S3P T&BD
Iratxe Díez Delgado & Juan Pedro Romero Trueba
Subdirectorate of Innovation and Digitization, Directorate of Rural Development, Innovation and Agri-Food Training of the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
The Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPA) is one of the 22 members of the FAIRShare consortium. FAIRShare (Farm Advisory Digital Innovation Tools Realised and Shared) is a Horizon 2020 project that focuses on overcoming the digital divide by promoting digitalisation in the agricultural sector through a strategic approach: strengthening the digital skills of farm advisors and producers. Transforming producers and advisors from non-users into competent digital tool users is key, as digitalisation is a lever for sustainability and innovation in the agricultural sector.
Digital tools, or DATS (Digital Advisory Tools and Services), are technologies which include computer and mobile phone applications and services. They may stand alone, on individual devices, or be connected via the web. Their primary function is to assist advisors to deliver a farmer-focused decision support service or to assist in administrative or communication tasks.
An inventory of more than 300 DATS (Digital Advisory Tools and Services) is available on FAIRShare webpage. Among many other DATS, this inventory includes MAPA´s Toolbox, a search engine that lists digital tools applicable to agriculture, food, livestock, rural development and forestry. Each tool is described, characterised, and classified in detail. Examples include variable rate applications, automatic steering, and robotic systems.
The role of advisors is also highlighted as they are the best suited to support farmers in selecting, introducing, and exploiting digital tools. FAIRShare supports farm advisors across Europe to practically engage and implement digital tools in their own advisory organisations by using a trainers-of-trainers approach and by developing “User Cases”. 'User cases' are challenges faced by a group of advisors who come together to address them via digital means.
Other Spanish partners involved in FAIRShare are Cajamar and INTIA. Cajamar has a simple tool for estimating the fertigation nutrient requirements of horticultural crops under glass in their experimental station in Almeria. On the other hand, INTIA (Instituto Navarro de Tecnologías e Infraestructuras Agroalimentarias) has created a tool that facilitates collaboration and communication between its staff to prevent the loss of knowledge and experience generated in advisory work.
FAIRshare is currently in its final year and is preparing a final conference to present project results. The conference will take place on October 2nd and 3rd in Thessaloniki, Greece.
Related information:
· Fairshare Project (h2020fairshare.eu)
· Practice Abstracts – Fairshare Project (h2020fairshare.eu)