The Agri-Digital Growth (ADG) project, led by CREA and supported by Plan4all as a partner, will feature prominently at EIMA International 2024 in Bologna from November 6–10, 2024. Highlighting digital and precision farming, the ADG team will launch the Precision Farming Ecosystem on November 7, 2024 in the Notturno Room, a collaboration hub that aims to boost digital skills, innovation, and sustainable practices across Central Europe’s agrifood sector.
Supported by Interreg CENTRAL EUROPE, the ADG project addresses critical challenges in digital agriculture. The launch event will include presentations from industry experts, including FederUnacoma, EIT Digital, CREA, and regional representatives from Veneto and Emilia Romagna regions, who will discuss market trends, knowledge transfer (AKIS), and the Precision Farming Specialist initiative.
We invite stakeholders, agricultural innovators, and anyone interested in the future of sustainable agriculture to join, network, and engage with leading experts in digital agriculture. Secure your attendance by registering before October 31st here.
Plan4all, one of the key partners in the PoliRuralPlus project, played an important role at Synergy Days 2024 in Barcelona. This event marked a significant gathering for digital innovators in the agri-food sector, with a focus on fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange across Europe. With over 550 participants and 39 projects represented, including PoliRuralPlus, ALIANCE and COMUNIDAD, the event provided a platform for discussions on the rapid digital transformation in agriculture. Key topics included the adoption of AI, data sharing, and overcoming challenges such as poor internet access in rural areas.
Plan4all as the umbrella organization for innovation
At Synergy Days, hosted by the SmartAgriHubs project on October 14-15, 2024, Plan4all’s contributions were highlighted not only through its direct involvement but also through coordination and support for projects that are at the forefront of digital transformation in rural-urban development:
Lesprojekt-služby leading initiatives in both the ALIANCE and COMUNIDAD projects, which leverage big data, AI, and remote sensing for precision farming and rural development.
Asplan Viakplayed a key role in the development and presentation of Jackdaw, an innovative tool introduced at the event, designed to integrate Large Language Models (LLMs) with geospatial data for enhanced decision-making.
Workshops showcasing advanced tools and results
Plan4all members hosted multiple workshops that drew attention to key digital innovations developed across its projects. These workshops highlighted several tools and methodologies:
The PoliRuralPlus project, in collaboration with ALIANCE , and COMUNIDAD demonstrated the Hub4Everybodyplatform. This versatile hub enables the management and presentation of rural-related data, providing a powerful solution for handling complex datasets, various maps, and supporting detailed geospatial analyses. The session included live demonstrations, showcasing how the platform can be applied across various sectors.
Jackdaw: LLM and GeoAI tool
Another exciting workshop introduced Jackdaw, a tool integrating Large Language Models (LLMs) with geospatial data to generate insightful outputs for stakeholders. Developed within the PoliRuralPlusframework, this tool demonstrates the potential of LLMs to transform decision-making processes in agriculture and rural governance. The session featured discussions with experts from ADRA and BDVA, focusing on the integration of LLMs with spatial data to generate actionable insights for stakeholders.
Jackdaw takes flight! Stay tuned as we uncover the features of Jackdaw!
AI in Earth monitoring for agriculture
In collaboration with Lesprojekt-služby within the ALIANCE project, experts from Czech Technical University and Czech Center for Science and Society discussed the role of AI in enhancing Earth monitoring systems. The session showcased two case studies addressing challenges such as cloud cover in satellite imagery and improving local weather forecasts using AI-driven data fusion techniques.
Plan4all’s role in shaping future innovation
Through its active participation and leadership, Plan4all solidified its position as a key player in the digital transformation of rural-urban communities. The event provided a platform for Plan4all and its partners to collaborate with stakeholders across Europe, driving forward solutions that address the challenges of territorial fragmentation and governance. The showcased tools, such as Jackdaw incorporating LLM models and GeoAI, and Hub4Everybody, demonstrated the potential to revolutionize rural development and improve decision-making processes.
Plan4all remains committed to fostering innovation and strengthening collaborations through its projects, ensuring that digital tools like those presented at Synergy Days 2024 contribute to a more sustainable and interconnected future.
Join the trans4num INSPIRE Hackathon 2024 and apply as a hacker for one or more challenges!
Why participate? The trans4num INSPIRE Hackathon 2024 offers you the chance to join a thriving international knowledge community. Each participant will receive a certificate recognizing their active involvement. Additionally, the top three teams, chosen by a jury based on specific criteria, will have the opportunity to contribute to peer-reviewed articles and citable publications documenting the results of the hackathon, offering a lasting legacy and boosting career prospects.
Plan4all recently participated in the GEO Symposium and Open Data/Open Knowledge (ODOK) Workshop 2024in Hangzhou, China, where it presented several innovative projects that demonstrate the organization’s leadership in geospatial data and Earth observation technologies.
Plan4all showcased the trans4numproject, which emphasizes sustainable agricultural nutrient management through digital innovations. The upcomingtrans4num INSPIRE Hackathon 2024, aimed at fostering collaboration and driving advancements in precision agriculture, was another key topic of discussion. Among the highlighted projects was also PoliRuralPlus, which focuses on improving rural-urban linkages through the integration of GeoAI and spatial predictors.
During the symposium, Karel Charvat from Plan4all had important meetings with the Tsinghua University, a partner in the trans4num project, further strengthening international collaborations. Additionally, Karel met with representatives fromAerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences AIR-CAS, key partner in the upcoming BioClima project, set to launch next year. BioClima will focus on international cooperation on improving monitoring for better integrated climate and biodiversity approaches, using environmental and Earth observation.
These discussions and presentations reflect Plan4all’s commitment to leveraging open data and Earth observation technologies to tackle pressing global issues. For more details on the Symposium visit GEO Symposium 2024.
We are happy to inform you about the AGRI-DIGITAL GROWTH project kick off. Plan4all will lead in developing precision farming courses and establishing an innovative living lab, driving forward agricultural technology and collaboration.
Stay tuned for updates on our journey to enhance digital agriculture!
We are looking for innovative challenge ideas focused on Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) for sustainable agriculture and land management!
By fostering collaboration between the EU and China, the hackathon aims to inspire young farmers, students, and professionals to engage in creating innovative business ideas utilising NBS technologies.
This aligns with the broader ambition of trans4num to enhance NBS implementation through a multi-level approach involving academic partners, practice partners, and societal stakeholders.
This is a unique opportunity to contribute to the development of impactful solutions, work with like-minded individuals from around the world, and benefit from the knowledge and experience of seasoned mentors.
The PoliRuralPlus project, funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme (Grant Agreement No. 101136910), invites innovative proposals for our Outreach Call. This call aims to enhance rural-urban interactions across the EU, fostering grassroots innovations and leveraging technological advancements for sustainable rural development.
Objectives of the Outreach Call
Promote innovative ideas that redefine rural-urban interactions
Support grassroots initiatives that demonstrate regional intricacies and innovations
Award a lump sum of up to 5,000 EUR to selected initiatives fostering regional innovation and leveraging local insights to strengthen rural-urban synergies
Specific Objectives per Pilot Area
Proposals must align with the specific objectives identified in one of the nine designated pilot regions of the PoliRuralPlus project:
Ireland (Monaghan County): Enterprise development in the green economy, social enterprise support
Slovakia (entire country): Rural revitalization, stakeholder engagement, and capacity building
Greece (Region of Central Greece): Sustainable agritech training, agritourism promotion, digital skills enhancement
Italy (Apulia): Short food supply chains, healthy diets, rural-urban linkages
Finland (Mallusjoki rural district): Rural Event Industry Ecosystem, community engagement, economic opportunities
Czech-Bavarian border region: Rural innovation network, connectivity, business opportunities
Spain (Segobriga and region of Sierra y Mancha Conquense): Rural-urban synergies, cultural heritage, economic development
Latvia (Vidzeme): Regional development monitoring, inclusive governance, innovation support
Malta (Malta and Gozo): Digital transformation, entrepreneurial capacity building, youth empowerment
Please note that detailed descriptions of the specific objectives and the spatial extent of the pilot regions are described in the Guidelines for Applicants.
Eligibility Criteria
Type of organisation: Open to all types with operational and financial capacity.
Single applicants only: No consortia or joint submissions.
Eligible countries: Legally established in an EU Member State or Associated Country.
Pilot specific proposals: The proposal must address specific challenges and opportunities identified within one of the nine designated pilot regions of the PoliRuralPlus project.
Early submission is highly recommended: Errors in submissions can be corrected and resubmitted before the deadline; only the latest version will be considered.
Financial Support
Funding: Up to 5,000 EUR lump sum for successful proposals.
Total allocation: 45,000 EUR, expected to fund 9 sub-projects.
Subcontracting or transferring funds to third parties is not permitted.
Key Dates
Call opening: 3 June 2024
Proposal submission opening: 24 June 2024
Submission Deadline: 31 July 2024, 17:00 CEST
Expected notification of results: 6 September 2024
Signature of Sub-Grant Agreement: September 2024
Expected implementation period: October – December 2024
Contact and Assistance
For additional support, including consultancy on proposal preparation, applicants are encouraged to contact the designated contact points for each pilot region, whose details can be found on the PoliRuralPlus Knowledge Hub. For any other questions, please use opencalls@poliruralplus.eu.
Disclaimer: Applicants are advised to regularly check the PoliRuralPlus Knowledge Hub for the latest information and updates regarding the open call. PoliRuralPlus reserves the right to make any updates to the open call at any time without prior notice.
Open Call Documents
Additional requirements, terms, and conditions are part of the open call documents, including:
Template for Part B – Technical Description (MS Word document)
Model Sub-Grant Agreement (PDF, to be published by 23 June 2024)
Applicants are advised to carefully review all accompanying documents available on the PoliRuralPlus Knowledge Hub to ensure full compliance and understanding of the submission process and requirements.
Be the first to explore SmartAfriHub 3.0! Join our exclusive webinar on 5th December 2023!
SmartAfriHub webinar: Exploring new horizons in spatial data management ● Date: 5th December 2023
About SmartAfriHub Developed through the collaboration of EU and African scientists and technicians, SmartAfriHub is a groundbreaking platform based on Hub4Everybody’s technology. This unique solution facilitates the publishing, sharing, and cooperative management of geographical datasets, including:
Professional data and measurements
Research project results
Student papers
Educational materials
Maps and in-field research visualizations
Various maps, tables, and databases
Why attend?
Discover SmartAfriHub 3.0: The latest version integrates an e-learning platform, enhancing our capacity-building and training modules.
Learn about our social space: SmartAfriHub is not just a tool but a social space where users from diverse backgrounds contribute and collaborate.
Explore our unique features: From spatial data management to data analysis and education, SmartAfriHub offers unparalleled possibilities.
Webinar Agenda
SmartAfriHub Overview: Dive into the core features and benefits.
Web management of spatial data: Techniques and tools for efficient data management.
Working with QGIS client & Wagtail CMS: Hands-on demonstrations and insights.
Educational module possibilities: Explore the potential of our integrated e-learning platform. Who should attend? This webinar is ideal for professionals, researchers, students, and anyone interested in spatial data management, GIS technologies, and collaborative platforms for geographical data.
Who should attend?
This webinar is ideal for professionals, researchers, students, and anyone interested in spatial data management, GIS technologies, and collaborative platforms for geographical data.
Hub4Everybody / SmartAfriHub description
Hub4Everybody is a one-of-a-kind solution for publishing, sharing and cooperative management of geographical datasets, such as professional data and measuring, results of research projects or student papers, educational materials, emotional maps, visualization of in-field research and other maps, tables, or databases. You can easily upload or update your data as well as adjust the parameters of sharing among different audiences. Hub4Everybody is an alternative tool combining online office software with an editorial system for spatial data. It is also an open-source alternative to already existing commercial solutions while offering additional extending options like e-learning. SmartAfriHub is just one instance of the Hub4Everybody platform. The solution can be tailored to your needs and deployed anywhere.
PLUS Change is looking for candidates from different cultural and professional backgrounds to join our Ambassadors of Change programme. Selected Ambassadors will contribute to discussions on equitable land use, representing the interests of groups that are often excluded from or underrepresented in land use planning and decision making. By joining PLUS Change as an Ambassador, you can have a voice in helping to build a more equitable, sustainable future!
