An event powered by
Search
Close this search box.

Towards a smarter and more sustainable agriculture: agritech projects at Maker Faire Rome 2022

Agritech projects at MFR 2022

Between advanced sensors, digital markets, drones and innovative crop monitoring systems, the future of agriculture in the projects presented at MFR 2022

 

The digital transformation is affecting every sector, and the agricultural one makes no difference.

This industry is today characterized by increasingly automated processes and the use of innovative technologies that make agricultural activities more efficient, reducing costs and timing and operating in a more sustainable way, with positive effects on the environment and society.

A change that became necessary to address challenges such as population growth, climate change, resource scarcity or the emergence of new eating habits, which have a significant impact on the agricultural sector.

At Maker Faire Rome 2022, there have been many initiatives and projects – for large companies, medium-sized farmers and even smaller organizations – aimed at optimizing processes and products with an eye to the environment, adopting a mix between advanced sensors, development of digital markets and the use of drones and innovative crop monitoring systems.

 

Terravionics

Terravionics is a data-driven agritech solution designed to help small and medium-sized farmers face climate change challenges.

The project integrates proprietary drones, AI-based ground sensors and software with satellite data, and combines these elements in an innovative way, involving end users in the co-design of the service. The system then returns predictive knowledge, directly usable by farmers, to make better and more sustainable decisions. The current focus of Terravionics is viticulture, but it is scalable to other types of crops.

Terravionics was created by Franco M. Battagello, Michela Mascia, Marco De Vellis, Marco Granati, Ivano Basile, Federica Saponaro and Fulvio Petti.

 

Biomercato

Biomercato is a network of farmers that creates physical and digital biological markets, where producers are both decision makers, makers and sellers.

Beside the physical markets in the squares, Biomercato has planned the development of a digital and fair market for the diffusion of unsold products and those sold directly at the request of the horeca sector (hotellerie-restaurant-catering) and of solidarity buying groups (GAS), under the guiding principles of food sovereignty.

A project realized by Christian Cabrera, Licia De Benedictis and Roberto Bedini.

 

 

Sensors for MAR – Multipurpose Anphibious Rover

The project consists of a new generation amphibious-terrestrial drone whose handling is based on a pendulum system. The drone is presented as two large wheels that allow to accommodate the handling equipment, control electronics and the eventual payload.

Due to its stability characteristics, this type of drone finds application under the coast, for surveillance activities, or on land, for example for precision agriculture, and thanks to the optimum ratio of weight and size of the wheels, it has less impact compared to an ordinary tractor. This allows to carry out, in perspective, activities of administration of substances directly on the single plant, obtaining targeted treatments and reducing waste.

In both operational situations, amphibious or terrestrial, the drone can carry out research activities, depending on the sensors that will be mounted on board.

The project was carried out by Fabio Leccese of the Laboratory of Electrical and Electronic Measurements of the Department of Sciences of the University of Roma Tre

 

Olive X-Ray

Olive X-Ray is a portable telescopic radiography device for monitoring fly infestation directly in the field, to prevent damages to the olives.

Battery powered and connected to image recognition software, Olive X-Ray provides real-time georeferenced data on the percentage of parasite larvae, allowing targeted intervention plans.

Its ease of use significantly reduces time and cost compared to the current commonly used monitoring system, which is very complex and involves harvesting, transportation in the laboratory and analysis of olives, in addition to the subsequent manual loading of the obtained data.

Olive X-Ray is a project realized by the students of ITS Agroalimentare of Viterbo with the support of educational coordinators and technology teachers.

 

Sustainable models of vine cultivation: new approaches to support precision agriculture in the vineyard

At Maker Faire Rome 2022, were presented new approaches to the identification of homogeneous functional zones (fHZ) in vineyards, with a multidisciplinary approach.

The current objective of agriculture is to promote the resilience of agricultural systems, in a sustainable way, through the use of new technologies aimed at improving efficiency in the use of agricultural resources and increasing yield and quality under climate change conditions.

In the vineyard, improving knowledge of the processes involved in the soil-plant and atmosphere system, is the only way to achieve these general objectives, improving the practical impact of new monitoring technologies.

The project was realized by Antonello Bonfante, Maurizio Buonanno, Arturo Erbaggio, Veronica De Micco and Chiara Cirillo.

 


 

Maker Faire Rome – The European Edition has been committed since its very first edition to make innovation accessible, usable and profitable for all. This blog is always updated and full of opportunities and inspiration for makers, makers, SMEs and all the curious ones who wish to enrich their knowledge and expand their business, in Italy, in Europe and beyond.

Subscribe our newsletter: we will select and share the most valuable information for you