Agri-Digital Growth presented at Země živitelka 2025
Each year, the Země živitelka agricultural fair in České Budějovice brings together thousands of farmers, researchers, policymakers, and businesses to showcase innovations and exchange knowledge for the future of European agriculture. As the largest agricultural fair in Central Europe, it provides a unique platform to highlight how digital transformation and smart technologies can reshape the sector.
At the Smart Countryside in Practice workshop on 21 August 2025, Markéta Kollerová from Plan4all introduced the international project Agri-Digital Growth, which focuses on education and innovation in digital farming.
A Central European collaboration
Agri-Digital Growth is funded by the Interreg Central Europe programme, bringing together 11 partners from 7 countries. Running from June 2024 to November 2026 with a budget of €2.33 million, the project is coordinated by CREA - Council for Agricultural Research and Economics (Italy), with partners such as Federunacoma (the Italian association of agricultural machinery manufacturers), LCM (Mechatronic Center in Linz, Austria), universities from Hungary, Slovenia, Croatia, and Slovakia, and more, alongside Plan4all representing the Czech Republic: https://www.interreg-central.eu/projects/agri-digital-growth/
Education and skills at the core
Unlike projects that focus on direct funding, Agri-Digital Growth invests in education, training, and knowledge transfer. The initiative aims to:
- Introduce farmers and agri-food companies to the latest trends in precision and digital agriculture.
- Develop five pilot Living Labs across Central Europe, where farmers and researchers jointly test new technologies and share experiences.
- Offer pilot training courses on topics such as precision farming basics, robotics, data processing & AI, arable crop management, and precision viticulture. Participants can receive European micro-credentials, strengthening their professional qualifications.
Bridging the digital gap in Czech agriculture
In her presentation, Markéta Kollerová highlighted that while Czech farmers increasingly use GPS, drones, and sensors, these technologies are still far from mainstream. Without improved access to digital skills and infrastructure, Czech agriculture risks falling behind. The project therefore emphasizes ICT training and lifelong learning, ensuring farmers remain competitive in a rapidly evolving environment.
Supporting new talents and innovation
The project also fosters innovation through hackathon, where students and young professionals propose digital solutions for agriculture. Several winning participants were even offered an internship with project partners, turning a student challenge into long-term collaboration.
Sharing good practices across borders
Agri-Digital Growth also serves as a bridge for sharing international best practices:
- In Belgium, researchers are testing precision irrigation systems that save water and boost yields.
- In Austria, an AI-driven robot is helping organic farmers weed fields without chemicals.
- In Croatia, a start-up developed the Vineyard Angel platform, using drones and AI to monitor vine health and guide vineyard management.
Looking ahead
For Czech agriculture, Agri-Digital Growth represents not only access to European innovations but also a chance to develop new professional qualifications in precision farming. Organizations like WirelessInfo, in cooperation with Mendel University, are preparing to deliver certified training for new roles such as Data specialists, Agronomists, Mechanization specialists, and Precision farming advisors.
“The future of farming is not just about technology, but about people who know how to use it,” concluded Kollerová. “By investing in education, digital skills, and cross-border cooperation, Agri-Digital Growth helps ensure that Central European farmers are ready for the challenges of tomorrow.”
