FarmGeoBalance
Web-based application for the management of olive production in Kythera Smart Village
Description
FarmGeoBalance is a web-based application that utilizes satellite data, and weather and soil information to provide olive oil producers in the village of Kythera with personalized recommendations for crop management. It is an innovative tool developed as part of the Kythera Smart Village project aimed at promoting sustainable and efficient agriculture on the Greek island of Kythera. FarmGeoBalance has been developed to assist farmers in controlling, adapting and managing their crops easily and quickly, and to facilitate and simplify the product certification process. After identifying olive oil producers interested in testing and demonstrating the system, a total of 12 olive groves were geolocated across the island, and data were monitored with the use of drones and satellite imagery. Aside from certification, a mobile app and Internet geobase contribute to the monitoring of production levels and the results of farming practices, e.g. on the biodiversity of farms.
Technology
FarmGeoBalance is based on a geospatial information system (GIS) app that uses data from various sources (e.g. reflectance information from plant canopies and soil, spectral vegetative index data) such as satellite imagery, weather stations and soil sensors to generate customized recommendations for farmers. The system makes use of machine learning algorithms for the analysis and interpretation of data, and provides farmers with detailed maps and charts that highlight any areas of their fields that require attention.
Target
The application is used by olive oil producers who expressed interest in the testing and demonstration of the application, and whose olive groves were selected for geolocation. The application n is currently in use in 12 olive groves on Kythera, Greece.
Business model
The initiative is part of the public benefit programme entitled “Terra Kytheria”, which was launched in 2021 with the aim of strengthening and promoting olive oil production.
Impact
FarmGeoBalance can help olive oil producers improve their yields and reduce costs, while also promoting sustainable agriculture. By providing farmers with targeted recommendations based on accurate data, the application supports precision farming, and thus helps reduce the environmental impacts of agriculture. The technology can also help mitigate the effects of climate change, which is becoming increasingly important for the agriculture sector as extreme weather events become more frequent. The solution can also support the certification of the olive oil produced on the island and the granting of a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) label, adding value to the olive oil and allowing it to be marketed at a higher price. Overall, FarmGeoBalance has the potential to make a positive contribution to the sustainability of agriculture on Kythera and beyond.
Partners
The University of the Aegean and the University of Patras
Four Betters
Better production
