One of the challenges of practicing integrated fertilization management to increase production and input efficiency in agriculture is designing better systems for fertilizer use. This was the focus of the event hosted by STRATUS partner ILVO (Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food) along with VITO (Flemish Institute for Technological Research) showcasing the latest advances driving innovation in precision farming.
These advances are brought on by new technology, but also by new uses of existing technology. At the event, participants had a chance to learn about drone sampling, which can improve the efficiency of agricultural plot mapping and data collection. This is achieved by using smaller drones that capture geotagged high-quality images, therefore reducing the picture “overlap” that resulted from traditional use of drones for plot imaging.
The data collected by drone sampling together with AI based predictions can then be used to create task maps that will be used in precision farming operations. This is precisely what participants of the event did during a hackathon organized by ILVO in which they created task maps using specialized software such as QGIS and DACOM. These maps were then loaded onto two advanced boom sprayers for a field demonstration on variable rate spraying.
By combining drone images with AI technology, farmers can make a more efficient use of inputs, contributing not only to the economic sustainability of their businesses, but to the environmental sustainability of agricultural systems as a whole.
This is just one of the areas where STRATUS is taking action to create a network of advisors across Europe for accelerating knowledge creation and sharing on Integrated Fertilization Management, supporting farmers to bring this knowledge into practice to achieve the ambition of the Farm to Fork and Biodiversity Strategies, thus reducing nutrient losses to the environment while maintaining soil fertility.