Description
WHEATWATCHER is a project that offers an integrated digital solution for soil, plant, and food system monitoring in response to global challenges like climate change and food insecurity. The project integrates the needs of various stakeholders to tailor solutions for monitoring chemical, biological, and nutritional factors affecting wheat from field to flour. WHEATWATCHER's scalable system supports farmers, millers, and policymakers across Europe with real-time insights via a cloud platform and decision support tool. The initiative addresses global challenges like climate change and food insecurity.
Technology
WHEATWATCHER uses sensor platforms that can be stationary, mobile, and remote, enabling automated soil sampling, spectral analysis, and AI-powered models to monitor soil and plant health in real time. The initiative's cloud-based system collects, analyzes, and maps data on nutrients, contaminants, and biological stressors from field to flour. A distinctive feature is the solution's holistic approach, combining precision agriculture with food traceability. The Decision Support System enables informed decisions by farmers, millers, and policymakers. Innovative use of machine learning ensures accurate, scalable insights across diverse European regions, supporting sustainable wheat production and aligning with EU soil and food safety goals.
Target
WHEATWATCHER targets farmers, agricultural advisors, mill operators, researchers, policymakers, and environmental authorities. The project supports those involved in soil management, wheat production, food safety, and sustainability by providing actionable insights and tools to improve practices, ensure traceability, and align with EU regulations. The initiative also engages local communities and stakeholders through Living Labs and pilot demonstrations. The project unites 14 partners from nine countries, forming a consortium to achieve the initiative's objectives.
Business model
The initiative is funded by the European Union, Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft Confederation suisse, and the Federal Department of Economic Affairs Education and Research. Wheatwatcher runs until 2028.
Impact
WHEATWATCHER aims to deliver positive impacts by improving soil health, enhancing food safety, and promoting sustainable farming practices. The initiative targets to develop innovative solutions such as stationary platform designed for continuous soil quality assessment, mobile unit for real-time soil scanning, and remote sensing tool for large-scale soil health monitoring and stress detection, among others. Moreover, WHEATWATCHER's scalable design seeks to support EU Green Deal goals, boosts traceability, and contributes to healthier ecosystems and rural communities.
Partners
Ghent University, Hahn-Schickard, Exobotic technologies, Tel Aviv University, Weizmann Institute of Science, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, Walloon Agricultural Research Centre, University of Rostock, NGO Soil Innovation Cluster, ena Development Consultants, Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation State Reasearch Institute (IUNG), Vytautas Magnus University, University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland
Four Betters
Better production
Better environment
