PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
Agriculture is strongly dependent on natural resources and the climate. In climate change scenarios, crop production is expected to become more vulnerable due to increases in the frequency and magnitude of weather extremes. In the Mediterranean region, crops are extremely sensitive to “freezing events”. Frost is responsible for about 35% of total losses in Greece. During the cold periods of 2004 and 2007 severe damages occurred in the Aeghion area (Greece), which resulted in the complete loss of lemon production. In France, in 2016, 2017 and 2019 a combination of advanced vegetation and late frost caused significant damage to fruit and grape crops. In the context of global warming, in areas where frost events are expected to increase, there is an urgent need to be able to predict frost events and warn farmers so they can take the appropriate mitigation measures to reduce damage. Frost damage in plants depends on several factors. Vegetation is not necessarily damaged when leaf temperatures drop below the freezing point of their cell contents. In the absence of a site nucleating formation of ice crystals, the cell sap remains in a supercooled liquid state. Bacteria that express a membrane protein with the ability to act as a nucleation site, raise the temperature at which ice forms. Thus, they are of great importance for studying frost damage in plant, although they are rarely taken into account in frost forecasting models, due to the difficulty of monitoring them continuously.
OBJECTIVES
The LIFE FROSTDEFEND project team will develop a smart Internet of Things (IoT) based system that will monitor relevant atmospheric (aerosol concentration), meteorological and phenological indicators to predict damaging frost events. Key frost event indicators will be identified and integrated into a user-friendly and easy-to-use forecasting and warning tool for reducing frost damage to sensitive crops. The tool will make use of parameters that can be monitored in real-time using cost-effective sensors to predict complex processes such as the presence of epiphytic ice nucleation-active bacteria. The accuracy of the forecasting tool and the efficacy of copper sprays in protecting fruit trees from frosts will be evaluated in the field in areas with different geographical and climatic characteristics. The tool will provide farmers with reliable frost event warnings and guidelines for low-cost and sustainable remediation actions to mitigate potential frost damages.
More specifically, the project aims to:
- Design and develop a smart IoT-based system for monitoring selected atmospheric and agronomic parameters, forecasting frost events, and providing early warnings of adverse conditions;
- Assess and predict the vulnerability and sensitivity of different types of fruit trees to frost events;
- Develop and implement anticipated responses to frost events using sustainable techniques with a low carbon footprint to reduce the epiphytic populations of ice nucleation active bacteria under a critical threshold;
- Strengthening local capacities and provide guidelines about the best agricultural practices, technologies, and support services, to reduce vulnerability and enhance resilience;
- Demonstrate the entire effort to several agricultural areas with different geographical and climatic characteristics;
- Develop the FROSTDEFEND Adaptation Plan to promote best available techniques and environmental practices;
- Increase awareness among target groups and end-users towards climate adaptation.
The project will contribute to the implementation of the new EU Strategy on Adaptation to Climate Change (COM 2021 (82) Final), the new CAP (post 2020 CAP), the EU Farm to Fork strategy, the European Climate Law, and the European Green Deal.
RESULTS
Expected results:
- Databases of frost-event indicators and agronomic data;
- FROST DEFEND tool: A smart monitoring, forecasting and warning system, integrating the developed frost forecasting algorithm;
- FROSTDEFEND adaptation and action plan;
- Creation of a stakeholders’ network (e.g. farmers, cooperatives, academics, authorities) for the promotion of smart technologies in agriculture;
- At least 7 000 individuals reached through an extensive awareness-raising campaign, including training workshops for technical staff and stakeholders, seminars for university students (60 students), info-day events, organisation of an international conference, the project website and distribution of informative material;
- Three scientific publications concerning the role of epiphytic bacteria in ice nucleation events and agricultural resilience to climate change;
- Life cycle and socio-economic analysis of the FROSTDEFEND system; and
- Business plan and market analysis for penetrating the FROST DEFEND tool/service into the smart-farming market.
