associated beneficiary, AGERPIX, such as AI post processing, to gain an improved overview of crop characteristics. This information will be used to adjust crop management practices and the use of agricultural machinery, leading to savings of pesticides, fertilisers, water and diesel. Its approach will be demonstrated on three farms in Spain and Portugal that produce grapes, olives and avocados.
RESULTS
Expected results:
- Savings of water (3 331 317 m3/year), energy (2 GWh/year), pesticides and fertilisers (1 639 376 kg/year) and GHG emissions (604 tonnes of CO2eq/year).
- Cost saving of €48 per ha per year at Agrosao (avocado), €94 at Fournier (grape) and €122 at Canena (olive).
- Socio-economic analysis showing profitability of project approach at three demonstration sites, triggering additional investments into two more AI hardware units at each.
- At least three Life-AIs hardware units in operation at each farm and at least three certified dealers and 10 replications outside Spain and Portugal by the end of the project.
- Demonstration of the financial sustainability of each partner.
