About the project

Objectives

Stafilos is a project financed by Sub-Measure 16.1-16.2, in the context of Action 2, that aims to leverage cutting-edge technologies for the development and application of smart farming solutions in viticulture. The main objective of Stafilos is to reduce production costs and simultaneously improve the quality of grapes. Additionally, the proposed solutions are tailored to minimize inputs and, consequently, to reduce pesticide residues in the final product. At the same time, they help lower the environmental footprint of the crop. This ensures that the applied cultivation techniques align with international market requirements, while also contributing to efforts to address climate change. The project aims to design and develop a smart farming system using state-of-the-art technologies to promote the best agricultural practices, with the goal of reducing production costs per hectare and simultaneously improving the quality of both table and wine grapes.

Methodology

The methodology for implementing the Stafilos project is based on the complementary involvement of partners directly associated with grape cultivation – both table and wine – ensuring effective synergies among researchers, businesses, and producers. The project will span 30 months and will follow a phased implementation approach, structured into five (5) work packages (WPs):

WP1: Requirements Analysis & Collection

WP1 includes preparatory actions related to the requirements analysis and work planning, as well as the analysis of the climatic/territorial data to determine the optimal placement of stations.

WP2: Configuration of Data Collection Infrastructure

WP2 focuses on installing stations and equipment, managing heterogeneous data collection and disposal, and designing a smart farming system that leverages data analysis for optimized modelling.

WP3: Smart Farming Services

WP3 involves the development of smart farming services and models (e.g. forecasting, irrigation, crop protection, and nutrition) over 2 growing seasons. The development phase occurs in WP3, followed by application in WP4.

WP4: Implementation, Monitoring & Optimization of Advice

WP4 is dedicated to implementing, monitoring and optimizing agronomic advice, by training users, issuing recommendations and recording their implementation (verification).

WP5: Evaluation, Dissemination & Exploitation of Results

WP5 focuses on evaluating project outcomes, calculating benefits to support the sustainability plan, and conducting promotional activities.

The implementation framework of the project is structured into three (3) separate phases:

A. Analysis of soil and climatic parameters to determine the optimal placement of equipment and data collection points.

B. Installation of equipment in selected pilot plots, followed by data collection and analysis to refine irrigation, fertilization, and plant protection models, while developing the smart farming advisory system.

C. Implementation of smart farming services, complemented by essential user training and continuous optimization through data-driven feedback.

The individual activities of the project include:

• Design and development of a spatial and geoclimatic data acquisition system.
• Collection and analysis of data from pilot plots to develop algorithms for predicting fertilization, crop protection, and irrigation needs.
• Adaptation, optimization and evaluation of irrigation, fertilization, and crop protection models.
• Utilization of advanced precision weather stations to refine extreme weather forecasting models.

Throughout the project duration, evaluation, dissemination, and exploitation of results will be strategically planned.

Notably, the pilot phase includes experimental plots in two regions – at least one per cooperative – where expert field agronomists will record the corresponding activities.

Expected results

The expected outcomes of the project focus on key vineyard cultivation practices, including fertilization, plant protection, and irrigation. Through the development, implementation, and dissemination of validated smart farming models/services, Stafilos aims to achieve the following results:

1. Provision of validated smart farming services to a network of dozens of producers – members of the two (2) cooperatives and potentially to hundreds of Greek grape producers.
2. Reduction of production costs by minimizing the use of fertilizers, pesticides, and water.
3. Improved product quality through lower pesticide residues, enhancing competitiveness in the market.
4. Prevention of nutrient leaching caused by over-irrigation and improper soil management, reducing economic losses.
5. Promotion of sustainable agriculture and a lower environmental footprint in the viticulture sector.

Operational group

NEUROPUBLIC serves as the project coordinator and is responsible for installing specialized equipment, analyzing heterogeneous data, and adapting smart farming models for fertilization and crop protection. It also oversees the implementation of cultivation work recording systems and provides training for both producers and agronomists of the cooperatives.

The Plant Production laboratory (University of Patras) plays a key role in developing, evaluating, and refining an irrigation model adapted to the given conditions, through specialized measurements of hydrodynamic and ecophysiological parameters as well as the study of nutrient kinetics in soil and water, within the continuous soil-plant-atmosphere system.

EASK and ASEPA Agricultural Cooperatives contribute by establishing and maintaining pilot plots, supporting  the development and implementation of innovative services, and promoting project outcomes. Their efforts include organizing training sessions and dissemination events, facilitating the use of newly developed tools for pilot execution, and acquiring necessary equipment and consumables.

Finally, GAIA EPICHEIREIN is responsible for promotion and outreach activities, acting as an innovation mediator and ensuring effective communication between partners. The total public expenditure for the Stafilos project amounts to €294,987.65, providing financial support to the participating organizations as follows: