The gaiasense smart farming system extends its cooperation with the Stevia Hellas Cooperative For NEUROPUBLIC, the agri-food sector is an indisputable pillar of the national economy and its strengthening is a key element for the development of the country. In this context, the company, uninterruptedly and substantially supports the efforts of farmers to meet the challenges of the times. Thus, for almost five years, it has been a constant ally in the efforts of the Stevia Hellas Agricultural Cooperative for more, better quality and more competitive product, but also for a more sustainable cultivation model based on regenerative practices. In recent years, the cultivation of stevia has been on the rise in Greece and Stevia Hellas has played a leading role in its development, especially after the establishment of the Stevia Thrace Agricultural Cooperative. At the moment, farmers from Lamia to Evros are producing high quality stevia, while many tobacco growers who are concerned about the future and find in stevia the ideal product to replace tobacco are particularly interested in switching to this crop. After all, stevia uses the same cultivation practices and machinery. At the same time, it has a better yield per hectare and its demand is constantly increasing in the food and drink industry. Finally, stevia cultivation requires significantly fewer natural resources, less water, reduced use of fertilisers and no chemicals and, consequently, its environmental footprint is smaller than that of tobacco. Smart farming and, in particular, the gaiasense smart farming system developed by NEUROPUBLIC plays a central role in the initiatives to support stevia producers. Gaiasense uses modern technologies and scientific knowledge in such a way as to assist the farmer in making better production decisions. At the same time, it helps reduce costs and unnecessary loss of resources, reduces the impact of agriculture on the environment and climate, improves productivity and competitiveness, and increases the quality of stevia products. This year again finds gaiasense next to the Stevia Hellas Cooperative, a helper in its work and its members, but, above all, in future actions for the expansion of the network and the cultivation of stevia in the country. “Technology and especially smart farming is a “tool” for better products and reduced input costs”, says Christos Stamatis, CEO of Stevia Hellas, about the renewal of the already successful cooperation between the two parties. The numbers… spoke It is worth noting that the figures from the field measurements are very encouraging. Depending on the type of crop and the area, the application of the gaiasense system can improve irrigation by reducing unnecessary watering by 14-47%, and fertilization by between 15-28%. In particular, in stevia there is a 22% reduction in unnecessary watering and a 17% reduction in fertilisation. Besides, many Greek and foreign farmers who have already applied gaiasense to their production have seen its benefits and are satisfied. “We have been using gaiasense since 2019 and it gives us a lot of information about the crop and the environment. It has really helped our agronomists to optimise their recommendations to farmers”, explains Domingos Godinho, representative of the CONFAGRI (Confederation of Agricultural Cooperatives of Portugal), while Evangelos Asmanidis, a cotton producer in Evros, claims that “you are informed about some things that you cannot see with the naked eye and it helps you a lot in your work”.
Smart farming at Data Week 2022 with the participation of NEUROPUBLIC Issues of productivity, food safety, sustainability and climate neutrality in line with the objectives of the European Green Deal, through the lens of data collection, exchange and use in agri-food, were addressed in an online seminar held in the framework of BDVA Data Week 2022, on Wednesday 1 June. Nikos Kalatzis, Head of Technical Project Management at NEUROPUBLIC, was among the speakers, with a presentation focused on good practice regarding the use of agricultural data. Specifically, he spoke about smart farming as a service, sharing agricultural data for policy monitoring and evaluation, the role of farm management information systems, and the path towards a federal agri-environmental data warehouse system. “Farming practices are changing, data collection and processing mechanisms are evolving and can now help farmers in a meaningful way”, he argued, while shortly afterwards stressing that “the new agricultural policies are broadening their scope to contribute to the achievement of environmental objectives”. Finally, Kalatzis explained the operation of NEUROPUBLIC’s gaiasense smart farming system and how it uses the data collected from the field to provide advice to farmers. At the same time, he underlined the contribution of gaiasense to faster subsidy payments and reduction of bureaucracy, increased efficiency and effectiveness in monitoring agro-ecological indicators, and improved transparency in food production (traceability). About BDVA Data Week BDVA Data Week is the leading annual event of the European research and innovation community BDVA in relation to Big Data and Artificial Intelligence – of which NEUROPUBLIC is a member – and for another year its main objective was to exchange views and knowledge, strengthen international relations, disseminate policies and initiatives, and identify potential problems. BDVA Data Week, which kicked off on 24 May, will conclude with a two-day physical event on 8 and 9 June in Naples, Italy, where speakers and experts of international standing will address the main topics discussed throughout the event.
The benefits of the gaiasense smart farming system in the context of the European Skills Week Minas Pelekanos, Sales & Training Support Executive of NEUROPUBLIC, spoke on Friday 20 May about the new CAP in the era of the European Green Agreement and the role of digitalisation, at an event for the European Professional Skills Week, organised by the educational organisation AKMI. Themed “Green Growth”, the event took place in the main auditorium of the Training Centre and was the ideal platform for the promotion of the objectives of the new, “greener” Common Agricultural Policy and its ambitions in relation to the environment and climate. At the same time, Mr. Pelekanos’ presentation focused on how digitalisation and smart farming can help in the green transformation of the agri-food sector. At the centre of the discussion and the questions of the more than 100 students who attended, was the innovative gaiasense smart farming system, which not only enhances the reduction of the environmental and climate footprint of the food system, but also has measurable benefits for the producer. Specifically, NEUROPUBLIC’s gaiasense can reduce up to 47% of unnecessary watering, reduce up to 28% of fertilization costs, and help reduce unnecessary spraying by up to 16%. As a result, environmental protection and adaptation to the European Green Deal, improved competitiveness and reduced inputs, higher and better-quality production, better profit for the farmer. From left: N. Sarri (KPMG), N. Angeloudis (Pfizer Hellas), Em. Aposolakis (AKMI), El. Minakaki, G. Galanis (MYTILINEOS S.A.) & M. Pelekanos (NEUROPUBLIC)
NEUROPUBLIC’s gaiasense at the European Skills Week event For the second consecutive year, the educational organization AKMI participates in the European Skills Week, which runs from 16 to 20 May 2022 and, this time, has as its theme “Green Development”. In this context, NEUROPUBLIC will be present at a relevant event on Friday, May 20, at the main auditorium of the Training Centre (16, Codrigtonos). Specifically, the Sales & Training Support Executive of the company, Minas Pelekanos, will speak, in the presence of 100 students of Economics & Management, about climate change and environmental degradation, but also about the role of digitalization and -mainly- smart farming in the green transformation of the agricultural sector, within and outside the borders. The protagonist of the presentation will, of course, be the innovative gaiasense smart farming system, which aims to put advanced technologies at the service of the producer to ensure food security while enhancing the reduction of the environmental and climate footprint of the food system, thus contributing to the transition towards competitive sustainability.
Invitation to an informative workshop at the Agricultural Cooperative of Chania The Agricultural Cooperative of Chania and NEUROPUBLIC invite you to an informative event that will take place on Monday, April 11th 2022 at 10:00 am in the central hall of the Cooperative’s Kolymvari branch. The workshop will focus on the new CAP and the questions that have been raised by farmers, as well as on NEUROPUBLIC’s innovative gaiasense smart farming system that helps the producer achieve higher crop production and better quality at reduced costs. We are waiting for you all.
PRESS RELEASE – Successful gaiasense workshop in Aegina On Sunday, March 13, an event organized in Aegina by the Agricultural Association of Aegina in collaboration with NEUROPUBLIC was successfully completed. The members of the Association who are involved in the cultivation of pistachio responded positively to the invitation for the informative workshop and filled the Kypseli Cultural Centre on the island. Similarly, from the side of NEUROPUBLIC were present the Commercial Director George Papadimas and the Agronomist Evangelia Tourkochoriti, who informed the attendees about the new technologies and the future of agricultural production. The topics of the event were focused on two axes: the implementation and benefits of smart farming, and NEUROPUBLIC’s innovative gaiasense smart farming system and how it can help the producer in the demanding pistachio cultivation. Specifically, during the workshop, measurements and data from the use of the gaiasense system were analyzed, while the audience gained a more specialized insight into what exactly it is and how much it can, in cooperation with the innovative gaiasense mobile app, benefit – quantitatively and qualitatively – agricultural production and, in particular, the production of PDO Aegina pistachio. The workshop concluded with questions from the farmers, who showed that they are keen for information, innovation and anything that could make their daily life easier and their production more efficient.
Informative event on smart farming in Aegina NEUROPUBLIC, faithful to its commitment to support farmers in their effort to move towards the new digital reality and the better management of their crops, is organizing an informative workshop on Sunday, March 13, at 11:00-14:00 at the Kypseli Cultural Centre, in Aegina, Greece. The event will be held in collaboration with the Agricultural Association of Aegina and will focus on smart farming, and how its implementation on farms reduces costs and unnecessary loss of resources, how it minimises the impact of farming on the environment, and, ultimately, how it helps farmers make better decisions about their production. At the same time, NEUROPUBLIC’s innovative gaiasense system will be presented, which helps the producer – in this case, the pistachio grower – to deal effectively with the risks that threaten his crop and achieve higher crop production and better quality at reduced costs.
Smart farming in the focus of an information event in the Municipality of Mires In the context of NEUROPUBLIC’s consistent policy to support the agricultural community and inform them on the issues of the new CAP and the advantages of smart farming, an informative event was held on Friday 18 February in cooperation with the Agricultural Cooperative of Messara at the Polycentre of the Municipality of Mires. The event, which brought together a large number of producers from the wider region, answered urgent topics concerning the modern farmer. Specifically, the attendees were informed by George Tzifas, Sales Executive of NEUROPUBLIC, about the innovative system of smart farming gaiasense, the economic and environmental benefits resulting from its implementation, as well as its advantages over the competition. Afterwards, the floor was taken over by John Mavroudis, Business Strategy & Extroversion Consultant and Member of the Board of Directors of NEUROPUBLIC, to talk about the new CAP, how it affects Greek producers and the primary sector in general, the green and digital transformation of agricultural production and, of course, to answer questions. The interaction between the participants and the speakers was really impressive, the questions were many and, in the end, the satisfaction and enthusiasm of the producers was obvious, both for the nature and the quality of the information they received. Indeed, there were several who said that they felt there was finally a genuine interest in the difficulties they face and their concerns.