Smart Village Knezica
Digital Innovation Hub connecting technology and agriculture in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Description
Smart Village Knezica is a Digital Innovation Hub (DIH) and agricultural cooperative in rural Bosnia and Herzegovina that connects farmers, technology experts and local stakeholders to co-create smart village solutions. The smart village is a digital farm, experimental fields and a pilot vineyard where digital tools are tested in real production conditions and supports farmers with advice and capacity-building for e-business development and market access.
Technology
Smart Village Knezica uses a “living-lab” approach in which an experimental vineyard, digital farm and pilot farms are equipped with Internet of Things systems, soil moisture probes, irrigation controllers and other sensors to collect field data and automate water use. The hub applies remote sensing and computer vision to monitor crops and vineyards and combines these technologies with automation, robotics and web-based applications that farmers and partners use to view data, test smart farming practices and co-develop new digital solutions.
Target
Smart Village Knezica primarily engages smallholder and medium-size farmers, agricultural cooperatives and rural communities that wish to adopt digital agriculture solutions. The hub also targets rural youth, students, researchers and private companies through training, mentorship and project-based collaboration, and works with public institutions and advisory services.
Business model
Smart Village Knezica operates as a research and development–oriented agricultural cooperative that combines public project funding with innovation services for the local agri-food sector. The initiative receives financial support through programmes such as EU4Agri and national subsidies and collaborates with universities and partners on funded projects, while gradually developing service-based models around AgriTech solutions, digital tools and living lab activities.
Impact
Smart Village Knezica aims to help agricultural producers in the Prijedor region improve competitiveness, reducing resource waste and supporting better production planning. The smart village has established an experimental vineyard of around 1 hectare with six grape varieties, equipped three pilot farms with sensors and smart irrigation systems, and plans or has delivered around 24 workshops and training events for farmers and rural youth, supporting wider uptake of digital tools in the region.
Partners
Danube4Rural; FENESTRAE; ITree; Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management of Republika Srpska; Municipality of Kozarska Dubica; University of Banja Luka,
Four Betters
Better production
Better environment
Better life
