Transfarm 4.0 wikipage - User contributions [en]

REGIONAL ACTION PLAN TO TRANSFORM THE REGIONAL INDUSTRIAL SPECIALIZATION IN PF IN S3 DRIVING FORCE

2022-08-18T11:14:14Z

Marek:

D.T3.1.5 MATE PP6 - Hungary

Version 1

09.06.2022

'''[https://wiki.precision-farm40.com/images/a/af/Transfarm4.0_D.T3.1.5_Regional_action_plan_PP6_Hungary.pdf PDF version you can download here.]'''

== Introduction - the national guidelines on Precision Agriculture ==
Hungarian Government launched the Digital Success Program in 2015 to provide benefit for citizen and business from digitalization. Several programs were initiated within the DSP for example: Digital Education Strategy of Hungary, Digital Export Development Strategy of Hungary, Digital Startup Strategy of Hungary, Digital Child Protection Strategy of Hungary. Among these actions DAS - Digital Agriculture Strategy of Hungary is the most relevant to the Transfarm4.0 project.

DAS developed in 2016 by the members of the ICT Association of Hungary (IVSZ) in collaboration with experts and related organizations, and later the Hungarian Government involved it (DAS2.0) to the Digital Welfare Program. DAS aimed to improve the profitability, reduce the environmental impact and increase sustainability of the Hungarian agriculture according to the digitalization, robotisation through agricultural innovations in machinery. The main goals of the DAS are to (i) improve yield and quality according to more efficient while reducing waste (ii) reducing the risk of production according to DSS and (iii) reducing the sales risk. The authors of the DAS (government, non-governmental organizations, actors of the digital “ecosystem”) aimed to widen the application of PF solutions in the following areas: arable crop production, animal husbandry, horticulture, viticulture, fishing and forestry1 . Development of the DAS1.0 was done in 3 phases and 6 steps2 , where the first phase authors evaluated the present situation and opportunities in the context of the national vision of agriculture. The second phase based on the national vision of e-agriculture, the action plan, and on the monitoring and assessment plan. The last third phase was the development of the Digital Agriculture Strategy. According to the methodology designed, there are 5 areas which collaboration improves the efficiency: production, farm, production chain, specialist system and government. The final document provided by the IVSZ was introduced in press (06.19.2016) and at several events. Compared to the DAS1.0 the later version (DAS2.0) defined 5 pillars (in stead of the 5) namely: production, farm and production chain as main elements.

DAS is an important component of Hungary’s Food Industry Concept 2017-2050 which goals were introduced in the D.T1.1.2 Precision farming policy economic review analysis. DAS was supported by several other actions for example the Digital Agrarian Academy aimed to improve the knowledge of the farmers and interested audience in digital agricultural solutions. This project is supported by the Government according to the Innovációs és Technológiai Minisztérium, illetve a Digitális Jólét Nonprofit Kft..

According to the DAS higher education has high importance to introduce digital solutions and the benefit of PF to both the young generation and those who already run a farm. For this reason, MATE, together with several other Hungarian universities, participated in the renewal of Hungarian higher education in accordance with Government Decision 1785/2016. (XII.16.) on the adoption of the "Change of Pace in Higher Education Medium-Term Policy Strategy 2016". This process reached a decisive milestone on 1st February 2021, when the integration of higher education and research at our university was completed by the integration of eleven research institutes and several business organizations, and the new foundation model of maintaining came into being. The main goal of the Digital Welfare Program (DWP) is to ensure that the development of curricula is carried out by the best professional workshops and colleagues available in Hungary - taking into account the specialization aspirations of the government concerning agricultural higher education. This goal can only be fully achieved in cooperation with several universities, including the three model change universities agreed on 1 April by the DWP. According to this Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences (MATE), the Széchenyi István University (SZE) and the University of Veterinary Medicine Budapest (ÁOTE) joint to a consortium to the development of the DAA curriculum.

'''Digital Agrarian Academy has the following modules3 :'''

*E-learning: Within the framework of the Digital Agrarian Academy, continuously expanding educational materials were prepared for those interested. There are currently 30 topics available in the 9 modules below. Additions were made to each topic for producers in the surrounding Carpathian Basin countries. The curriculum is constantly being developed based on changes in technology and user feedback, opinions and needs.
*Knowledge base / Definitions where those expressions are explained which linked to the precision agriculture.
*Digital Demonstration Farms: Understanding digital solutions is the most effective in practice, during operation. Lectures, exhibitions, and knowledge bases help a lot, but a good solution that works well and the honest experiences associated with it provide the most support for an informed decision. Demonstration farms will play a major role in training the farmers. In the framework of the Digital Agricultural Academy, the Digital Demonstration Farms would be selected.
*Digital Service Provider Database Survey: The purpose of creating a digital service provider database is to provide the “students” of the Digital Agricultural Academy with a unified structure about which service provider to turn to if they are looking for a special service provider to facilitate digitization or to build a complex system. The purpose of the database is to help farmers find the best service provider for them to help them implement digital solutions
*Digital public services: This catalog of digital services and online databases operated by the public sector in the agricultural sector. The list is constantly being updated and expanded.
{| class="wikitable"
! !! Topics of DAA (Hungarian) !! Topics of DAA (titles in English)*
|-
| '''I.'''|| '''Farm menedzsment modul'''|| '''Farm management module'''
|-
| 1 || Agrár digitális alapismeretek || Basics of digital agriculture
|-
| 2 || Digitális farm menedzsment || Digital farm management
|-
| 3 || Digitális technológia és jog || Digital technology and law
|-
| 4 || Agrár adat felhasználás || Use of agricultural data
|-
| 5 || Digitális megoldások a vidékfejlesztésben || Digital solutions in rural development
|-
| '''II.'''|| '''Szántóföld modul'''|| '''Arable plant production module'''
|-
| 6 || Precíziós szántóföldi növénytermesztés || Precision crop production
|-
| 7 || Precíziós növényvédelem || Precision plant protection
|-
| 8 || Gyakorlati Talajtan gazdálkodóknak || Practical Soil Science for Farmers
|-
| 9 || Talajerőgazdálkodás a gyakorlatban || Soil resource management in practice
|-
| '''III.'''|| '''Állattenyésztés modul'''|| '''Livestock module'''
|-
| 10 || Precíziós állattenyésztés || Precision animal husbandry
|-
| 11 || Precíziós állattenyésztés (szarvasmarha, baromfi) || Precision farming (cattle, poultry)
|-
| 12 || Precíziós méhészet || Precision apiary
|-
| 13 || Precíziós aquakultúra || Precision aquaculture
|-
| 14 || Állategészségügy || Animal health
|-
| 15 || Takarmány || Forage
|-
| '''IV.'''|| '''Kertészet modul'''|| '''Horticulture module'''
|-
| 16 || Precíziós kertészet, zöldég, szántóföldi és üvegház || Precision horticulture, vegetables, arable crops and greenhouses
|-
| 17 || Kertészet gyümölcs || Horticulture, fruit growing
|-
| '''V.'''|| '''Szőlészet modul'''|| '''Viticulture module'''
|-
| 18 || Precíziós szőlészet || Precision viticulture
|-
| '''VI.'''|| '''Erdészet modul'''|| '''Forestry module'''
|-
| 19 || Precíziós erdészet || Precision forestry
|-
| '''VII.'''|| '''Precíziós gépek modul'''|| '''Precision machinery module'''
|-
| 20 || Precíziós gépek üzemeltetése || Operation of precision machinery
|-
| 21 || Robotok a mezőgazdaságban || Robots in agriculture
|-
| 22 || Prediktív gép karbantartás és szervizelés || Predictive machine maintenance and service
|-
| '''VIII.'''|| '''Távérzékelés modul'''|| '''Remote sensing module'''
|-
| 23 || Drón használat || Use of drone
|-
| 24 || Monitoring drón || Monitoring drone
|-
| 25 || Munkavégzésre alkalmas drónok (permetező drón) || Drones suitable for work (spraying drone)
|-
| 26 || Műholdas távérzékelés || Satellite-based remote sensing
|-
| '''IX.'''|| '''Digitális Termelői Piac modul'''|| '''Digital Producer Market Module'''
|-
| 27 || E-kereskedelem és sharing economy az agráriumban || E-commerce and sharing economy in agriculture
|-
| 28 || Élelmiszeripar, minőségbiztosítás (digitális nyomonkövetési rendszerek) || Food industry, quality assurance (digital tracking systems)
|-
| 29 || Életmód, táplálkozás || Lifestyle, nutrition
|-
| 30 || Elsődleges termelői feldolgozás higiéniája || Hygiene of primary producer processing
|}
<nowiki>*</nowiki>Learning materials of the Digital Agrarian Academy is in Hungarian language, here we provide the English translation of the titles only

== What is the Intelligent Specialization Strategy (RIS3)? ==
“Conceived within the reformed Cohesion policy of the European Commission, Smart Specialisation is a place-based approach characterised by the identification of strategic areas for intervention based both on the analysis of the strengths and potential of the economy and on an Entrepreneurial Discovery Process (EDP) with wide stakeholder involvement. It is outward-looking and embraces a broad view of innovation including but certainly not limited to technology-driven approaches, supported by effective monitoring mechanisms.” 4

According to the European Commission Smart Specialization Platform Hungary has two S3 thematic platforms:

* Artificial Intelligence and Human Machine Interface (AI & HMI)
* SME integration to Industry 4.0

The main S3 priorities are:

* Clean and renewable energies
* Healthy local food
* Inclusive and sustainable society
* Healthy society and wellbeing
* Agricultural innovation
* Sustainable environment
* ICT and information services
* Advanced technologies in the vehicle and other machine industries

Concerning the Transfarm4.0 there are 3 priorities Agricultural innovation, Sustainable environment, and Advanced technologies in the vehicle and other machine industries.

According to the Smart Specialisation Platform5 these priorities described as:

* Agricultural innovation: The aim of the priority is to advance and establish the innovations facilitating sectoral renewal from the agricultural knowledge centres through producer undertakings to individuals, with the aim of enhancing the innovation potential of the sector. Such complex agribusiness developments should be implemented that represent an opportunity to use innovative R&D solutions in crop production and protection technologies, in addition to animal production and veterinary medicine.
* Sustainable environment: The priority is aimed at promoting the sustainability of the environment and natural resource management (e.g. environmental biotechnology) through the research and development of modern technologies and the implementation of the environmental industry and sectoral innovation. In addition to the advanced innovative water treatment technologies and waste water treatment and waste management, priority will be given to the non‐pipe technologies.
* Advanced technologies in the vehicle and other machine industries: This is a priority which covers several segments of the machine industry RDI, whose priority (but non‐ exclusive) objective is to develop the vehicle industry from the development of vehicle components to the different branches of machine production (including, but not limited to, agricultural, food processing, precision and household machinery).

== National Smart Specialization Strategy of Hungary ==
Hungarian S3 objectives are introduced in the National Smart Specialisation Strategy published in November 20146 and in July 20217 . Earlier version includes a situation analysis details the general situation of Hungary, in more particular society, sustainability, GDP and added value. Within the RDI status it introduces the results from 2014, where Hungary was considered as a moderately innovative country. As one of the main factors of innovation higher education research organizations were analyzed. Results showed that health science, natural sciences and technical sciences are the most important areas. Linked to the Transfarm4.0 project the agricultural science showed lower importance with 9% of the distribution of the R&D expenditures of higher education by areas of science. Concerning the collaboration between higher education research institutions and companies the highest was in the area of agricultural sciences, as more than 50% of the projects are carried out in collaboration. Hungarian Academy of Sciences is one of the major actor in research and development in this way its role was also evaluated. According to the distribution of expenditures in the major research projects of the HAS by areas of science material sciences within the technical sciences and the physical and biological sciences within the natural sciences have the highest shares, while cultivation, horticulture, forestry and hunting received only a minor share (0.8%) of the expenditures, while according to the distribution of expenditures in the major research projects of the HAS by sectors, agriculture forestry and fishing received higher (4.2%) share. Results of the National Smart Specialisation Strategy showed that the large companies spend 30% more on research and development than the micro, small and medium sized enterprises. The expenditure was different according to the sectors: expenditure per researcher was the highest in manufacture of pharmaceuticals, medical chemical and botanical products. Linked to the Transfarm4.0 project it is important to highlight manufacture of machinery and equipment had high expenditure too. Report showed the proportion of the innovative companies are the highest (more than 70% of the companies were considered as innovative) in the manufacture of pharmaceuticals, medical chemical and botanical products, while less than 40% was in the case of manufacture of machinery and equipment. The report introduces the international outlook and international trends and among others the relations with the neighboring countries. SWOT analysis details the Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities Threats concerning the (i) education, training, research background, (ii) research and innovation environment, organisations, infrastructure and services, and (iii) financing. The report introduces governance structure within this the national processes before the National Smart Specialisation Strategies and the S3 stakeholders. Both triple helix and quadruple helix grouping of actors were designed, according to the following structure of the actors:

'''Science'''

* Higher education institutions
** Universities
** Colleges
* Research institutes
** Academic and sectoral (public or private) research institutes
* Knowledge centres
** Science o Higher education institutions ▪ Universities ▪ Colleges o Research institutes ▪ Academic and sectoral (public or private) research institutes o Knowledge centres

'''Government'''

* Government and local government organisations
** Ministries
** National government offices
** County governments
** County government offices
** Local governments of cities of county rank

'''Economy'''

** Innovative enterprises
** Large enterprises
** SMEs (including micro, start‐up and spinoff businesses)
** Non‐profit companies
* Technology transfer organizations and accredited clusters
** Innovation and technology transfer offices
** Clusters

'''Civil organisations'''

** Trade associations
** Interest representation bodies (e.g. national and county chambers of commerce and industry)
** Other non‐profit organisations

National priorities in the phase (2014-2021) divided into sectorial priorities and horizontal ones.

The sectorial priorities are:

'''Healthy society and wellbeing'''

* understanding diseases, early diagnosis, advanced medical and instrumental therapies, clinical methods, pharmaceutical, research and development, innovative health industry and health, tourism solutions

'''Advanced technologies in the vehicle and other machine industries'''

* machine industry RDI, advanced production technology systems, advanced materials and technologies (technical materials science, materials technology, nanotechnology, mechatronics and electronics))

'''Clean and renewable energies'''

* green energy – renewables and bio‐energy, nuclear energy, energy efficiency

'''Sustainable environment'''

* natural resource management, advanced environmental technologies

'''Healthy local food'''

* food processing, locally produced and processed food of high added value

'''Agricultural innovation'''

* agriculture, forestry, hunting, aquaculture and water management, horticultural technologies, agricultural biotechnology

'''The horizontal priorities are:'''

'''ICT (infocommunication technologies) & Services'''

* infocommunication technologies in support of the sectoral priorities, infocommunication technologies and services

'''Inclusive and sustainable society, viable environment'''

* education and training, health‐conscious education and, prevention, awareness raising, promoting entrepreneurial skills, development of cooperation, networking, organization and management development, social innovation, connection to local and regional development programmes, regional development, tourism

National selected priorities - selected from a first stage of prioritization - in the latest version of the S3 (2021-2027) introduced according to a priority description, identification of the target sectors, areas for development, and priority objectives. National economic priorities

* Cutting-edge technologies
* Health priority
* Digitisation of the economy priority
* Energy, climate priority
* Service priority
* Resource-efficient economy priority
* Agriculture, food priority
* Creative industries priority

These selected priorities are supported by the following horizontal priorities:

* Training, education
* Public sector and university innovation priority

== The opportunities for the PA proposed in the S3 Hungary -2021-2027 highlighted the smart agri-food priorites ==
In relation to the Trasfarm4.0 project cutting-edge technologies and agriculture, food national selected priorities have the closest relevance. Former one aims to develop – among others- cutting-edge technologies such artificial intelligence, big data, and AI-based data analysis. These technological innovations are in line with the aims of the Transfarm4.0 project pilot actions where data evaluation innovations support the growers to make arable crop cultivation, fruit growing or viticultural decisions. In our relation, these innovations would help the growers to reduce environmental impact, to increase the yield and improve the quality. In more particular, decision support system would provide benefit in planting, sowing, nutrient supply, plant protection (spraying), harvest, canopy management. In the agriculture, laborshortage is a more frequent difficulty in many sectors. In viticulture pruning, canopy management, cover crop maintenance and harvest are the main operations where mechanization, automatisation, robotics, and decision support systems are useful innovations. According to the S3 strategy the target groups of this priority are the universities, research institutes, businesses, non-profit sector.

The main objectives of this priority are the following ones, all would be linked to PA:

* Hungary should be close to the European forefront in research on cutting-edge technologies.
* As much as possible of the experimental development of cutting-edge technology research should take place in Hungary
* Establish and operate research networks and promote cross-sectoral, knowledge transfer collaborations to research and develop cutting-edge technologies
* Research infrastructures support the commercialisation of research results related to cutting-edge technologies, with a focus on applied research
* Improve the uptake of cutting-edge technologies by small and medium-sized enterprises
* Strengthening skills development support services for the effective use of cutting-edge technologies
* Supporting initiatives to enable sharing and cross-sectoral sharing to increase access to available cutting-edge technology infrastructures

Agriculture, food priority are even closer to the purposes of the Transfarm4.0 as, this priority covers many sectors of the agri-food chain for example: horticultural technologies, where viticulture belongs. The description of this priority highlights the effect of the climate change as one of the most important driving force of the innovations and technology development. Adaptations and solutions in this way essential in this sector. This goal is in line with the Transfarm4.0 objectives as the common pilot action preformed by the MATE, Linz Center of Mechatronics and AgroIT is aims to provide information for the irrigation planning and maintenance, and terroir evaluation. Both topics are related to the climate change. In Hungary the annual average precipitation is 500-750 mm, but the wine regions receive different amount of rain during a year, and year-to-year effect is also remarkable. According to the different scenarios irrigation and other treatments against the drought stress would be necessary to be applied. In viticulture rootstocks, training and trellising systems, special canopy management, and irrigation would be applied. In the Transfarm4.0 Big and Smart Data Management Pilot action case study 3: Sensor data acquisition for precision Viticulture in a fiware data lake we test a remote sensing network based on different sensors to provide information to the growers in the evaluation of their terroir and maintain any kind of viticultural operation based on microclimatic analysis.

The primary target group of the agriculture, food priority are agriculture, manufacture of food, beverages and tobacco products, manufacture of machinery and equipment. Linked to the aims of the Transfarm4.0 the main objectives of this priority are:

* Encourage the widespread dissemination of innovative solutions and innovative agricultural technologies for a shift towards sustainable agriculture and a bio-based economy, in particular in the areas of water and nutrient demand and solutions to reduce the environmental impact of crop protection interventions
* Experimental applications of agricultural technologies for climate change adaptation to enhance the resilience of domestic crop and livestock production

Horizontal S3 priorities are the training, education and public sector and university innovation priority. Transfarm4.0 is in line with both priorities. According to the training, education sufficient number of skilled workforce is required to reach the objectives of the national priorities. A possible solution is the collaboration between the training centers and companies to give practical training. Implementing training activities linked to the smart specialization is also aimed. Primary target groups of the priority: universities, research institutes, vocational training centres and institutions, businesses, non-profit sector. The university innovation priority aims to strengthen the innovation capacity and innovation activities of among others universities, non-profit organizations and research institutes.

== The financial envelope for each development trajectory ==
According to the EU funding programmes8 there are several programs financed by the EU budget or NextGenerationEU linked to research, for example in the heading Single Market, Innovation and Digital Horizon Europe, while in the European Strategic Investments there is the Digital Europe program. Within the Regional Development & Cohesion the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)9 provides funding to support investments for example for digitization and digital connectivity (within this for example the Interreg10). Natural Resources & Environment heading also contains those programs, which are linked to agriculture. For example the “two pillars” of the Common agricultural policy funds the European agricultural guarantee fund (EAGF) and European agricultural fund for rural development (EAFRD). Later one RDPs consist of measures and projects that contribute to the EU-wide objectives of11:

* improving the competitiveness of agriculture
* encouraging sustainable management of natural resources and climate action
* achieving a balanced territorial development of rural economies and communities

There are six EU rural development policy priorities (, that provide the support from the EAFRD to rural areas12:

Priority 1: Knowledge Transfer and Innovation

FA 1A: Fostering innovation, cooperation and the development of the knowledge base in rural areas;

FA 1B: Strengthening the links between agriculture, food production and forestry and research and innovation;

FA 1C: Fostering lifelong learning and vocational training in the agricultural and forestry sectors.

REGIONAL ACTION PLAN TO TRANSFORM THE REGIONAL INDUSTRIAL SPECIALIZATION IN PF IN S3 DRIVING FORCE

2022-08-18T11:06:38Z

Marek:

REGIONAL ACTION PLAN TO TRANSFORM THE REGIONAL INDUSTRIAL SPECIALIZATION IN PF IN S3 DRIVING FORCE

2022-08-18T10:44:48Z

Marek:

REGIONAL ACTION PLAN TO TRANSFORM THE REGIONAL INDUSTRIAL SPECIALIZATION IN PF IN S3 DRIVING FORCE

2022-08-18T10:40:53Z

Marek:

REGIONAL ACTION PLAN TO TRANSFORM THE REGIONAL INDUSTRIAL SPECIALIZATION IN PF IN S3 DRIVING FORCE

2022-08-18T10:39:20Z

Marek:

Main Page

2022-07-22T08:34:31Z

Marek:

[[File:Transfarm40 Logo.png|thumb|Transfarm4.0]]
'''This is Transfarm4.0'''

Agriculture requires innovations to increase production yields in terms of quantity and quality, but also to increase efficiency in resource management. It is necessary to reduce environmental impact and production costs, in a context of climate change and market globalization. Precision farming is gaining a crucial role in helping farmers run their businesses in a way that is productive and sustainable. Although the Central European area is the core of EU manufacturing, precision farming has not been high in the agenda and focus of smart specialization in our regions.

The project Transfarm 4.0 aims at increasing the direct participation of farmers in the precision farming sector and boosting the competitiveness of the European precision farming advanced manufacturing supply chains. Transfarm 4.0 will scout new demand-driven precision farming solutions to meet the needs of the farmers. Within the project, companies, clusters, research institutions and farmers will interact to bring new technological solutions to the market.

== REGIONAL ACTION PLAS ==

* [[REGIONAL ACTION PLAN BIELSKO-BIAŁA, SILESIAN VOIVODESHIP]]
* [[REGIONAL ACTION PLAN SLOVENIA]]
* [[REGIONAL ACTION PLAN TO TRANSFORM THE REGIONAL INDUSTRIAL SPECIALIZATION IN PF IN S3 DRIVING FORCE]]
* [[REGIONAL ACTION PLAN TO TRANSFORM THE REGIONAL INDUSTRIAL SPECIALIZATION IN S3 DRIVING FORCE]]
* [[REGIONAL ACTION PLAN UPPER AUSTRIA]]

REGIONAL ACTION PLAN SLOVENIA

2022-07-18T13:59:03Z

Marek: /* Key performance indicators */

D.T3.1.5 UM, AE-ROBO May 2022

'''[https://wiki.precision-farm40.com/images/2/2b/D-T3.1.5-Regional_action_plan_-_SLO.pdf PDF version you can download here.]'''

== '''Precision agriculture''' ==
Precision agriculture (PA), through the use of innovative technologies, is a farm management concept that can be used to increase long-term efficiency, manage uncontrolled change and reduce negative impacts on the environment. PA uses new technologies and innovations, combined with site-specific agronomic expertise. Pa maximizes production efficiency and increases the quality of agricultural produce without increasing environmental burdens. A is defined as an integrated approach to agriculture, which is not only synonymous with precision agriculture technologies (PATs) but is also a systems approach to the whole agricultural production. PA has been developed through the expertise of different disciplines.

The main (overarching) objective is to reduce decision uncertainty in agricultural work processes by focusing on better understanding users and managing uncontrolled change. Suppose variability in the field is a significant source of uncertainty. In that case, it is essential to manage appropriate PA processes that can respond to variable factors at the level of spatial and temporal distribution.

The formation of the PA cycle is further defined by Comparetti (2011), who defines PA methods in the following stages (shown in the following diagram):

* Data collection (measurement of spatially variable soil, crop, or yield parameters within the field and monitoring of local weather conditions)
* Interpretation (integration and mapping of input/output applications with different models)
* Application (application of variable inputs based on the results of data processing)
[[File:Image1 SL2.png|center|frame|Fig 1: The precision agriculture cycle.]]
Precision agriculture technologies, through sophisticated analysis of production resources, create significant opportunities to improve the efficiency of farming operations while contributing to solutions for sustainable agriculture and the environment. The availability of new technologies - farm machinery automation, geospatial tools, sensor and information systems, and others - enables precision farm management. In addition to generating accurate and integrated data sources needed for spatial variability decisions, PATs contribute to data diagnostics that link mapped field locations to the most appropriate decisions on sowing, fertilizer inputs, irrigation, crop protection products, crops, etc. They make it easier to manage inventories and account for costs by automatically recording input usage and tracking data

There is no single typology of PATs. However, it can be defined as follows.

* GPS (global positioning system)
* Geographic information system (GIS)
* Sensor systems
* Variable rate technology (VRT)
* Yield mapping (YM)
* IoT (Internet of things)

In the diagram below, we have outlined some of the basic components of precision agriculture technologies.
[[File:Image.png|center|frame|Fig. 2: The basic components of precision agriculture technologies.]]
Precision agriculture has enjoyed a remarkable expansion and popularity in some parts of the world, especially where more intensive farming practices are present. Farms use advanced machinery in a wide range of agricultural sectors. The North American market plays a leading role in PA. The European, Asian, and South American markets also have a significant share. Europe's innovative potential in PA is great and an important lever for agricultural prosperity. In Europe, precision agriculture market was worth USD 2.21 billion in 2021 and projected to grow at a CAGR of 13.2%, to reach USD 3.18 billion by 2026.

=== Characteristics of Slovenian agriculture ===
Slovenia is one of Europe's smaller countries, both in terms of land area and population. According to the OECD typology, Slovenia has intermediate (27.2%) and rural regions (72.8%). More than half of Slovenia's land territory is covered by forests, and 34% of its land area is predominantly agricultural. Slovenia is characterized by a dispersed and sparse population and a large number of small settlements. In Slovenia, agriculture with hunting, forestry and fishing contributes 2.3% (2019) to total value-added and 6.9% (2019) to full employment. The share of employment in agriculture is a declining trend and thus decreases year on year.

In Slovenia, decreasing the number of agricultural holdings continues, while the average size of a farming holding increases yearly. On average, a large agricultural holding in Slovenia cultivates 7.0 ha of agricultural land and manages an average of 5.6 ha of forest. Compared to the EU-28, Slovenia still has a very unfavorable size structure of agricultural holdings. The average age of farm owner (manager agricultural holding) in Slovenia amounted to 57 years (2016), which indicates a markedly unfavorable age structure in agriculture. In 2019, 745 companies were operating in the food processing industry, employing 14,627 people. Value-added was EUR 604 million and value-added per employee was EUR 41,270 EUR. Grassland is the most predominant area (84%). Then arable (9%), orchards (intensive and extensive - 4%), vineyards (1.4%), and vegetables (0.7%).

Income in Slovenian agriculture is among the lowest in the EU and represents only around 20% of comparable income in the whole economy. Non-agricultural sources of income are decisive for farming on low-income farms, which can represent a significant part of the income on small farms. Such a poor income situation is the unfavorable structure of Slovenian agriculture with an average of small farms, a large share of land in LFAs, a large percentage of absolute grassland, a large share of non-specialized and self-sufficient farms. Existing processes of Slovenian restructuring agriculture in the direction of increasing income are too slow. Subsidies (direct and LFA payments) are a significant factor in Slovenia, at least partly improving the lower-income situation. Specific agricultural sectors (arable crops, other permanent crops, mixed farming, other grazing livestock), economic farm size (up to EUR 50,000 standard income), and farm location (in LFAs) would generate negative value-added if they did not receive subsidies. Uncertainty about incomes and low productivity leads farms to stagnate investment and, in the long term, to lose competitiveness. Instability is a significant problem in Slovenian agriculture. Fluctuations in prices and/or agricultural volumes can cause liquidity problems for farmers. Uncertainty about incomes and low productivity leads farms to stagnate investment and, in the long term, to lose competitiveness. Uncertainty also causes stagnation or even contraction of agricultural production.

Multiple factors affect the competitiveness and productivity of Slovenian farms; 73.7 % of farms are located in less-favored areas (of which 73.3% - are mountain areas, 10.8% - are areas with natural handicaps, 15.9% - specific constraints), climate change (storms, frost, drought, floods, strong wind, ...) and role of technology (state of machinery/equipment, digitalization, knowledge and innovations in relation to precision agriculture technologies).

There is a strong divide between productivity indicators between EU-27 countries and Slovenia; on average, the divide in EU countries is caused by the introduction of new technologies that substitute the workload. In Slovenia majority of the work is done by manual labour (avg. size 7 ha), and lacking new technology. Farms located in mountain areas face special challenges, shorter vegetation periods and lower income per farmland. Due to the limitations, these farms primarily focus on animal production. An additional factor that limits the possibilities on these farms are the inclinations of farmland that require expensive special-purpose machinery.

=== Promoting knowledge, innovation, and digitalisation in agriculture in Slovenia ===
There are several research and training institutions working in the field of Slovenian agriculture and forestry institutions. Public services have been working for decades for the advancement of agriculture and forestry, for better performance of professional tasks in agriculture (livestock farming, crop production, forestry, genetic). Access to formal as well as non-formal education is good. Identified needs and necessary actions in this area:

* Strengthening capacity building and knowledge transfer.
* Strengthening cooperation between the research sphere, consultants, and end-users.
* Strengthening research and development, innovation in agriculture, forestry, and food.
* Retrieved from agricultural advice.
* Digitalisation in agriculture, food, forestry, and rural areas.
* Strengthening digital competences.

=== Analysis of the factors impacting on the adoption or non-adoption of precision agriculture technologies ===
The awareness and implementation of new technologies in agriculture, which also includes PA, is reflected in numerous factors in a specific smaller area, such as on a farm, at national or even international level. Based on the literature reviewed, the table below shows the most influential factors.
{| class="wikitable"
|+
|'''Factor'''
|'''Description'''
|-
|The personality and family structure of the farm owner
|Age, education, computer usage, skills
|-
|Features of the farm
|Farm size, farm type, ownership, specialization
|-
|Social interactions
|Local cultures, local cooperation, human relations – attitude of trusted friends
|-
|Economic factors
|Return on investment time, the possibility of rental technologies, technology costs
|-
|Policy support
|Legislation, measures, strategic plans, vision
|-
|Supporting institutions and firms
|Numbers of supporting institutions and firms
|-
|Multidisciplinary cooperation
|Active participation of all stakeholders in PA
|-
|Features of the technology
|Availability of technologies, easiness of use, systems compatibility
|}

=== SWOT analysis of precision agriculture in Slovenia ===
With the help of the SWOT analysis, we summarized the current situation and guidelines for the development of precision agriculture in Slovenia in four aspects (advantages, opportunities, dangers, shortcomings). The purpose of the analysis is primarily to assist decision-makers in strategic decisions regarding precision agriculture in the future and to assist in further research in this area. The SWOT analysis included summaries of the state of EU and Slovenian policy measures, characteristics, and structure of Slovenian agriculture, as well as the results of a survey obtained in this project (Transfarm 4.0) on the topic of precision agriculture.
{| class="wikitable"
|+
|'''Strengths'''
|'''Weaknesses'''
|-
|Farm owners are aware of the potential of PATs
(precision agriculture technologies).

More than three-quarters of farm owners are already

educated about PATs.

There is more and more research development and

talk about PATs.
|PATs require a high initial investment.

Complex and sometimes unreliable PATs.
|-
|'''Opportunities'''
|'''Threats'''
|-
|Accelerate sustainable agriculture through
technological development.

Interaction of farm owners with ideas / solutions.

Optimization of agricultural work, processes,

reduction of environmental impact, management of

uncontrolled changes and support decision-making.
|Questionable willingness and maturity of farm
owners for the implementation of PATs.

Complex quantification of PATs advantages.

Questionable knowledge about open

opportunities or fear of farm owners’

interactions.

Prejudices of farm owners about the

maintenance costs of PATs.
|}

== '''Slovenian Smart Specializations Strategies (S4, Slovenian S3)''' ==
Slovenia, as one of the smallest EU member states, has limited resources, capacities, and capabilities, so largely dependent on intensive investments, high risks, high responsiveness and uniqueness, originality. This was considered when the Slovenian Smart Specialization Strategies (therefore S4, and not S3) were drafted with the goal to enhance cooperation between Slovenian innovation stakeholders that operate in specific priority areas. One of the first task to shape S4 was to open a public discussion by attracting companies, research organisations, start-up community, social entrepreneurs, artists, innovators, scholars, students, and others to participate in entrepreneurial discovery process and to identify priority areas, conceptual leaders with the government as the facilitator. The entrepreneurial discovery process made possible that stakeholders operating in a specific S4 priority area have recognised the need for comprehensive and systematic cooperation amongst themselves and with the government.

According to the identified priority areas from the draft of S4 Slovenia launched a public call in 2016 to form nine Strategic Research and Innovation Partnerships or SRIPs. These include (with examples):

• SRIP Factories of the Future Demo project like GOSTOP (Building Blocks, Tools and Systems for the Factories of Future) include the development of new products and technologies, which will lead to the set up of uniform integrated systems, needed by big production companies and provided by SMEs.

• SRIP Health-Medicine Project Medical Valley describes a new university campus focusing on pharmacy, biomedical technology, biomimetic and biotechnology, included in a new regional proton radiation therapy cancer treatment centre.

• SRIP Materials as End Products Formed a cooperation between its members with the goal to the development of new joint developments. like so-called 'hot work tool steels', new light-weight high-strength construction steels, new (recycled) Al alloy and new multicomponent magnetic material based on thermosets.

• SRIP Mobility Formed EDISON (Eco Driving Innovative Solutions and Network) partnership which focuses on the development of inductive wireless charging systems for electric vehicles, the development of new drives and applications and platforms for electro mobility.

• SRIP Networks for the Transition of the Circular Economy Formed a strategic R&D program named Cel.Krog that aims to exploit the potential of biomass for development of advanced materials and bio-based products.

• SRIP Smart Cities and Communities Established the Digital Innovation Hub Slovenia, a national one-stop-shop to help Slovenian companies to become more competitive in respect to processes, products or services using digital technologies.

• SRIP Smart Buildings and Homes On of the activities involved Wood Chain demo project which development of a new terrain tracking and monitoring service, by using orthophoto images, that enables digital verification of construction, with the concept of 3D design of the environment.

• SRIP Sustainable Food Production Established a completely new cooperation between stakeholders in dairy processing sector, meat sector, fruit sector and cereal sectors to form new value chains.

• SRIP Sustainable Tourism Formed Tourism 4.0 demo projects, focused on creating a new format of dynamic collaboration system, with applications, services and processes built on real-time tourist needs and wishes. SRIPs were formed to support investment and intellectual potential of Slovenian stakeholders and were shaped as a long-term quadruple helix bottom-up partnerships, that brings together dynamic companies (like SMEs), research institutions, innovation users and also State and municipalities that operate in a specific S4 priority domain. In three years more than 780 stakeholders joined SRIP partnerships, out of which 83% were enterprises (79% SMEs).

=== S3 / S4 in Respect to Precision Agriculture ===
By definition precision agriculture represents an interdisciplinary approach to farming. By applying technology, the farmers / producers can optimize the yield of the production and minimize the input resources, maximizing the profit in return. By recording, measuring, and observing with relative readings the variability of the crops is detected, followed by actions to treat it, if necessary. These include soil cultivation, sowing, spraying, fertilization and other. By applying the right treatment in the right time frame, the producer will gain economic and ecological improvements by: maximizing the quality of the crop, reduce input resources, like seeds, chemical products and fuel, it will minimize the possible negative environmental impact, reduce the work hours needed and (auto) produce a complete production documentation. Although the importance farming has in Slovenia, the Slovenian’s smart specialization strategy S4 does not address precision agriculture with a dedecated SRIP, instead its support can be directly or indirectly found in already existing SRIPs. The two SRIPs that are directly linked to precision agriculture are SRIP Sustainable Food Production and SRIP Factories of the Future.

• SRIP Sustainable Food Production

SRIP Sustainable Food Production (SRIP HRANA) unites agriculture holdings, companies, cooperatives, research institutions, investors and other interested parties toward joint research and development activities to improve agri-food sector development. This involves becoming a national contact point for companies and research institutions to promote networking and cooperation. The SRIP activities are co-funded by the Slovenian Ministry of economic development and technology and the European Regional Development Fund.

SRIP Sustainable Food Prodction defined an action plant that is formulated on the five action pillars that summarize the five objectives of the SRIP strategy. Besides these five action pillars, three horizontal areas that need to be improved have been identified. This are human resource development, internationalization and Information and communication technology (ICT). They are incorporated in to the 5 action pillars. These five action pillars are:

AP1 - INGREDIENTS AND SUSTAINABLE USE OF RESOURCES

The first action pillar is related to the SRIP Network for the transition the circular economy. It focuses on the sustainable and efficient use of resources for sustainable vegetable food production and processing and for sustainable livestock production.

AP2 - SMART PROCESS PLANNING AND PROCESS CONTROL

Smart process planning and process control is related to SRIP Smart Cities and Communities, and horizontal ICT network. It focuses on optimization of agro-food processes based on automation, digitalization, and robotization.

AP3 - ADVANCED EQUIPMENT AND TECHNOLOGIES FOR SUSTAINABLE FOOD PRODUCTION AND FOOD PROCESSING

The third action pillar is related to SRIP MATPRO and focuses on the development and use of advanced technologies in the production and processing of food to produce interesting, competitive, and innovative production of food products, with food safety, improved nutritional value and higher functionality in mind.

AP4 - HYGIENE, SAFETY AND QUALITY OF FOOD

The fourth action pillar focuses on ensuring food safety, detecting food fraud at all stages of food production and processing by development of new innovative products and services for ensuring the safety and quality of finished products.

AP5 - FOOD, NUTRITION AND CONSUMER

The fifth action pillar is related to SRIP Health-Medicine and SRIP Sustainable Tourism. It focuses to develop a system that will lead to the innovation development of the entire agrofood chain by promoting the invention of functional food products for individual target groups.

• SRIP Factories of the Future

SRIP Factories of the Future is the largest SRIP, lead by Jožef Štefan Institute. It is divided into four clusters:

- Advanced technologies cluster (led by Jožef Štefan Institute),

- Smart factories cluster (led by Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia).

- Systems and control technologies cluster (led by KC STV),

- Toolmakers cluster (led by Tecos).

The SRIP FoF is devided into the following pillars.

AP1 - ADVANCED SENSORS

This pillar addresses the importance of advance sensors in autonomous and smart systems. And includes the following focus areas:

- Advanced micro and nano sensors for process control - to increase the competitiveness of end products.

- 3D sensor systems - to increase the competitiveness of end products.

- Smart nano/bio/chemo sensors in the environment, industry, and medicine - to increase the competitiveness of end products.

AP2 - INTELLIGENT LASER SYSTEMS

Laser Systems play an important part in research and development sector, with the largest production of solid laser systems per capita. This pillar includes the following focus areas:

- Special laser sources - to develop new laser sources.

- Intelligent laser systems for the digital processing of materials - to develop high-tech additive laser systems for the semiconductor industry.

- Smart medical laser devices - for the use of laser sources in medicine (regeneration, therapeutics, dermatology).

- Next generation optical fibres - to develop special active and passive fibres for IR and UV.

AP3 - INTELLIGENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS FOR FUTURE FACTORIES

Future Factories promise a better-quality products, better efficiency, time, and cost savings in real time. An important part of this are the Internet of Things (IoT) and Services. This pillar includes the following focus areas:

- Smart actuators - for complete surveillance and cost optimization.

- Distributed control systems and IoT - device and sensors control in industrial processes using IoT.

- Intelligent Production Management Systems (MES-MOM) - to develop advanced software solutions for management and decision support.

- Diagnostics, prognostics and self-maintenance of smart machines and processes - to develop

advanced software solutions and modules for predictive maintenance of machines and devices.

- Development of modern tools and building blocks for the management and control of systems and processes - to improve lithographic procedures in microelectronics with the appropriate control of the mass production process.

AP4 - NEW MATERIALS

New materials enable technological advancement in all areas of society and is the basis for its sustainable development. The pillar includes the following focus areas:

- Magnetic materials with a minimum quantity of rare earths - to develop and production of magnets, that will replace the need to use rare earths.

- Environmentally friendly materials for protective elements in electrical engineering and electronics - to increase the production and sales of products to improve the content of materials.

- Functional coatings - inclusion of new materials into products.

AP5 - ROBOT SYSTEMS AND COMPONENTS

Represents one of the fundamental pillars of Factories of the Future. With new intelligent sensors, actuators and other advanced robotic components, the flexibility of the robots will increase. To achieve this, the following focus areas have been defined.

- Manufacture of new robots - with the aim to put Slovenia on the global map of robot and robot parts manufacturers. This includes the development of new agricultural robots driven by artificial intelligence.

- Innovative intelligent and sensor supported robot applications (advanced mechanical vision) - to introduce new sensory system, such as machine vision to improve the flexifile and autonomy of robotic systems.

- Intelligent sensors and actuators for the use of robotics - to produce and market advance components of state of the art robots.

- Development and marketing of flexible and cooperative robot cells - to use superior multidisciplinary technological knowledge to use robotic building blocks into automated cells and lines.

AP6 - SMART FACTORY

This pillar joins all vertical value chains and horizontal networks in the area of SRIP FoF and wider. It's an umbrella like process with defined contact / control points that will make the digitalization the most important process in companies making an increase in the added value of its processes. It includes the following focus area:

- Optimal (individualized) comprehensive solutions for the implementation of smart factories - defining the implementation of the Smart Factory and establishing a value chain to transform the cooperation with the partner company.

AP7 - SMART MECHATRONIC TOOLS

Complex mechatronic systems are making possible to build advanced and smart industrial tools. These systems are used for monitoring, regulation and communication between devices and external devices / machines to improve the usefulness of this smart machines. This pillar includes the following focus areas:

- Smart mechatronic tools - used to increase smart tools investments for tool makers.

- Linking simulation tools with manufacturing machines to optimize production processes

- used to simulate and optimize the production process, to minimize defective products and to ensure the production with as short as possible deadlines.

- Advanced production process and prototype technologies - to merge existing development centers into one, supported by Sloveninan manufacturing industry to support SMEs.

In addition to this action pillars six horizontal areas have been identified, which provide key technologies. These are:

- Management Technologies

- Modern Technology for Materials

- Nanotechnology

- Photonics

- Plasma Technology

- Robotics

=== Interviews with S3 managers – SRIP Factories of the future ===
Meeting date: 1st of June 2022: 9.00 - 10.30

Zoom platform for online meeting

Attandees:

Živa Antauer - SRIP TOP

Jurij Rakun – UM, FKBV

Erik Rihter – UM, FKBV

Peter Lepej – AE-ROBO

'''Agenda of the meeting:'''

To discuss the S3 regional specializations managers regarding the current and future inclusion of precision agriculture in SRIP TOP (Factories of the future); to identify the links between innovation strategies and the agricultural production sector, to promote technological development, implementation of regional innovations, support for the agricultural production sector and support for the education system with the possibility of directional training for agricultural needs.

'''Conclusions:'''

Agriculture is not the main sector

SRIP TOP is one of 9 designated S3 / S4 areas in Slovenia. It does not support agricultural sector directly, but indirectly by supporting other horizontal areas such as smart plasma and (agricultural) robotics. In addition to this AI horizontal area could support precision agriculture in the future.

How can SRIP TOP support knowledge transfer in the field of PA and wider?

Part of SRIP TOP’s work is to offer support, which also includes organization of different events led by GZS (Slovenian chamber of commerce), TECOS (industrial cluster) and Jozef Stefan Institute. This events also support knowledge transfer, indirectly to the field of PA.

System of technological incubators and laboratories for Industry 4.0 companies

SRIP TOP itself is not an incubator or does not provide one, but its partner organizations are, including: Pomurski tehnološki park, Savinjsko – Šaleška razvojna agencija SAŠA, Podjetniški inkubator Novo mesto, CS Škofja Loka and others.

System of technological incubators and laboratories for Industry 4.0 companies SRIP TOP itself is not an incubator or does not provide one, but its partner organizations are, including: Pomurski tehnološki park, Savinjsko – Šaleška razvojna agencija SAŠA, Podjetniški inkubator Novo mesto, CS Škofja Loka and others.

Can SRIPs offer their support in the preparation of new project calls?

SRIPs members do work to identify new possible priority arias, but they can not influence how new project calls will be prepared, what will be their focus point, when they will be opened, etc. The partner organizations work to promote different identified strategic priority areas, but their influence on new project calls is very limited; their work can be included or not. As SRIP members play a key role in different areas, their contributions could make a difference, but are usually not included and their potential is currently overlooked.

Does SRIP TOP offer some kind of activities in terms of supporting educational activities

Yes, for instance GZS covers human resource’s part and in this respect offers a range of educational activities for members and wider.

Could PF become one of the horizontal areas of SRIP TOP?

SRIP TOP is finalizing the action plan for the next three-year long period. If members of SRIP TOP identify PF as one of the priority areas, it could be added to the next action plan after the next period. Especially, as PF already has specific domain ties to existing priority areas.

Are there currently any members of SRIP TOP that would fit the scope of PF

As mentioned, the smart plasma horizontal is involved in the processing of plant seeds. Artificial intelligence horizontal is involved in data mining. It is almost sure that other members members activities fall in the scope of PF (maybe agro-robotics).

How do you see that PF could be moved closer to the target groups

The faculty (FKBV) is invited to join the SRIP TOP. As different member faculties of the University of Maribor are already members of SRIP TOP, this should be a kind of simplified process. FKBV can then focus on areas like PF, that other UM member faculties do not cover.

=== Interviews with S3 managers – SRIP Smart Cities and Communities ===
Meeting date: 26th of May 2022: 9.00 - 10.30

Zoom platform for online meeting

Attendees:

Nevenka Cukjati - SRIP PMIS (S3 Smart cities and communities)

Jurij Rakun – UM, FKBV

Erik Rihter – UM, FKBV

Peter Lepej – AE-ROBO (partly present)

Agenda of the meeting:

To discuss the S3 regional specializations managers regarding the current and future inclusion of precision agriculture in SRIP PMsS (Smart cities and communities; SCaC); to identify the links between innovation strategies and the agricultural production sector through links at the level of technological development, implementation of regional innovations, support for the agricultural production sector and support for the education system with the possibility of directional training for agricultural needs.

Conclusions:

Agriculture is not the main sector

Agriculture is not the main sector of the SRIP PMiS, but with the new strategic plan that is under development this will be partly reshaped by covering areas like adaptation to climate changes, clean waters, green environments, etc. This indirectly affects and includes the area of precision agriculture.

How can SRIP PMiS support knowledge transfer in the field of PA and wider?

The role of the SRIPs is not to offer direct support, but to network specific actors in selected area. The domain for knowledge transfer therefore lies with the individual members of SRIPs. System of technological incubators and laboratories for Industry4.0 companies SRIPs do currently not offer this kind of services, as their role is primarily networking different actors. Like knowledge transfer, this is done by the resources and possibilities of individual partners.

Can SRIPs offer their support in the preparation of new project calls?

Directly no. Indirectly the members of the SRIPs identify potential priority areas which can be used in the project. The members of the SRIP are also invited to submit their ideas for new targeted project calls, but this is then filtered and possibly reshaped at the level of the Ministry in charge (Agriculture, Infrastructure, Education, etc.).

How do you see the educational system, could SRIP PMiS support in the preparation of new educational entity to support the PF?

Directly no, but with the support of different partners, different stakeholders, this could be achievable and welcome as PF technologies will play an important role in the future. So joint consensus regarding this should be accepted and based on these subsequent steps can be ensured to prepare the educational system.

Could PF become on of the horizontal areas of SRIP PMiS?

PF is a very important area and should be part of the SRIP PMiS. To start this task, different actors should first be identified and invited to cooperate. With this new partnership a strategic plan should be prepared and evaluated on the national level. Once this is approved, the partners should work, promote, spread their activities in support of PK / SRIP PMiS.

Are there currently any members of SRIP PMiS that would fit the PF scope?

There are multiple members of SRIP PMiS that would fit the scope of PF, for instance: among others, Optifarm and Login5 foundation for example could be invited to join the PF vertical.

How do you see that PF could be moved closer to the target groups?

One way of solving this challenge would be to prepare a model farm that uses new PF technologies that could serve as a demonstration tool for different actors like cooperatives, farming associations, industry, educational units, policy makers and other interested parties.

== '''Regional policy actions about PF''' ==
The strategic plan (2023-2027) in Slovenia: contains the key strategic guidelines for the implementation of the Common Agricultural Policy in the Republic of Slovenia. Among the CAP 2014-2020 objectives, the following were important for the precision agriculture: improving agricultural competitiveness, promoting innovation, delivering environmental public goods, and mitigating and adapting to climate change. The studies highlight the current gap in the modernization of farms, innovative approaches, and the use of new technologies for the precision agriculture. They conclude that the use of new technologies remains below expectations and is unevenly spread across the EU. More effective CAP measures in this area are key for the future and balanced funding from both pillars is important for new technologies in agriculture. The CAP objectives are implemented in two ways in a given country for the 2014-2020 period: as direct payments to farmers and through market measures (Pillar I), or under the Rural Development Programme through various forms of subsidies (Pillar II), both supported by an agricultural advisory service, which includes agricultural advisory systems. The CAP has been financed at European level as part of the EU budget since 1999, through two funds, the European Agricultural Fund (EAFRD) and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD).

- Pillar I: Appropriate rural development measures in this pillar play an important role in promoting the development of precision agriculture. The determination of measures and financing depends on the individual country or the decision-makers. It is therefore essential to carefully identify the needs for priorities and measures based on the specific local conditions and farming systems that each country wants to achieve in the field of precision agriculture.

- Pillar II: The priorities here are the following: promoting the competitiveness of agriculture, ensuring sustainable management of natural resources and measures in the field of climate change, and achieving balanced territorial development of rural economies or communities by creating / maintaining jobs. Most measures are met through the Rural Development Program (RDP)

To the extent of measures II. pillars available in Regulation (EU) No 1305/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2013, the main precise support can be defined in the following articles:

􀀀 Article 17 (investments in fixed assets),

􀀀 Article 28 (agri-environmental-climate payments),

􀀀 Article 35 (participation),

􀀀 Article 14 (transfer of knowledge and innovation),

􀀀 Article 15 (advisory services, farm management assistance, support

services).

Resolution: "Our food, rural areas and natural resources after 2021": The purpose of this document is to define the basic strategic framework for the functioning of agriculture, food and rural areas for the period after 2021. The resolution is the basis for the preparation of the single Strategic Plan for the implementation of the CAP national measures and mentions precision agriculture, among all the other important objectives in agriculture for the coming period. It recognises that the agriculture and agri-food of the future will follow the development of digitalisation and modern technologies. Precision agriculture will ensure the achievement of stable production, targeted inputs, reduced environmental burdens and greater economic efficiency. Investment support measures will need to focus on reducing the technology gap as well as the impact of climate change. At the same time, education and training of farmers will be more proactive.

Rural development program: The Rural Development Programme of the Republic of Slovenia for the period 2014-2020 (until 2022, interim period) is a joint programming document of the Republic of Slovenia and the European Commission, managed by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food. The document constitutes the programming basis for the absorption of financial resources from the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development. Based on the definition of the analysis of the situation of agriculture, food and forestry, this document reflects national priorities and covers the whole territory of Slovenia. The needs and areas for action have been identified on the basis of a SWOT analysis. The Rural Development Programme also includes the Rural Network, which can be considered as a stand-alone measure.

The Rural Development Programme (2014) identifies six priority areas for action, out of which measures, sub-measures, and operations for the development of rural development in Slovenia can be indirectly classified under the three areas:

- Accelerating the process of structural adjustment in agriculture and thus creating conditions for increasing the productivity of Slovenian agriculture,

- Promoting agricultural practices that have a positive impact on the conservation of natural resources and adaptation to climate change,

- Transfer of knowledge, innovation, and care for the environment and climate change (horizontal objectives of all five priority areas for action in the Rural Development Programme).

== '''Financial Perspective for every action''' ==
The program of the common agricultural policy in Slovenia in the period from 2014-2020 did not envisage direct measures for precision agriculture, but within the existing measures various areas of projects related to precision agriculture and digitalization can be applied. Such measures strengthen the competitiveness of agriculture, also due to the emphasis on research, technology and digitization projects and the dissemination of knowledge to young farmers.

Financial cut in precision agriculture in Rural Development Program 2014-2020:

Measure M1 - Transfer of knowledge and information activities (EUR 7,218,750) - MEASURES TO PROMOTE PRECISION AGRICULTURE

- Sub-measure M1.1 - Support for vocational training and skills acquisition activities

- Sub-measure M1.2 - Support for demonstration activities and information measures

Measure M2 - Advisory services, farm management assistance services and on-farm replacement services (EUR 7,168,000.00)

- Sub-measure M2.1 - Support to assist in the use of counseling services

Measure M3 - Quality schemes for agricultural products and foodstuffs (EUR 3,700,000.00)

- Sub-measure M3.1 - Support for new participation in quality schemes

Measure M4 - Investments in fixed assets (EUR 366,973,880.23) - MEASURES TO PROMOTE PRECISION AGRICULTURE

- Sub-measure M4.1 - Support for investment in agricultural holdings

- Sub-measure M4.2 - Support for investments in processing / marketing and / or development of agricultural products

- Sub-measure M4.3 - Support for infrastructure investments related to the development, modernization or adaptation of agriculture and forestry

- Sub-measure M4.4. - Support for investments to prevent wind erosion on agricultural land

Measure M6: Development of farms and enterprises (EUR 152,983,333.33)

- Sub-measure M6.1 - Start-up aid for young farmers

- Sub-measure M6.3 - Start-up aid for small farms

- Sub-measure M6.4 - Support for investments in the establishment and development of non-agricultural activities

Measure M7 - Basic services and village renewal in rural areas (EUR 14,000,000)

- Sub-measure M7.3 - Support for broadband infrastructure, including its establishment, improvement and extension, passive broadband infrastructure and provision of broadband internet access and eGovernment solutions

Measure M8 - Investments in the development of forest areas and improving the viability of forests (EUR 60,881,066.67)

- Sub-measure M8.4 - Support for the elimination of damage to forests due to forest fires and natural disasters and catastrophic events:

* Operation Elimination of damage and restoration of forests after a natural disaster

* Operation Arrangement of forest trains needed to carry out reforestation

- Sub-measure M8.6 - Support for investments in forestry technologies and processing, mobilization and marketing of forest products:

* Operation: Investments in the purchase of new machinery and equipment for felling and harvesting wood

* Operation: Investments in pre-industrial wood processing

Measure M9 - Establishment of producer groups and organizations (EUR 3,427,950.00)

- Sub-measure M9.1 - Establishment of producer groups and organizations in the agricultural and forestry sector

Measure M10 - Agri-environment-climate payments (EUR 271,127,386.67)

- Sub-measure M10.1 - Payment of agri-environmental-climate obligations (measure KOPOP)

- Sub-measure M10.2 - Support for the conservation, sustainable use and development of genetic resources in agriculture

Measure M11 - Organic farming (88,131,000.00 EUR)

- Sub-measure M11.1 - Payments for conversion to organic farming practices and methods

- Sub-measure M11.2 - Payments for the maintenance of organic farming practices and methods

Measure M13 - Payments to areas with natural or other special constraints (EUR 337,614,928.00)

- Sub-measure M13.1 - Payment of compensation in mountain areas

- Sub-measure M13.2 - Payment of compensation for other areas with significant natural constraints

- Sub-measure M13.3 - Payment of compensation for other areas with special restrictions

Measure M14 - Animal welfare (EUR 51,133,333.33)

- Sub-measure M14.1 - Payment for animal welfare

Measure M16 - Cooperation (EUR 23,028,588.23)

- Sub-measure M16.2 - Development of new products, practices, processes and technologies

- Sub-measure M16.4 - Establishment and development of short supply chains and local markets

- Sub-measure M16.5 - Environment and Climate Change

- Sub-measure M16.9 - Diversification of activities on the farm

Measure M19 - Support for local development under the LEADER initiative (community-led local development) (EUR 67,660,314.20)

- Sub-measure M19.1 - Preparatory support

- Sub-measure M19.2 - Support for the implementation of community-led local development strategies

- Sub-measure M19.3 - Preparation and implementation of LAG cooperation activities

- Sub-measure M19.4 - Support for running costs and animation costs

Measure M21 - Exceptional temporary support for farmers and SMEs particularly affected by the covid-19 crisis (EUR 1,700,000)

113: Early retirement from the RDP 2007-2013

In the new EU common agricultural policy, instead of the existing rules and coherence, the emphasis will be on the results and reasonableness (effectiveness) of the measures. It is up to the Member States to decide for themselves how best to meet the common objectives of European agricultural policy, while responding to the specific needs of their farmers, rural communities and society at large. The objectives of the common agricultural policy for the period 2023-2027 are to constantly adapt to the challenges facing European agriculture. Policy after 2020 will be simpler and will be based on three general and nine specific objectives. The general objectives are underpinned by a horizontal objective and the dissemination of knowledge, with an additional emphasis on innovation and digitalisation in agriculture and rural areas. The Strategic Plan of the Common Agricultural Policy 2023-2027 envisages specific action 2: Strengthening market orientation and increasing competitiveness, also with a stronger focus on research, technology and digitalisation. The financial plan for this measure has not yet been determined.

== '''Learning and growth perspective''' ==
This subsection explains the experience, technology state and lessons learned by developing the pilot action 2 focused on proximal sensing application. It is split in four parts that describe the previous work of the project partners, the SACS and ASES systems and concludes with the findings of the group.

=== Previous work overview ===
The partners from UM, SMT / AE-ROBO.NET and AMPS s. p. / dr. Lepej collaborated on pilot project 2 with a common goal to advance and to reach a higher level of TRL of a selected prototype solution. Therefore, as part of this pilot, we have evaluated and improved our past work - advanced sensory systems for precise agriculture operations like spraying. Our goal was to select, essess and try to integrate an advanced sensory system that could push forward farming technologies into new levels. Here we were aiming into more precise spraying, crop health inspections, crop evaluations and most important to try to detect sources of potential diseases in the crops with the advanced sensory systems. To achieve these goals different state of art, commercially available sensors were examined.

=== Spraying Application Control System (SACS) ===
The SACS includes and advanced sensory systems based on which the prece spraing of plant protection products can be achived. The aim of the SAC system is to improve and automize the spraying task, to be more precise and responsible in terms of sustainable ways of farming. This is possible with the system that detects the presence or abstaince of the plant canopies inside a fruit orchards or vineyards and makes possible to react accordingly; to spray were needed and to stop spraying where plants or part of the plants are missing.

To achieve this the SAC system uses a number of electromechanical components, including:

• Industrial electronics closet and PLA plastics holders for LIDARs.

• SENSORS: 2 x Sick Lidar Tim5xx

• GPS/GNSS module USB G-mouse

• SIGNAL Led: 12V, 22, industrial standards led lights

• PROCESSIONG Unit: Raspberry pi 4B (Rpi)

• PLC: microcontroller for actuation: Controllino MEGA

• ACTUATOR Interface Valves: 13 pins standard agri connector and plug

• POWER: 3 pin standard AGRI plug + one mounted on the system, for external devices (power splitter)

• USER Interface: Server on Rpi, parameter setup, start/stop control

In addition the listed components, the system utilizes an advantage of the FieldSLAM algorithm, that was developed by the partners in the past. This gives the system a unique posibility to position the sprayer in the natural scene. As the nozzles and the sensor cannot be placed next to each other without the influence the spraying has on the data acquisition, the localization is of utmost importance; to know where the readings regarding the presence of the plant canopies were taken and what kind of readings were saved at the current location of the nozzles. An example of the localization and reconstruction of the readings is shown on Figure 1.
[[File:Image5 SL.png|center|frame|Fig. 3: Visualization of the processing part, LEFT: FieldSLAM processing picture, RIGHT: reconstruction of canopy tree trunks and actuators (nozzles) on the sides (5 left, 5 right), where white=nozzle off, black=nozzle on.]]
So, instead of using complicated and expensive systems like RTK GPS, the system uses two LiDAR sensors. The first, position vertically, captures the readings needed to determine the presence of the plant canopies, while the second, the horizontally positioned LiDAR, help s to position the system. The render of the system and its actual implementation on a state-of-the-art mist blower is depicted on Figure 2.
[[File:Image6 SL.png|center|frame|Fig. 4: Render of the system (left) and its actual implementation on the state-of-the-art mist blower.]]

=== Advanced Sensory System (ASES) ===
The partners on this pilot project decided to design, build and test an Advanced Sensory System (ASES) for agriculture purposes. The goal behind ASES was to test different available sensors that could be used to improve the SACS. Therefore different cheap and more expensive sensors were selected in order to evaluate performances and try to find the best availible sensory system for agriculture.

==== Selected sensors ====
Various sensor have been selected for this taks, not only the ones limited to agricultre purposes but also more complex sensor systems from other domains.

==== Distance sensors ====
Distance sensors can be used to build a precise model of the given environment in the complex row crops environment. For this task we have choose a cheap 3D Lidar camera RealSense LiDAR camera L515 (<nowiki>https://www.intelrealsense.com/lidar-camera-l515/</nowiki>) and more complex Lidar sensors like RoboSenser Bpearl (<nowiki>https://www.robosense.ai/en/rslidar/RS-Bpearl</nowiki>) and solidstate Lidars, for example Livox MID-70 (<nowiki>https://www.livoxtech.com/mid-70</nowiki>).
[[File:Image7 SL.png|center|frame|Fig. 5: Distance sensors for ASS (Source Intel: <nowiki>https://www.intelrealsense.com/lidar-cameral515/</nowiki>, RoboSense: <nowiki>https://www.robosense.ai/en/rslidar/RS-Bpearl</nowiki> , Livoxtech:[https://www.livoxtech.com/mid-70). https://www.livoxtech.com/mid-70).]]]

Each sensor has its own specifics in performance and speed, below we show the comparison table of the selected distance sensors:
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!
!Technology:
!Range:
!Depth Field of View:
!Typical usage:
!Precision outdoor:
!Price aproximate:
|-
|Intel L515
|Pattern projection
(844-875 nm),

D*+RGB*
|0,25-9 m
|70° x 55°
|Indoor
|Poor
|500 $
|-
|Bpearl
|Time of flight (905 nm),
only D*
|100 m
|360° x 90°
|Indoor/Outdoor
|Good
|3000 $
|-
|MID-70
|Time of flight (905 nm),
only D*
|260 m
|70.4°
(Circular)
|Indoor/Outdoor
|Good
|800 $
|}
D* - Distance information/data

RGB* - Color information/data

From the simple comparison presendet in the previous table, we can see the advantages and disadvantages from different sensors. The price drop for the solid-state lidar looks promising, plus the technology performance is very good. The Intel Realsense L515 sensor on the other side is cheap and provides additional data of the environment.
[[File:Image8 SL.png|center|frame|Fig. 6: Distance sensors for ASS data performance (Source Intel: <nowiki>https://www.intelrealsense.com/lidar-cameral515/</nowiki>, RoboSense: <nowiki>https://www.robosense.ai/en/rslidar/RS-Bpearl</nowiki> , Livoxtech: <nowiki>https://www.livoxtech.com/mid-70</nowiki>).]]
The data captured by the sensors that are to be used in agricultural applications need to be reliable in all conditions on the field. In this respect the data from the L515 sensor from Intel Realsense has a lot of disadvantages in outdoor usage as it gives only some party distance data which is affected by the light and its use is therefore limited to night time conditions. A better solition is to use a true LiDAR sensor, preferably solid state that is less prone to problems caused by vibration in the long term.

==== Cameras ====
For a more indepth inspection of the growining crops, two camera systems have been evaluated. The purpose behind the visual information of the crop is to get the information of crop texture and also its health.
[[File:Image9 SL.png|center|frame|Fig. 7: Camera sensors for ASS (Source Intel: <nowiki>https://www.intelrealsense.com/lidar-camera-l515/</nowiki> , Micasense: <nowiki>https://micasense.com/rededge-mx/</nowiki>).]]
[[File:Image10 SL.png|center|frame|Fig. 8: Camera sensors for ASS data performance (Source above Intel: <nowiki>https://www.intelrealsense.com/lidarcamera-</nowiki> l515/ , below Micasense: <nowiki>https://micasense.com/rededge-mx/</nowiki>).]]
Figure 9 shows different recordings provided by the camera sensors, where the goals is to use this data to evaluate crops while growing, in the vineyard or apple orchards, to detect anomalies in the growing stage in order to identify possible health issues at early stages.

==== Inertial Motion Unit (IMU) ====
The usage of IMU sensor in semi-robotic applications is almost mandatory to receive the updates on the position by including at lesst changes in roll, pitch while traveling in the row crops and accilerations on x, y and z axis. The reason behind this is that the grounds in filed are almost never completely flat and conpensation for these discrepancies needs to be included.
[[File:Image11 SL.png|center|frame|Fig. 10: IMU sensors for ASS data performance (Source Xsense: <nowiki>https://www.xsens.com/products/mti-600-series</nowiki>).]]
The two sensors that were evalued provide GPS data GNSS and RTK positioning in combination with the inertial information. The two sensors have different performance in reliability, precision, and durability.

==== Sensor’s integration ====
As part of the pilot project a system design was made that integrates all previously presented sensors. The housing of the system is modular, so it can be update at any time of the testing phase in accordance with what is needed. The system is show on Figure 6, while Figure 7 shows how principle of how the sensors inspect the proximity.

An onboard computer unit is included to capture and postprocess all the necessary readings. The unit is based on ROS which provides the necessary data, supported by and accurate time stamp and readings of other information from the sensors (statuses, parameters, etc). The result of such postprocessing of the system is shown on Figure 8
[[File:Image12 SL.png|center|frame|Fig. 9: System design of sensor placement in ASES.]]
[[File:Image13 SL.png|center|frame|Fig. 10: ASES sensor placement simulation in the row crop environment.]]
[[File:Image14 SL.png|center|frame|Fig. 11: An example of the final digital twin, provided by the ASES.]]

=== Conclusion for Spraying Application Control System (SACS) ===
The execution of the pilot project 2 lead to a successful cooperation between the Slovenian and Italian partners. It attracted the intention of the partners from the industry on transitional level and progressed the work on the construction and utilization of the digital twin.

The maturity of the demonstrated precision agriculture technologies is at different stages of the development, and it is still being evaluated how to improve its robustness, quality and how to make it cheaper and therefore more accessible. This proved as a vital step and needs some future work planned after the completion of this project.

But most importantly, the potential of the solution was demonstrated, reaching a savings rate on PPPs between up 20% to 30% in well-shaped orchards and more then 50% in extreme cases such as ESCA infected vineyards. But this is just one of the examples how could precision agriculture technologies help the agriculture in the future. Not just that the usage of PPPs will be reduced, it will help the ecology, maximize the yields, and lower the expenses for input resources.

== '''Conclusion and recommendations''' ==

=== Beneficiaries & stakeholders of precision agriculture ===
In the chart below, we have listed all stakeholders who are in any way related to precision agriculture in Slovenia and beyond.
[[File:Image15 SL.png|center|frame|Fig. 12: Stakeholders in precision agriculture at the Slovenian level.]]

=== Indicative strategic plan ===
Based on the conducted survey and performed SWOT analysis, the following precision agriculture strategic plan is forseen. The chart is divided into seven categories that correspond to interconnected and complementary stakeholders. It identifies some of the key activities and focus areas the needed for the future development of precision agriculture.
[[File:Image16 SL.png|center|frame|Fig. 13: The key activities and focus areas for the future development of precision agriculture.]]

=== Expected results in relation to the key actions identified above ===
In the following, we set the expected results and goals in different approximate time periods. We highlighted three key stakeholders.
[[File:Image17 SL.png|center|frame|Fig. 14: A schematic representation of the composition of the operational group.]]
Expected results from the point of view of agricultural holdings
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Indicative period
!Expected results
|-
|0-1 year
| - Applying to calls for proposals related to precision agriculture (with the support of the agricultural advisory service)
- Attending training courses, obtaining appropriate documentation for the use of new technologies, purchasing new technologies
|-
|1-5 years
|<nowiki>- Implementing and using of new technologies</nowiki>

- Cooperation with agricultural advisory services and associations (demonstration to other farmers, presentations)

- Period of active reporting (important from the agency's point of view to get the necessary information)
|-
|5-10 years
|Transfer of experience (cooperation with agricultural advisory services and associations - demonstration to other farmers, examples of good practice)

- Feedback to all stakeholders (calculations, economic viability, experiences…)
|}
Expected results from the research and educational field
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Indicative period
!Expected results
|-
|0-3 year
| - Speeding up applications for calls for proposals related to precision agriculture
- Adapting the curriculum (modifying study programmes, promoting interdisciplinarity, preparing students for precision agriculture)
|-
|3-10 years
| - Implementing projects (involving stakeholders)
- Disseminating knowledge and experiences from abroad

- Evaluating and iteration of the results

- Accelerating cooperation with companies
|}
Expected results from the industry, service and product providers
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Indicative period
!Expected results
|-
|1-10 years
| - Adaptation to the needs of the characteristics of Slovenian agriculture
- Support for workshops, demonstrations

- Supporting projects

- Accelerating cooperation with research institutions
|}
Besides the expected results for the indicative time periods actions to strengthening the cooperation between individual partners (eg Industry - research / education sphere), not only quadruplex or EIP partnerships, should be introduced. One way of doing so is to introduce different activities trough the inclusion of PF into different strategic innovation partnerships (SRIPs) and wider the model to:

• Include different activities beyond networking, like offering support and advice, incubators, investors, …

• Establishment of a PF development fund (education, dissemination of results, support for startups, etc.).

• Establishment of a regional center of excellence in support of the PF.

In addition to this, the PF should be incorporated in to exisiting SRIPs, like SRIP PMiS and SRIP TOP with the following steps:

• Identification of partners in specific SRIPs.

• Preparation of a draft for SRIP PMiS and TOP to include activities related to PF.

• Contacting and inviting potential partners to prepare a strategic plan for the establishment of a new horizontal area of the PF.

• Meetings and workshops in support of the preparation of a strategic plan that includes; reasons, objectives, tasks, KPIs and milestones in support of PK within SRIP PMiS.

• Promotion, contact and cooperation with external members (eg NGOs ..)

=== Key performance indicators ===
Based on the status, multiple target values have been set to evaluate the key performace indicators in the uptake of precision agriculture technologies as show in the following table.
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Key Performance Indicators
(KPIs)
!Current value
!Target
(1-3, 3-6, 6-9 years)
|-
|Projects on precision agriculture (national and international)
|10-20
|30
60

90
|-
|New employees in the field of precision agriculture technologies
|⁄
|50
200

2000
|-
|Agricultural holdings that have implemented precision agriculture technologies
|25 (1000)
|150
500

800
|-
|Manufacturers of precision agriculture technologies
|5
|10
15

20
|-
|Service and product providers
|20
|30
40

50
|-
|Start-ups (agricultural business incubators)
|2
|15

50

150
|-
|Trainings, workshops on the topic of precision agriculture
|2
|50

200

500
|-
|Number of students
|30
|50
150

500
|-
|Different interest groups (Associations, cooperatives, groups, union)
|5
|5
10

10
|}

=== Conclusion ===
Modernization of agriculture and the use of innovative technologies have given rise to new management concepts, including precision agriculture. The concept of precision agriculture is not yet fully established in Slovenia, but it could be the answer to many of the challenges we face in agriculture. In recent years, the CAP has recognized the potential of precision agriculture through various action plans, resolutions, and funding support schemes and has actively promoted its development in the EU and Slovenia. Positive trends are also promising for the coming programming period. In all the incentive programs and measures under consideration, it is evident that innovative approaches based on collaboration, knowledge building, and co-creation of solutions into practice are key in the pursuit of a successful future for successful agriculture. The large variation in farming structures in Slovenia and elsewhere in the EU poses a major challenge for the development of precision farming and its implementation on farms. As the manager or farmer is at the centre of the perception and decision to implement precision agriculture technologies, the constraints to adoption are closely linked to his/her perception and personal characteristics, while also being influenced by other factors: farm characteristics, economic factors, support from political bodies, the characteristics of the technological systems, etc.

Furthermore, farmers and cooperatives have been found to play an important role in research and innovation. Developed precision agriculture technologies need to be validated and demonstrated in practice in various agricultural activities and geographical areas of farms. Technologies need to be developed or adapted to assess economic benefits, considering the geographical region, production methods and socio-economic variability, in collaboration with farmers, industry and research institutions. In addition, the technologies must be easy to use, affordable and robust, and designed for both small and medium-sized farms. Regional training and awareness-raising is also important for implementing these technologies, where educational institutions, non-profit organizations, farms and advisory services play an important role.

REGIONAL ACTION PLAN SLOVENIA

2022-07-18T13:55:59Z

Marek: /* Learning and growth perspective */

D.T3.1.5 UM, AE-ROBO May 2022

'''[https://wiki.precision-farm40.com/images/2/2b/D-T3.1.5-Regional_action_plan_-_SLO.pdf PDF version you can download here.]'''

== '''Precision agriculture''' ==
Precision agriculture (PA), through the use of innovative technologies, is a farm management concept that can be used to increase long-term efficiency, manage uncontrolled change and reduce negative impacts on the environment. PA uses new technologies and innovations, combined with site-specific agronomic expertise. Pa maximizes production efficiency and increases the quality of agricultural produce without increasing environmental burdens. A is defined as an integrated approach to agriculture, which is not only synonymous with precision agriculture technologies (PATs) but is also a systems approach to the whole agricultural production. PA has been developed through the expertise of different disciplines.

The main (overarching) objective is to reduce decision uncertainty in agricultural work processes by focusing on better understanding users and managing uncontrolled change. Suppose variability in the field is a significant source of uncertainty. In that case, it is essential to manage appropriate PA processes that can respond to variable factors at the level of spatial and temporal distribution.

The formation of the PA cycle is further defined by Comparetti (2011), who defines PA methods in the following stages (shown in the following diagram):

* Data collection (measurement of spatially variable soil, crop, or yield parameters within the field and monitoring of local weather conditions)
* Interpretation (integration and mapping of input/output applications with different models)
* Application (application of variable inputs based on the results of data processing)
[[File:Image1 SL2.png|center|frame|Fig 1: The precision agriculture cycle.]]
Precision agriculture technologies, through sophisticated analysis of production resources, create significant opportunities to improve the efficiency of farming operations while contributing to solutions for sustainable agriculture and the environment. The availability of new technologies - farm machinery automation, geospatial tools, sensor and information systems, and others - enables precision farm management. In addition to generating accurate and integrated data sources needed for spatial variability decisions, PATs contribute to data diagnostics that link mapped field locations to the most appropriate decisions on sowing, fertilizer inputs, irrigation, crop protection products, crops, etc. They make it easier to manage inventories and account for costs by automatically recording input usage and tracking data

There is no single typology of PATs. However, it can be defined as follows.

* GPS (global positioning system)
* Geographic information system (GIS)
* Sensor systems
* Variable rate technology (VRT)
* Yield mapping (YM)
* IoT (Internet of things)

In the diagram below, we have outlined some of the basic components of precision agriculture technologies.
[[File:Image.png|center|frame|Fig. 2: The basic components of precision agriculture technologies.]]
Precision agriculture has enjoyed a remarkable expansion and popularity in some parts of the world, especially where more intensive farming practices are present. Farms use advanced machinery in a wide range of agricultural sectors. The North American market plays a leading role in PA. The European, Asian, and South American markets also have a significant share. Europe's innovative potential in PA is great and an important lever for agricultural prosperity. In Europe, precision agriculture market was worth USD 2.21 billion in 2021 and projected to grow at a CAGR of 13.2%, to reach USD 3.18 billion by 2026.

=== Characteristics of Slovenian agriculture ===
Slovenia is one of Europe's smaller countries, both in terms of land area and population. According to the OECD typology, Slovenia has intermediate (27.2%) and rural regions (72.8%). More than half of Slovenia's land territory is covered by forests, and 34% of its land area is predominantly agricultural. Slovenia is characterized by a dispersed and sparse population and a large number of small settlements. In Slovenia, agriculture with hunting, forestry and fishing contributes 2.3% (2019) to total value-added and 6.9% (2019) to full employment. The share of employment in agriculture is a declining trend and thus decreases year on year.

In Slovenia, decreasing the number of agricultural holdings continues, while the average size of a farming holding increases yearly. On average, a large agricultural holding in Slovenia cultivates 7.0 ha of agricultural land and manages an average of 5.6 ha of forest. Compared to the EU-28, Slovenia still has a very unfavorable size structure of agricultural holdings. The average age of farm owner (manager agricultural holding) in Slovenia amounted to 57 years (2016), which indicates a markedly unfavorable age structure in agriculture. In 2019, 745 companies were operating in the food processing industry, employing 14,627 people. Value-added was EUR 604 million and value-added per employee was EUR 41,270 EUR. Grassland is the most predominant area (84%). Then arable (9%), orchards (intensive and extensive - 4%), vineyards (1.4%), and vegetables (0.7%).

Income in Slovenian agriculture is among the lowest in the EU and represents only around 20% of comparable income in the whole economy. Non-agricultural sources of income are decisive for farming on low-income farms, which can represent a significant part of the income on small farms. Such a poor income situation is the unfavorable structure of Slovenian agriculture with an average of small farms, a large share of land in LFAs, a large percentage of absolute grassland, a large share of non-specialized and self-sufficient farms. Existing processes of Slovenian restructuring agriculture in the direction of increasing income are too slow. Subsidies (direct and LFA payments) are a significant factor in Slovenia, at least partly improving the lower-income situation. Specific agricultural sectors (arable crops, other permanent crops, mixed farming, other grazing livestock), economic farm size (up to EUR 50,000 standard income), and farm location (in LFAs) would generate negative value-added if they did not receive subsidies. Uncertainty about incomes and low productivity leads farms to stagnate investment and, in the long term, to lose competitiveness. Instability is a significant problem in Slovenian agriculture. Fluctuations in prices and/or agricultural volumes can cause liquidity problems for farmers. Uncertainty about incomes and low productivity leads farms to stagnate investment and, in the long term, to lose competitiveness. Uncertainty also causes stagnation or even contraction of agricultural production.

Multiple factors affect the competitiveness and productivity of Slovenian farms; 73.7 % of farms are located in less-favored areas (of which 73.3% - are mountain areas, 10.8% - are areas with natural handicaps, 15.9% - specific constraints), climate change (storms, frost, drought, floods, strong wind, ...) and role of technology (state of machinery/equipment, digitalization, knowledge and innovations in relation to precision agriculture technologies).

There is a strong divide between productivity indicators between EU-27 countries and Slovenia; on average, the divide in EU countries is caused by the introduction of new technologies that substitute the workload. In Slovenia majority of the work is done by manual labour (avg. size 7 ha), and lacking new technology. Farms located in mountain areas face special challenges, shorter vegetation periods and lower income per farmland. Due to the limitations, these farms primarily focus on animal production. An additional factor that limits the possibilities on these farms are the inclinations of farmland that require expensive special-purpose machinery.

=== Promoting knowledge, innovation, and digitalisation in agriculture in Slovenia ===
There are several research and training institutions working in the field of Slovenian agriculture and forestry institutions. Public services have been working for decades for the advancement of agriculture and forestry, for better performance of professional tasks in agriculture (livestock farming, crop production, forestry, genetic). Access to formal as well as non-formal education is good. Identified needs and necessary actions in this area:

* Strengthening capacity building and knowledge transfer.
* Strengthening cooperation between the research sphere, consultants, and end-users.
* Strengthening research and development, innovation in agriculture, forestry, and food.
* Retrieved from agricultural advice.
* Digitalisation in agriculture, food, forestry, and rural areas.
* Strengthening digital competences.

=== Analysis of the factors impacting on the adoption or non-adoption of precision agriculture technologies ===
The awareness and implementation of new technologies in agriculture, which also includes PA, is reflected in numerous factors in a specific smaller area, such as on a farm, at national or even international level. Based on the literature reviewed, the table below shows the most influential factors.
{| class="wikitable"
|+
|'''Factor'''
|'''Description'''
|-
|The personality and family structure of the farm owner
|Age, education, computer usage, skills
|-
|Features of the farm
|Farm size, farm type, ownership, specialization
|-
|Social interactions
|Local cultures, local cooperation, human relations – attitude of trusted friends
|-
|Economic factors
|Return on investment time, the possibility of rental technologies, technology costs
|-
|Policy support
|Legislation, measures, strategic plans, vision
|-
|Supporting institutions and firms
|Numbers of supporting institutions and firms
|-
|Multidisciplinary cooperation
|Active participation of all stakeholders in PA
|-
|Features of the technology
|Availability of technologies, easiness of use, systems compatibility
|}

=== SWOT analysis of precision agriculture in Slovenia ===
With the help of the SWOT analysis, we summarized the current situation and guidelines for the development of precision agriculture in Slovenia in four aspects (advantages, opportunities, dangers, shortcomings). The purpose of the analysis is primarily to assist decision-makers in strategic decisions regarding precision agriculture in the future and to assist in further research in this area. The SWOT analysis included summaries of the state of EU and Slovenian policy measures, characteristics, and structure of Slovenian agriculture, as well as the results of a survey obtained in this project (Transfarm 4.0) on the topic of precision agriculture.
{| class="wikitable"
|+
|'''Strengths'''
|'''Weaknesses'''
|-
|Farm owners are aware of the potential of PATs
(precision agriculture technologies).

More than three-quarters of farm owners are already

educated about PATs.

There is more and more research development and

talk about PATs.
|PATs require a high initial investment.

Complex and sometimes unreliable PATs.
|-
|'''Opportunities'''
|'''Threats'''
|-
|Accelerate sustainable agriculture through
technological development.

Interaction of farm owners with ideas / solutions.

Optimization of agricultural work, processes,

reduction of environmental impact, management of

uncontrolled changes and support decision-making.
|Questionable willingness and maturity of farm
owners for the implementation of PATs.

Complex quantification of PATs advantages.

Questionable knowledge about open

opportunities or fear of farm owners’

interactions.

Prejudices of farm owners about the

maintenance costs of PATs.
|}

== '''Slovenian Smart Specializations Strategies (S4, Slovenian S3)''' ==
Slovenia, as one of the smallest EU member states, has limited resources, capacities, and capabilities, so largely dependent on intensive investments, high risks, high responsiveness and uniqueness, originality. This was considered when the Slovenian Smart Specialization Strategies (therefore S4, and not S3) were drafted with the goal to enhance cooperation between Slovenian innovation stakeholders that operate in specific priority areas. One of the first task to shape S4 was to open a public discussion by attracting companies, research organisations, start-up community, social entrepreneurs, artists, innovators, scholars, students, and others to participate in entrepreneurial discovery process and to identify priority areas, conceptual leaders with the government as the facilitator. The entrepreneurial discovery process made possible that stakeholders operating in a specific S4 priority area have recognised the need for comprehensive and systematic cooperation amongst themselves and with the government.

According to the identified priority areas from the draft of S4 Slovenia launched a public call in 2016 to form nine Strategic Research and Innovation Partnerships or SRIPs. These include (with examples):

• SRIP Factories of the Future Demo project like GOSTOP (Building Blocks, Tools and Systems for the Factories of Future) include the development of new products and technologies, which will lead to the set up of uniform integrated systems, needed by big production companies and provided by SMEs.

• SRIP Health-Medicine Project Medical Valley describes a new university campus focusing on pharmacy, biomedical technology, biomimetic and biotechnology, included in a new regional proton radiation therapy cancer treatment centre.

• SRIP Materials as End Products Formed a cooperation between its members with the goal to the development of new joint developments. like so-called 'hot work tool steels', new light-weight high-strength construction steels, new (recycled) Al alloy and new multicomponent magnetic material based on thermosets.

• SRIP Mobility Formed EDISON (Eco Driving Innovative Solutions and Network) partnership which focuses on the development of inductive wireless charging systems for electric vehicles, the development of new drives and applications and platforms for electro mobility.

• SRIP Networks for the Transition of the Circular Economy Formed a strategic R&D program named Cel.Krog that aims to exploit the potential of biomass for development of advanced materials and bio-based products.

• SRIP Smart Cities and Communities Established the Digital Innovation Hub Slovenia, a national one-stop-shop to help Slovenian companies to become more competitive in respect to processes, products or services using digital technologies.

• SRIP Smart Buildings and Homes On of the activities involved Wood Chain demo project which development of a new terrain tracking and monitoring service, by using orthophoto images, that enables digital verification of construction, with the concept of 3D design of the environment.

• SRIP Sustainable Food Production Established a completely new cooperation between stakeholders in dairy processing sector, meat sector, fruit sector and cereal sectors to form new value chains.

• SRIP Sustainable Tourism Formed Tourism 4.0 demo projects, focused on creating a new format of dynamic collaboration system, with applications, services and processes built on real-time tourist needs and wishes. SRIPs were formed to support investment and intellectual potential of Slovenian stakeholders and were shaped as a long-term quadruple helix bottom-up partnerships, that brings together dynamic companies (like SMEs), research institutions, innovation users and also State and municipalities that operate in a specific S4 priority domain. In three years more than 780 stakeholders joined SRIP partnerships, out of which 83% were enterprises (79% SMEs).

=== S3 / S4 in Respect to Precision Agriculture ===
By definition precision agriculture represents an interdisciplinary approach to farming. By applying technology, the farmers / producers can optimize the yield of the production and minimize the input resources, maximizing the profit in return. By recording, measuring, and observing with relative readings the variability of the crops is detected, followed by actions to treat it, if necessary. These include soil cultivation, sowing, spraying, fertilization and other. By applying the right treatment in the right time frame, the producer will gain economic and ecological improvements by: maximizing the quality of the crop, reduce input resources, like seeds, chemical products and fuel, it will minimize the possible negative environmental impact, reduce the work hours needed and (auto) produce a complete production documentation. Although the importance farming has in Slovenia, the Slovenian’s smart specialization strategy S4 does not address precision agriculture with a dedecated SRIP, instead its support can be directly or indirectly found in already existing SRIPs. The two SRIPs that are directly linked to precision agriculture are SRIP Sustainable Food Production and SRIP Factories of the Future.

• SRIP Sustainable Food Production

SRIP Sustainable Food Production (SRIP HRANA) unites agriculture holdings, companies, cooperatives, research institutions, investors and other interested parties toward joint research and development activities to improve agri-food sector development. This involves becoming a national contact point for companies and research institutions to promote networking and cooperation. The SRIP activities are co-funded by the Slovenian Ministry of economic development and technology and the European Regional Development Fund.

SRIP Sustainable Food Prodction defined an action plant that is formulated on the five action pillars that summarize the five objectives of the SRIP strategy. Besides these five action pillars, three horizontal areas that need to be improved have been identified. This are human resource development, internationalization and Information and communication technology (ICT). They are incorporated in to the 5 action pillars. These five action pillars are:

AP1 - INGREDIENTS AND SUSTAINABLE USE OF RESOURCES

The first action pillar is related to the SRIP Network for the transition the circular economy. It focuses on the sustainable and efficient use of resources for sustainable vegetable food production and processing and for sustainable livestock production.

AP2 - SMART PROCESS PLANNING AND PROCESS CONTROL

Smart process planning and process control is related to SRIP Smart Cities and Communities, and horizontal ICT network. It focuses on optimization of agro-food processes based on automation, digitalization, and robotization.

AP3 - ADVANCED EQUIPMENT AND TECHNOLOGIES FOR SUSTAINABLE FOOD PRODUCTION AND FOOD PROCESSING

The third action pillar is related to SRIP MATPRO and focuses on the development and use of advanced technologies in the production and processing of food to produce interesting, competitive, and innovative production of food products, with food safety, improved nutritional value and higher functionality in mind.

AP4 - HYGIENE, SAFETY AND QUALITY OF FOOD

The fourth action pillar focuses on ensuring food safety, detecting food fraud at all stages of food production and processing by development of new innovative products and services for ensuring the safety and quality of finished products.

AP5 - FOOD, NUTRITION AND CONSUMER

The fifth action pillar is related to SRIP Health-Medicine and SRIP Sustainable Tourism. It focuses to develop a system that will lead to the innovation development of the entire agrofood chain by promoting the invention of functional food products for individual target groups.

• SRIP Factories of the Future

SRIP Factories of the Future is the largest SRIP, lead by Jožef Štefan Institute. It is divided into four clusters:

- Advanced technologies cluster (led by Jožef Štefan Institute),

- Smart factories cluster (led by Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia).

- Systems and control technologies cluster (led by KC STV),

- Toolmakers cluster (led by Tecos).

The SRIP FoF is devided into the following pillars.

AP1 - ADVANCED SENSORS

This pillar addresses the importance of advance sensors in autonomous and smart systems. And includes the following focus areas:

- Advanced micro and nano sensors for process control - to increase the competitiveness of end products.

- 3D sensor systems - to increase the competitiveness of end products.

- Smart nano/bio/chemo sensors in the environment, industry, and medicine - to increase the competitiveness of end products.

AP2 - INTELLIGENT LASER SYSTEMS

Laser Systems play an important part in research and development sector, with the largest production of solid laser systems per capita. This pillar includes the following focus areas:

- Special laser sources - to develop new laser sources.

- Intelligent laser systems for the digital processing of materials - to develop high-tech additive laser systems for the semiconductor industry.

- Smart medical laser devices - for the use of laser sources in medicine (regeneration, therapeutics, dermatology).

- Next generation optical fibres - to develop special active and passive fibres for IR and UV.

AP3 - INTELLIGENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS FOR FUTURE FACTORIES

Future Factories promise a better-quality products, better efficiency, time, and cost savings in real time. An important part of this are the Internet of Things (IoT) and Services. This pillar includes the following focus areas:

- Smart actuators - for complete surveillance and cost optimization.

- Distributed control systems and IoT - device and sensors control in industrial processes using IoT.

- Intelligent Production Management Systems (MES-MOM) - to develop advanced software solutions for management and decision support.

- Diagnostics, prognostics and self-maintenance of smart machines and processes - to develop

advanced software solutions and modules for predictive maintenance of machines and devices.

- Development of modern tools and building blocks for the management and control of systems and processes - to improve lithographic procedures in microelectronics with the appropriate control of the mass production process.

AP4 - NEW MATERIALS

New materials enable technological advancement in all areas of society and is the basis for its sustainable development. The pillar includes the following focus areas:

- Magnetic materials with a minimum quantity of rare earths - to develop and production of magnets, that will replace the need to use rare earths.

- Environmentally friendly materials for protective elements in electrical engineering and electronics - to increase the production and sales of products to improve the content of materials.

- Functional coatings - inclusion of new materials into products.

AP5 - ROBOT SYSTEMS AND COMPONENTS

Represents one of the fundamental pillars of Factories of the Future. With new intelligent sensors, actuators and other advanced robotic components, the flexibility of the robots will increase. To achieve this, the following focus areas have been defined.

- Manufacture of new robots - with the aim to put Slovenia on the global map of robot and robot parts manufacturers. This includes the development of new agricultural robots driven by artificial intelligence.

- Innovative intelligent and sensor supported robot applications (advanced mechanical vision) - to introduce new sensory system, such as machine vision to improve the flexifile and autonomy of robotic systems.

- Intelligent sensors and actuators for the use of robotics - to produce and market advance components of state of the art robots.

- Development and marketing of flexible and cooperative robot cells - to use superior multidisciplinary technological knowledge to use robotic building blocks into automated cells and lines.

AP6 - SMART FACTORY

This pillar joins all vertical value chains and horizontal networks in the area of SRIP FoF and wider. It's an umbrella like process with defined contact / control points that will make the digitalization the most important process in companies making an increase in the added value of its processes. It includes the following focus area:

- Optimal (individualized) comprehensive solutions for the implementation of smart factories - defining the implementation of the Smart Factory and establishing a value chain to transform the cooperation with the partner company.

AP7 - SMART MECHATRONIC TOOLS

Complex mechatronic systems are making possible to build advanced and smart industrial tools. These systems are used for monitoring, regulation and communication between devices and external devices / machines to improve the usefulness of this smart machines. This pillar includes the following focus areas:

- Smart mechatronic tools - used to increase smart tools investments for tool makers.

- Linking simulation tools with manufacturing machines to optimize production processes

- used to simulate and optimize the production process, to minimize defective products and to ensure the production with as short as possible deadlines.

- Advanced production process and prototype technologies - to merge existing development centers into one, supported by Sloveninan manufacturing industry to support SMEs.

In addition to this action pillars six horizontal areas have been identified, which provide key technologies. These are:

- Management Technologies

- Modern Technology for Materials

- Nanotechnology

- Photonics

- Plasma Technology

- Robotics

=== Interviews with S3 managers – SRIP Factories of the future ===
Meeting date: 1st of June 2022: 9.00 - 10.30

Zoom platform for online meeting

Attandees:

Živa Antauer - SRIP TOP

Jurij Rakun – UM, FKBV

Erik Rihter – UM, FKBV

Peter Lepej – AE-ROBO

'''Agenda of the meeting:'''

To discuss the S3 regional specializations managers regarding the current and future inclusion of precision agriculture in SRIP TOP (Factories of the future); to identify the links between innovation strategies and the agricultural production sector, to promote technological development, implementation of regional innovations, support for the agricultural production sector and support for the education system with the possibility of directional training for agricultural needs.

'''Conclusions:'''

Agriculture is not the main sector

SRIP TOP is one of 9 designated S3 / S4 areas in Slovenia. It does not support agricultural sector directly, but indirectly by supporting other horizontal areas such as smart plasma and (agricultural) robotics. In addition to this AI horizontal area could support precision agriculture in the future.

How can SRIP TOP support knowledge transfer in the field of PA and wider?

Part of SRIP TOP’s work is to offer support, which also includes organization of different events led by GZS (Slovenian chamber of commerce), TECOS (industrial cluster) and Jozef Stefan Institute. This events also support knowledge transfer, indirectly to the field of PA.

System of technological incubators and laboratories for Industry 4.0 companies

SRIP TOP itself is not an incubator or does not provide one, but its partner organizations are, including: Pomurski tehnološki park, Savinjsko – Šaleška razvojna agencija SAŠA, Podjetniški inkubator Novo mesto, CS Škofja Loka and others.

System of technological incubators and laboratories for Industry 4.0 companies SRIP TOP itself is not an incubator or does not provide one, but its partner organizations are, including: Pomurski tehnološki park, Savinjsko – Šaleška razvojna agencija SAŠA, Podjetniški inkubator Novo mesto, CS Škofja Loka and others.

Can SRIPs offer their support in the preparation of new project calls?

SRIPs members do work to identify new possible priority arias, but they can not influence how new project calls will be prepared, what will be their focus point, when they will be opened, etc. The partner organizations work to promote different identified strategic priority areas, but their influence on new project calls is very limited; their work can be included or not. As SRIP members play a key role in different areas, their contributions could make a difference, but are usually not included and their potential is currently overlooked.

Does SRIP TOP offer some kind of activities in terms of supporting educational activities

Yes, for instance GZS covers human resource’s part and in this respect offers a range of educational activities for members and wider.

Could PF become one of the horizontal areas of SRIP TOP?

SRIP TOP is finalizing the action plan for the next three-year long period. If members of SRIP TOP identify PF as one of the priority areas, it could be added to the next action plan after the next period. Especially, as PF already has specific domain ties to existing priority areas.

Are there currently any members of SRIP TOP that would fit the scope of PF

As mentioned, the smart plasma horizontal is involved in the processing of plant seeds. Artificial intelligence horizontal is involved in data mining. It is almost sure that other members members activities fall in the scope of PF (maybe agro-robotics).

How do you see that PF could be moved closer to the target groups

The faculty (FKBV) is invited to join the SRIP TOP. As different member faculties of the University of Maribor are already members of SRIP TOP, this should be a kind of simplified process. FKBV can then focus on areas like PF, that other UM member faculties do not cover.

=== Interviews with S3 managers – SRIP Smart Cities and Communities ===
Meeting date: 26th of May 2022: 9.00 - 10.30

Zoom platform for online meeting

Attendees:

Nevenka Cukjati - SRIP PMIS (S3 Smart cities and communities)

Jurij Rakun – UM, FKBV

Erik Rihter – UM, FKBV

Peter Lepej – AE-ROBO (partly present)

Agenda of the meeting:

To discuss the S3 regional specializations managers regarding the current and future inclusion of precision agriculture in SRIP PMsS (Smart cities and communities; SCaC); to identify the links between innovation strategies and the agricultural production sector through links at the level of technological development, implementation of regional innovations, support for the agricultural production sector and support for the education system with the possibility of directional training for agricultural needs.

Conclusions:

Agriculture is not the main sector

Agriculture is not the main sector of the SRIP PMiS, but with the new strategic plan that is under development this will be partly reshaped by covering areas like adaptation to climate changes, clean waters, green environments, etc. This indirectly affects and includes the area of precision agriculture.

How can SRIP PMiS support knowledge transfer in the field of PA and wider?

The role of the SRIPs is not to offer direct support, but to network specific actors in selected area. The domain for knowledge transfer therefore lies with the individual members of SRIPs. System of technological incubators and laboratories for Industry4.0 companies SRIPs do currently not offer this kind of services, as their role is primarily networking different actors. Like knowledge transfer, this is done by the resources and possibilities of individual partners.

Can SRIPs offer their support in the preparation of new project calls?

Directly no. Indirectly the members of the SRIPs identify potential priority areas which can be used in the project. The members of the SRIP are also invited to submit their ideas for new targeted project calls, but this is then filtered and possibly reshaped at the level of the Ministry in charge (Agriculture, Infrastructure, Education, etc.).

How do you see the educational system, could SRIP PMiS support in the preparation of new educational entity to support the PF?

Directly no, but with the support of different partners, different stakeholders, this could be achievable and welcome as PF technologies will play an important role in the future. So joint consensus regarding this should be accepted and based on these subsequent steps can be ensured to prepare the educational system.

Could PF become on of the horizontal areas of SRIP PMiS?

PF is a very important area and should be part of the SRIP PMiS. To start this task, different actors should first be identified and invited to cooperate. With this new partnership a strategic plan should be prepared and evaluated on the national level. Once this is approved, the partners should work, promote, spread their activities in support of PK / SRIP PMiS.

Are there currently any members of SRIP PMiS that would fit the PF scope?

There are multiple members of SRIP PMiS that would fit the scope of PF, for instance: among others, Optifarm and Login5 foundation for example could be invited to join the PF vertical.

How do you see that PF could be moved closer to the target groups?

One way of solving this challenge would be to prepare a model farm that uses new PF technologies that could serve as a demonstration tool for different actors like cooperatives, farming associations, industry, educational units, policy makers and other interested parties.

== '''Regional policy actions about PF''' ==
The strategic plan (2023-2027) in Slovenia: contains the key strategic guidelines for the implementation of the Common Agricultural Policy in the Republic of Slovenia. Among the CAP 2014-2020 objectives, the following were important for the precision agriculture: improving agricultural competitiveness, promoting innovation, delivering environmental public goods, and mitigating and adapting to climate change. The studies highlight the current gap in the modernization of farms, innovative approaches, and the use of new technologies for the precision agriculture. They conclude that the use of new technologies remains below expectations and is unevenly spread across the EU. More effective CAP measures in this area are key for the future and balanced funding from both pillars is important for new technologies in agriculture. The CAP objectives are implemented in two ways in a given country for the 2014-2020 period: as direct payments to farmers and through market measures (Pillar I), or under the Rural Development Programme through various forms of subsidies (Pillar II), both supported by an agricultural advisory service, which includes agricultural advisory systems. The CAP has been financed at European level as part of the EU budget since 1999, through two funds, the European Agricultural Fund (EAFRD) and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD).

- Pillar I: Appropriate rural development measures in this pillar play an important role in promoting the development of precision agriculture. The determination of measures and financing depends on the individual country or the decision-makers. It is therefore essential to carefully identify the needs for priorities and measures based on the specific local conditions and farming systems that each country wants to achieve in the field of precision agriculture.

- Pillar II: The priorities here are the following: promoting the competitiveness of agriculture, ensuring sustainable management of natural resources and measures in the field of climate change, and achieving balanced territorial development of rural economies or communities by creating / maintaining jobs. Most measures are met through the Rural Development Program (RDP)

To the extent of measures II. pillars available in Regulation (EU) No 1305/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2013, the main precise support can be defined in the following articles:

􀀀 Article 17 (investments in fixed assets),

􀀀 Article 28 (agri-environmental-climate payments),

􀀀 Article 35 (participation),

􀀀 Article 14 (transfer of knowledge and innovation),

􀀀 Article 15 (advisory services, farm management assistance, support

services).

Resolution: "Our food, rural areas and natural resources after 2021": The purpose of this document is to define the basic strategic framework for the functioning of agriculture, food and rural areas for the period after 2021. The resolution is the basis for the preparation of the single Strategic Plan for the implementation of the CAP national measures and mentions precision agriculture, among all the other important objectives in agriculture for the coming period. It recognises that the agriculture and agri-food of the future will follow the development of digitalisation and modern technologies. Precision agriculture will ensure the achievement of stable production, targeted inputs, reduced environmental burdens and greater economic efficiency. Investment support measures will need to focus on reducing the technology gap as well as the impact of climate change. At the same time, education and training of farmers will be more proactive.

Rural development program: The Rural Development Programme of the Republic of Slovenia for the period 2014-2020 (until 2022, interim period) is a joint programming document of the Republic of Slovenia and the European Commission, managed by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food. The document constitutes the programming basis for the absorption of financial resources from the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development. Based on the definition of the analysis of the situation of agriculture, food and forestry, this document reflects national priorities and covers the whole territory of Slovenia. The needs and areas for action have been identified on the basis of a SWOT analysis. The Rural Development Programme also includes the Rural Network, which can be considered as a stand-alone measure.

The Rural Development Programme (2014) identifies six priority areas for action, out of which measures, sub-measures, and operations for the development of rural development in Slovenia can be indirectly classified under the three areas:

- Accelerating the process of structural adjustment in agriculture and thus creating conditions for increasing the productivity of Slovenian agriculture,

- Promoting agricultural practices that have a positive impact on the conservation of natural resources and adaptation to climate change,

- Transfer of knowledge, innovation, and care for the environment and climate change (horizontal objectives of all five priority areas for action in the Rural Development Programme).

== '''Financial Perspective for every action''' ==
The program of the common agricultural policy in Slovenia in the period from 2014-2020 did not envisage direct measures for precision agriculture, but within the existing measures various areas of projects related to precision agriculture and digitalization can be applied. Such measures strengthen the competitiveness of agriculture, also due to the emphasis on research, technology and digitization projects and the dissemination of knowledge to young farmers.

Financial cut in precision agriculture in Rural Development Program 2014-2020:

Measure M1 - Transfer of knowledge and information activities (EUR 7,218,750) - MEASURES TO PROMOTE PRECISION AGRICULTURE

- Sub-measure M1.1 - Support for vocational training and skills acquisition activities

- Sub-measure M1.2 - Support for demonstration activities and information measures

Measure M2 - Advisory services, farm management assistance services and on-farm replacement services (EUR 7,168,000.00)

- Sub-measure M2.1 - Support to assist in the use of counseling services

Measure M3 - Quality schemes for agricultural products and foodstuffs (EUR 3,700,000.00)

- Sub-measure M3.1 - Support for new participation in quality schemes

Measure M4 - Investments in fixed assets (EUR 366,973,880.23) - MEASURES TO PROMOTE PRECISION AGRICULTURE

- Sub-measure M4.1 - Support for investment in agricultural holdings

- Sub-measure M4.2 - Support for investments in processing / marketing and / or development of agricultural products

- Sub-measure M4.3 - Support for infrastructure investments related to the development, modernization or adaptation of agriculture and forestry

- Sub-measure M4.4. - Support for investments to prevent wind erosion on agricultural land

Measure M6: Development of farms and enterprises (EUR 152,983,333.33)

- Sub-measure M6.1 - Start-up aid for young farmers

- Sub-measure M6.3 - Start-up aid for small farms

- Sub-measure M6.4 - Support for investments in the establishment and development of non-agricultural activities

Measure M7 - Basic services and village renewal in rural areas (EUR 14,000,000)

- Sub-measure M7.3 - Support for broadband infrastructure, including its establishment, improvement and extension, passive broadband infrastructure and provision of broadband internet access and eGovernment solutions

Measure M8 - Investments in the development of forest areas and improving the viability of forests (EUR 60,881,066.67)

- Sub-measure M8.4 - Support for the elimination of damage to forests due to forest fires and natural disasters and catastrophic events:

* Operation Elimination of damage and restoration of forests after a natural disaster

* Operation Arrangement of forest trains needed to carry out reforestation

- Sub-measure M8.6 - Support for investments in forestry technologies and processing, mobilization and marketing of forest products:

* Operation: Investments in the purchase of new machinery and equipment for felling and harvesting wood

* Operation: Investments in pre-industrial wood processing

Measure M9 - Establishment of producer groups and organizations (EUR 3,427,950.00)

- Sub-measure M9.1 - Establishment of producer groups and organizations in the agricultural and forestry sector

Measure M10 - Agri-environment-climate payments (EUR 271,127,386.67)

- Sub-measure M10.1 - Payment of agri-environmental-climate obligations (measure KOPOP)

- Sub-measure M10.2 - Support for the conservation, sustainable use and development of genetic resources in agriculture

Measure M11 - Organic farming (88,131,000.00 EUR)

- Sub-measure M11.1 - Payments for conversion to organic farming practices and methods

- Sub-measure M11.2 - Payments for the maintenance of organic farming practices and methods

Measure M13 - Payments to areas with natural or other special constraints (EUR 337,614,928.00)

- Sub-measure M13.1 - Payment of compensation in mountain areas

- Sub-measure M13.2 - Payment of compensation for other areas with significant natural constraints

- Sub-measure M13.3 - Payment of compensation for other areas with special restrictions

Measure M14 - Animal welfare (EUR 51,133,333.33)

- Sub-measure M14.1 - Payment for animal welfare

Measure M16 - Cooperation (EUR 23,028,588.23)

- Sub-measure M16.2 - Development of new products, practices, processes and technologies

- Sub-measure M16.4 - Establishment and development of short supply chains and local markets

- Sub-measure M16.5 - Environment and Climate Change

- Sub-measure M16.9 - Diversification of activities on the farm

Measure M19 - Support for local development under the LEADER initiative (community-led local development) (EUR 67,660,314.20)

- Sub-measure M19.1 - Preparatory support

- Sub-measure M19.2 - Support for the implementation of community-led local development strategies

- Sub-measure M19.3 - Preparation and implementation of LAG cooperation activities

- Sub-measure M19.4 - Support for running costs and animation costs

Measure M21 - Exceptional temporary support for farmers and SMEs particularly affected by the covid-19 crisis (EUR 1,700,000)

113: Early retirement from the RDP 2007-2013

In the new EU common agricultural policy, instead of the existing rules and coherence, the emphasis will be on the results and reasonableness (effectiveness) of the measures. It is up to the Member States to decide for themselves how best to meet the common objectives of European agricultural policy, while responding to the specific needs of their farmers, rural communities and society at large. The objectives of the common agricultural policy for the period 2023-2027 are to constantly adapt to the challenges facing European agriculture. Policy after 2020 will be simpler and will be based on three general and nine specific objectives. The general objectives are underpinned by a horizontal objective and the dissemination of knowledge, with an additional emphasis on innovation and digitalisation in agriculture and rural areas. The Strategic Plan of the Common Agricultural Policy 2023-2027 envisages specific action 2: Strengthening market orientation and increasing competitiveness, also with a stronger focus on research, technology and digitalisation. The financial plan for this measure has not yet been determined.

== '''Learning and growth perspective''' ==
This subsection explains the experience, technology state and lessons learned by developing the pilot action 2 focused on proximal sensing application. It is split in four parts that describe the previous work of the project partners, the SACS and ASES systems and concludes with the findings of the group.

=== Previous work overview ===
The partners from UM, SMT / AE-ROBO.NET and AMPS s. p. / dr. Lepej collaborated on pilot project 2 with a common goal to advance and to reach a higher level of TRL of a selected prototype solution. Therefore, as part of this pilot, we have evaluated and improved our past work - advanced sensory systems for precise agriculture operations like spraying. Our goal was to select, essess and try to integrate an advanced sensory system that could push forward farming technologies into new levels. Here we were aiming into more precise spraying, crop health inspections, crop evaluations and most important to try to detect sources of potential diseases in the crops with the advanced sensory systems. To achieve these goals different state of art, commercially available sensors were examined.

=== Spraying Application Control System (SACS) ===
The SACS includes and advanced sensory systems based on which the prece spraing of plant protection products can be achived. The aim of the SAC system is to improve and automize the spraying task, to be more precise and responsible in terms of sustainable ways of farming. This is possible with the system that detects the presence or abstaince of the plant canopies inside a fruit orchards or vineyards and makes possible to react accordingly; to spray were needed and to stop spraying where plants or part of the plants are missing.

To achieve this the SAC system uses a number of electromechanical components, including:

• Industrial electronics closet and PLA plastics holders for LIDARs.

• SENSORS: 2 x Sick Lidar Tim5xx

• GPS/GNSS module USB G-mouse

• SIGNAL Led: 12V, 22, industrial standards led lights

• PROCESSIONG Unit: Raspberry pi 4B (Rpi)

• PLC: microcontroller for actuation: Controllino MEGA

• ACTUATOR Interface Valves: 13 pins standard agri connector and plug

• POWER: 3 pin standard AGRI plug + one mounted on the system, for external devices (power splitter)

• USER Interface: Server on Rpi, parameter setup, start/stop control

In addition the listed components, the system utilizes an advantage of the FieldSLAM algorithm, that was developed by the partners in the past. This gives the system a unique posibility to position the sprayer in the natural scene. As the nozzles and the sensor cannot be placed next to each other without the influence the spraying has on the data acquisition, the localization is of utmost importance; to know where the readings regarding the presence of the plant canopies were taken and what kind of readings were saved at the current location of the nozzles. An example of the localization and reconstruction of the readings is shown on Figure 1.
[[File:Image5 SL.png|center|frame|Fig. 3: Visualization of the processing part, LEFT: FieldSLAM processing picture, RIGHT: reconstruction of canopy tree trunks and actuators (nozzles) on the sides (5 left, 5 right), where white=nozzle off, black=nozzle on.]]
So, instead of using complicated and expensive systems like RTK GPS, the system uses two LiDAR sensors. The first, position vertically, captures the readings needed to determine the presence of the plant canopies, while the second, the horizontally positioned LiDAR, help s to position the system. The render of the system and its actual implementation on a state-of-the-art mist blower is depicted on Figure 2.
[[File:Image6 SL.png|center|frame|Fig. 4: Render of the system (left) and its actual implementation on the state-of-the-art mist blower.]]

=== Advanced Sensory System (ASES) ===
The partners on this pilot project decided to design, build and test an Advanced Sensory System (ASES) for agriculture purposes. The goal behind ASES was to test different available sensors that could be used to improve the SACS. Therefore different cheap and more expensive sensors were selected in order to evaluate performances and try to find the best availible sensory system for agriculture.

==== Selected sensors ====
Various sensor have been selected for this taks, not only the ones limited to agricultre purposes but also more complex sensor systems from other domains.

==== Distance sensors ====
Distance sensors can be used to build a precise model of the given environment in the complex row crops environment. For this task we have choose a cheap 3D Lidar camera RealSense LiDAR camera L515 (<nowiki>https://www.intelrealsense.com/lidar-camera-l515/</nowiki>) and more complex Lidar sensors like RoboSenser Bpearl (<nowiki>https://www.robosense.ai/en/rslidar/RS-Bpearl</nowiki>) and solidstate Lidars, for example Livox MID-70 (<nowiki>https://www.livoxtech.com/mid-70</nowiki>).
[[File:Image7 SL.png|center|frame|Fig. 5: Distance sensors for ASS (Source Intel: <nowiki>https://www.intelrealsense.com/lidar-cameral515/</nowiki>, RoboSense: <nowiki>https://www.robosense.ai/en/rslidar/RS-Bpearl</nowiki> , Livoxtech:[https://www.livoxtech.com/mid-70). https://www.livoxtech.com/mid-70).]]]

Each sensor has its own specifics in performance and speed, below we show the comparison table of the selected distance sensors:
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!
!Technology:
!Range:
!Depth Field of View:
!Typical usage:
!Precision outdoor:
!Price aproximate:
|-
|Intel L515
|Pattern projection
(844-875 nm),

D*+RGB*
|0,25-9 m
|70° x 55°
|Indoor
|Poor
|500 $
|-
|Bpearl
|Time of flight (905 nm),
only D*
|100 m
|360° x 90°
|Indoor/Outdoor
|Good
|3000 $
|-
|MID-70
|Time of flight (905 nm),
only D*
|260 m
|70.4°
(Circular)
|Indoor/Outdoor
|Good
|800 $
|}
D* - Distance information/data

RGB* - Color information/data

From the simple comparison presendet in the previous table, we can see the advantages and disadvantages from different sensors. The price drop for the solid-state lidar looks promising, plus the technology performance is very good. The Intel Realsense L515 sensor on the other side is cheap and provides additional data of the environment.
[[File:Image8 SL.png|center|frame|Fig. 6: Distance sensors for ASS data performance (Source Intel: <nowiki>https://www.intelrealsense.com/lidar-cameral515/</nowiki>, RoboSense: <nowiki>https://www.robosense.ai/en/rslidar/RS-Bpearl</nowiki> , Livoxtech: <nowiki>https://www.livoxtech.com/mid-70</nowiki>).]]
The data captured by the sensors that are to be used in agricultural applications need to be reliable in all conditions on the field. In this respect the data from the L515 sensor from Intel Realsense has a lot of disadvantages in outdoor usage as it gives only some party distance data which is affected by the light and its use is therefore limited to night time conditions. A better solition is to use a true LiDAR sensor, preferably solid state that is less prone to problems caused by vibration in the long term.

==== Cameras ====
For a more indepth inspection of the growining crops, two camera systems have been evaluated. The purpose behind the visual information of the crop is to get the information of crop texture and also its health.
[[File:Image9 SL.png|center|frame|Fig. 7: Camera sensors for ASS (Source Intel: <nowiki>https://www.intelrealsense.com/lidar-camera-l515/</nowiki> , Micasense: <nowiki>https://micasense.com/rededge-mx/</nowiki>).]]
[[File:Image10 SL.png|center|frame|Fig. 8: Camera sensors for ASS data performance (Source above Intel: <nowiki>https://www.intelrealsense.com/lidarcamera-</nowiki> l515/ , below Micasense: <nowiki>https://micasense.com/rededge-mx/</nowiki>).]]
Figure 9 shows different recordings provided by the camera sensors, where the goals is to use this data to evaluate crops while growing, in the vineyard or apple orchards, to detect anomalies in the growing stage in order to identify possible health issues at early stages.

==== Inertial Motion Unit (IMU) ====
The usage of IMU sensor in semi-robotic applications is almost mandatory to receive the updates on the position by including at lesst changes in roll, pitch while traveling in the row crops and accilerations on x, y and z axis. The reason behind this is that the grounds in filed are almost never completely flat and conpensation for these discrepancies needs to be included.
[[File:Image11 SL.png|center|frame|Fig. 10: IMU sensors for ASS data performance (Source Xsense: <nowiki>https://www.xsens.com/products/mti-600-series</nowiki>).]]
The two sensors that were evalued provide GPS data GNSS and RTK positioning in combination with the inertial information. The two sensors have different performance in reliability, precision, and durability.

==== Sensor’s integration ====
As part of the pilot project a system design was made that integrates all previously presented sensors. The housing of the system is modular, so it can be update at any time of the testing phase in accordance with what is needed. The system is show on Figure 6, while Figure 7 shows how principle of how the sensors inspect the proximity.

An onboard computer unit is included to capture and postprocess all the necessary readings. The unit is based on ROS which provides the necessary data, supported by and accurate time stamp and readings of other information from the sensors (statuses, parameters, etc). The result of such postprocessing of the system is shown on Figure 8
[[File:Image12 SL.png|center|frame|Fig. 9: System design of sensor placement in ASES.]]
[[File:Image13 SL.png|center|frame|Fig. 10: ASES sensor placement simulation in the row crop environment.]]
[[File:Image14 SL.png|center|frame|Fig. 11: An example of the final digital twin, provided by the ASES.]]

=== Conclusion for Spraying Application Control System (SACS) ===
The execution of the pilot project 2 lead to a successful cooperation between the Slovenian and Italian partners. It attracted the intention of the partners from the industry on transitional level and progressed the work on the construction and utilization of the digital twin.

The maturity of the demonstrated precision agriculture technologies is at different stages of the development, and it is still being evaluated how to improve its robustness, quality and how to make it cheaper and therefore more accessible. This proved as a vital step and needs some future work planned after the completion of this project.

But most importantly, the potential of the solution was demonstrated, reaching a savings rate on PPPs between up 20% to 30% in well-shaped orchards and more then 50% in extreme cases such as ESCA infected vineyards. But this is just one of the examples how could precision agriculture technologies help the agriculture in the future. Not just that the usage of PPPs will be reduced, it will help the ecology, maximize the yields, and lower the expenses for input resources.

== '''Conclusion and recommendations''' ==

=== Beneficiaries & stakeholders of precision agriculture ===
In the chart below, we have listed all stakeholders who are in any way related to precision agriculture in Slovenia and beyond.
[[File:Image15 SL.png|center|frame|Fig. 12: Stakeholders in precision agriculture at the Slovenian level.]]

=== Indicative strategic plan ===
Based on the conducted survey and performed SWOT analysis, the following precision agriculture strategic plan is forseen. The chart is divided into seven categories that correspond to interconnected and complementary stakeholders. It identifies some of the key activities and focus areas the needed for the future development of precision agriculture.
[[File:Image16 SL.png|center|frame|Fig. 13: The key activities and focus areas for the future development of precision agriculture.]]

=== Expected results in relation to the key actions identified above ===
In the following, we set the expected results and goals in different approximate time periods. We highlighted three key stakeholders.
[[File:Image17 SL.png|center|frame|Fig. 14: A schematic representation of the composition of the operational group.]]
Expected results from the point of view of agricultural holdings
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Indicative period
!Expected results
|-
|0-1 year
| - Applying to calls for proposals related to precision agriculture (with the support of the agricultural advisory service)
- Attending training courses, obtaining appropriate documentation for the use of new technologies, purchasing new technologies
|-
|1-5 years
|<nowiki>- Implementing and using of new technologies</nowiki>

- Cooperation with agricultural advisory services and associations (demonstration to other farmers, presentations)

- Period of active reporting (important from the agency's point of view to get the necessary information)
|-
|5-10 years
|Transfer of experience (cooperation with agricultural advisory services and associations - demonstration to other farmers, examples of good practice)

- Feedback to all stakeholders (calculations, economic viability, experiences…)
|}
Expected results from the research and educational field
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Indicative period
!Expected results
|-
|0-3 year
| - Speeding up applications for calls for proposals related to precision agriculture
- Adapting the curriculum (modifying study programmes, promoting interdisciplinarity, preparing students for precision agriculture)
|-
|3-10 years
| - Implementing projects (involving stakeholders)
- Disseminating knowledge and experiences from abroad

- Evaluating and iteration of the results

- Accelerating cooperation with companies
|}
Expected results from the industry, service and product providers
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Indicative period
!Expected results
|-
|1-10 years
| - Adaptation to the needs of the characteristics of Slovenian agriculture
- Support for workshops, demonstrations

- Supporting projects

- Accelerating cooperation with research institutions
|}
Besides the expected results for the indicative time periods actions to strengthening the cooperation between individual partners (eg Industry - research / education sphere), not only quadruplex or EIP partnerships, should be introduced. One way of doing so is to introduce different activities trough the inclusion of PF into different strategic innovation partnerships (SRIPs) and wider the model to:

• Include different activities beyond networking, like offering support and advice, incubators, investors, …

• Establishment of a PF development fund (education, dissemination of results, support for startups, etc.).

• Establishment of a regional center of excellence in support of the PF.

In addition to this, the PF should be incorporated in to exisiting SRIPs, like SRIP PMiS and SRIP TOP with the following steps:

• Identification of partners in specific SRIPs.

• Preparation of a draft for SRIP PMiS and TOP to include activities related to PF.

• Contacting and inviting potential partners to prepare a strategic plan for the establishment of a new horizontal area of the PF.

• Meetings and workshops in support of the preparation of a strategic plan that includes; reasons, objectives, tasks, KPIs and milestones in support of PK within SRIP PMiS.

• Promotion, contact and cooperation with external members (eg NGOs ..)

=== Key performance indicators ===
Based on the status, multiple target values have been set to evaluate the key performace indicators in the uptake of precision agriculture technologies as show in the following table.
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!
!
!
|-
|
|
|
|-
|
|
|
|-
|
|
|
|-
|
|
|
|-
|
|
|
|-
|
|
|
|-
|
|
|
|-
|
|
|
|-
|
|
|
|}

=== Conclusion ===
Modernization of agriculture and the use of innovative technologies have given rise to new management concepts, including precision agriculture. The concept of precision agriculture is not yet fully established in Slovenia, but it could be the answer to many of the challenges we face in agriculture. In recent years, the CAP has recognized the potential of precision agriculture through various action plans, resolutions, and funding support schemes and has actively promoted its development in the EU and Slovenia. Positive trends are also promising for the coming programming period. In all the incentive programs and measures under consideration, it is evident that innovative approaches based on collaboration, knowledge building, and co-creation of solutions into practice are key in the pursuit of a successful future for successful agriculture. The large variation in farming structures in Slovenia and elsewhere in the EU poses a major challenge for the development of precision farming and its implementation on farms. As the manager or farmer is at the centre of the perception and decision to implement precision agriculture technologies, the constraints to adoption are closely linked to his/her perception and personal characteristics, while also being influenced by other factors: farm characteristics, economic factors, support from political bodies, the characteristics of the technological systems, etc.

Furthermore, farmers and cooperatives have been found to play an important role in research and innovation. Developed precision agriculture technologies need to be validated and demonstrated in practice in various agricultural activities and geographical areas of farms. Technologies need to be developed or adapted to assess economic benefits, considering the geographical region, production methods and socio-economic variability, in collaboration with farmers, industry and research institutions. In addition, the technologies must be easy to use, affordable and robust, and designed for both small and medium-sized farms. Regional training and awareness-raising is also important for implementing these technologies, where educational institutions, non-profit organizations, farms and advisory services play an important role.

File:Image17 SL.png

2022-07-18T13:49:40Z

Marek:

Fig. 14: A schematic representation of the composition of the operational group.

File:Image16 SL.png

2022-07-18T13:48:35Z

Marek:

Fig. 13: The key activities and focus areas for the future development of precision agriculture.

File:Image15 SL.png

2022-07-18T13:47:19Z

Marek:

Fig. 12: Stakeholders in precision agriculture at the Slovenian level.

File:Image14 SL.png

2022-07-18T13:45:05Z

Marek:

Fig. 11: An example of the final digital twin, provided by the ASES.

File:Image13 SL.png

2022-07-18T13:44:09Z

Marek:

Fig. 10: ASES sensor placement simulation in the row crop environment.

File:Image12 SL.png

2022-07-18T13:43:21Z

Marek:

Fig. 9: System design of sensor placement in ASES.
Fig.

File:Image11 SL.png

2022-07-18T13:39:43Z

Marek:

Fig. 10: IMU sensors for ASS data performance (Source Xsense: https://www.xsens.com/products/mti-600-series).

File:Image10 SL.png

2022-07-18T13:38:05Z

Marek:

Fig. 8: Camera sensors for ASS data performance (Source above Intel: https://www.intelrealsense.com/lidarcamera- l515/ , below Micasense: https://micasense.com/rededge-mx/).

File:Image9 SL.png

2022-07-18T13:36:40Z

Marek:

Fig. 7: Camera sensors for ASS (Source Intel: https://www.intelrealsense.com/lidar-camera-l515/ , Micasense: https://micasense.com/rededge-mx/).

File:Image8 SL.png

2022-07-18T13:34:38Z

Marek:

Fig. 6: Distance sensors for ASS data performance (Source Intel: https://www.intelrealsense.com/lidar-cameral515/, , RoboSense: https://www.robosense.ai/en/rslidar/RS-Bpearl , Livoxtech: https://www.livoxtech.com/mid-70).

REGIONAL ACTION PLAN SLOVENIA

2022-07-18T13:32:15Z

Marek: /* Regional policy actions about PF */

File:Image7 SL.png

2022-07-18T13:22:06Z

Marek:

Fig. 5: Distance sensors for ASS (Source Intel: https://www.intelrealsense.com/lidar-cameral515/, RoboSense: https://www.robosense.ai/en/rslidar/RS-Bpearl , Livoxtech: https://www.livoxtech.com/mid-70).

File:Image6 SL.png

2022-07-18T13:19:38Z

Marek:

Fig. 4: Render of the system (left) and its actual implementation on the state-of-the-art mist blower.

File:Image5 SL.png

2022-07-18T13:17:37Z

Marek:

Fig. 3: Visualization of the processing part, LEFT: FieldSLAM processing picture, RIGHT: reconstruction of canopy tree trunks and actuators (nozzles) on the sides (5 left, 5 right), where white=nozzle off, black=nozzle on.

REGIONAL ACTION PLAN SLOVENIA

2022-07-18T13:00:19Z

Marek: /* SWOT analysis of precision agriculture in Slovenia */

REGIONAL ACTION PLAN SLOVENIA

2022-07-18T11:27:56Z

Marek: /* Analysis of the factors impacting on the adoption or non-adoption of precision agriculture technologies */

D.T3.1.5 UM, AE-ROBO May 2022

'''[https://wiki.precision-farm40.com/images/2/2b/D-T3.1.5-Regional_action_plan_-_SLO.pdf PDF version you can download here.]'''

== Precision agriculture ==
Precision agriculture (PA), through the use of innovative technologies, is a farm management concept that can be used to increase long-term efficiency, manage uncontrolled change and reduce negative impacts on the environment. PA uses new technologies and innovations, combined with site-specific agronomic expertise. Pa maximizes production efficiency and increases the quality of agricultural produce without increasing environmental burdens. A is defined as an integrated approach to agriculture, which is not only synonymous with precision agriculture technologies (PATs) but is also a systems approach to the whole agricultural production. PA has been developed through the expertise of different disciplines.

The main (overarching) objective is to reduce decision uncertainty in agricultural work processes by focusing on better understanding users and managing uncontrolled change. Suppose variability in the field is a significant source of uncertainty. In that case, it is essential to manage appropriate PA processes that can respond to variable factors at the level of spatial and temporal distribution.

The formation of the PA cycle is further defined by Comparetti (2011), who defines PA methods in the following stages (shown in the following diagram):

* Data collection (measurement of spatially variable soil, crop, or yield parameters within the field and monitoring of local weather conditions)
* Interpretation (integration and mapping of input/output applications with different models)
* Application (application of variable inputs based on the results of data processing)
[[File:Image1 SL2.png|center|frame|Fig 1: The precision agriculture cycle.]]
Precision agriculture technologies, through sophisticated analysis of production resources, create significant opportunities to improve the efficiency of farming operations while contributing to solutions for sustainable agriculture and the environment. The availability of new technologies - farm machinery automation, geospatial tools, sensor and information systems, and others - enables precision farm management. In addition to generating accurate and integrated data sources needed for spatial variability decisions, PATs contribute to data diagnostics that link mapped field locations to the most appropriate decisions on sowing, fertilizer inputs, irrigation, crop protection products, crops, etc. They make it easier to manage inventories and account for costs by automatically recording input usage and tracking data

There is no single typology of PATs. However, it can be defined as follows.

* GPS (global positioning system)
* Geographic information system (GIS)
* Sensor systems
* Variable rate technology (VRT)
* Yield mapping (YM)
* IoT (Internet of things)

In the diagram below, we have outlined some of the basic components of precision agriculture technologies.
[[File:Image.png|center|frame|Fig. 2: The basic components of precision agriculture technologies.]]
Precision agriculture has enjoyed a remarkable expansion and popularity in some parts of the world, especially where more intensive farming practices are present. Farms use advanced machinery in a wide range of agricultural sectors. The North American market plays a leading role in PA. The European, Asian, and South American markets also have a significant share. Europe's innovative potential in PA is great and an important lever for agricultural prosperity. In Europe, precision agriculture market was worth USD 2.21 billion in 2021 and projected to grow at a CAGR of 13.2%, to reach USD 3.18 billion by 2026.

=== Characteristics of Slovenian agriculture ===
Slovenia is one of Europe's smaller countries, both in terms of land area and population. According to the OECD typology, Slovenia has intermediate (27.2%) and rural regions (72.8%). More than half of Slovenia's land territory is covered by forests, and 34% of its land area is predominantly agricultural. Slovenia is characterized by a dispersed and sparse population and a large number of small settlements. In Slovenia, agriculture with hunting, forestry and fishing contributes 2.3% (2019) to total value-added and 6.9% (2019) to full employment. The share of employment in agriculture is a declining trend and thus decreases year on year.

In Slovenia, decreasing the number of agricultural holdings continues, while the average size of a farming holding increases yearly. On average, a large agricultural holding in Slovenia cultivates 7.0 ha of agricultural land and manages an average of 5.6 ha of forest. Compared to the EU-28, Slovenia still has a very unfavorable size structure of agricultural holdings. The average age of farm owner (manager agricultural holding) in Slovenia amounted to 57 years (2016), which indicates a markedly unfavorable age structure in agriculture. In 2019, 745 companies were operating in the food processing industry, employing 14,627 people. Value-added was EUR 604 million and value-added per employee was EUR 41,270 EUR. Grassland is the most predominant area (84%). Then arable (9%), orchards (intensive and extensive - 4%), vineyards (1.4%), and vegetables (0.7%).

Income in Slovenian agriculture is among the lowest in the EU and represents only around 20% of comparable income in the whole economy. Non-agricultural sources of income are decisive for farming on low-income farms, which can represent a significant part of the income on small farms. Such a poor income situation is the unfavorable structure of Slovenian agriculture with an average of small farms, a large share of land in LFAs, a large percentage of absolute grassland, a large share of non-specialized and self-sufficient farms. Existing processes of Slovenian restructuring agriculture in the direction of increasing income are too slow. Subsidies (direct and LFA payments) are a significant factor in Slovenia, at least partly improving the lower-income situation. Specific agricultural sectors (arable crops, other permanent crops, mixed farming, other grazing livestock), economic farm size (up to EUR 50,000 standard income), and farm location (in LFAs) would generate negative value-added if they did not receive subsidies. Uncertainty about incomes and low productivity leads farms to stagnate investment and, in the long term, to lose competitiveness. Instability is a significant problem in Slovenian agriculture. Fluctuations in prices and/or agricultural volumes can cause liquidity problems for farmers. Uncertainty about incomes and low productivity leads farms to stagnate investment and, in the long term, to lose competitiveness. Uncertainty also causes stagnation or even contraction of agricultural production.

Multiple factors affect the competitiveness and productivity of Slovenian farms; 73.7 % of farms are located in less-favored areas (of which 73.3% - are mountain areas, 10.8% - are areas with natural handicaps, 15.9% - specific constraints), climate change (storms, frost, drought, floods, strong wind, ...) and role of technology (state of machinery/equipment, digitalization, knowledge and innovations in relation to precision agriculture technologies).

There is a strong divide between productivity indicators between EU-27 countries and Slovenia; on average, the divide in EU countries is caused by the introduction of new technologies that substitute the workload. In Slovenia majority of the work is done by manual labour (avg. size 7 ha), and lacking new technology. Farms located in mountain areas face special challenges, shorter vegetation periods and lower income per farmland. Due to the limitations, these farms primarily focus on animal production. An additional factor that limits the possibilities on these farms are the inclinations of farmland that require expensive special-purpose machinery.

=== Promoting knowledge, innovation, and digitalisation in agriculture in Slovenia ===
There are several research and training institutions working in the field of Slovenian agriculture and forestry institutions. Public services have been working for decades for the advancement of agriculture and forestry, for better performance of professional tasks in agriculture (livestock farming, crop production, forestry, genetic). Access to formal as well as non-formal education is good. Identified needs and necessary actions in this area:

* Strengthening capacity building and knowledge transfer.
* Strengthening cooperation between the research sphere, consultants, and end-users.
* Strengthening research and development, innovation in agriculture, forestry, and food.
* Retrieved from agricultural advice.
* Digitalisation in agriculture, food, forestry, and rural areas.
* Strengthening digital competences.

=== Analysis of the factors impacting on the adoption or non-adoption of precision agriculture technologies ===
The awareness and implementation of new technologies in agriculture, which also includes PA, is reflected in numerous factors in a specific smaller area, such as on a farm, at national or even international level. Based on the literature reviewed, the table below shows the most influential factors.
{| class="wikitable"
|+
|'''Factor'''
|'''Description'''
|-
|The personality and family structure of the farm owner
|Age, education, computer usage, skills
|-
|Features of the farm
|Farm size, farm type, ownership, specialization
|-
|Social interactions
|Local cultures, local cooperation, human relations – attitude of trusted friends
|-
|Economic factors
|Return on investment time, the possibility of rental technologies, technology costs
|-
|Policy support
|Legislation, measures, strategic plans, vision
|-
|Supporting institutions and firms
|Numbers of supporting institutions and firms
|-
|Multidisciplinary cooperation
|Active participation of all stakeholders in PA
|-
|Features of the technology
|Availability of technologies, easiness of use, systems compatibility
|}

=== SWOT analysis of precision agriculture in Slovenia ===
With the help of the SWOT analysis, we summarized the current situation and guidelines for the development of precision agriculture in Slovenia in four aspects (advantages, opportunities, dangers, shortcomings). The purpose of the analysis is primarily to assist decision-makers in strategic decisions regarding precision agriculture in the future and to assist in further research in this area. The SWOT analysis included summaries of the state of EU and Slovenian policy measures, characteristics, and structure of Slovenian agriculture, as well as the results of a survey obtained in this project (Transfarm 4.0) on the topic of precision agriculture.

REGIONAL ACTION PLAN SLOVENIA

2022-07-18T11:23:49Z

Marek:

File:Image.png

2022-07-18T11:18:27Z

Marek:

Fig. 2: The basic components of precision agriculture technologies.

File:Image1 SL2.png

2022-07-18T11:16:02Z

Marek:

Fig 1: The precision agriculture cycle.

REGIONAL ACTION PLAN TO TRANSFORM THE REGIONAL INDUSTRIAL SPECIALIZATION IN S3 DRIVING FORCE

2022-07-18T11:02:30Z

Marek: Created page with "CREA, T2i – Veneto Region - Italy June 2022 '''[https://wiki.precision-farm40.com/images/4/42/D.T3.1.5_Regional_Action_Plan_Italy_Crea_T2I.pdf PDF version you can download here.]''' == Introduction – the national guidelines on precision agriculture == Precision Agriculture is currently relieving its third favourable moment since its first appearance in the second half of the 90’s. This is possible thanks to the reduction of the costs of the available technologie..."

CREA, T2i – Veneto Region - Italy

June 2022

'''[https://wiki.precision-farm40.com/images/4/42/D.T3.1.5_Regional_Action_Plan_Italy_Crea_T2I.pdf PDF version you can download here.]'''

== Introduction – the national guidelines on precision agriculture ==
Precision Agriculture is currently relieving its third favourable moment since its first appearance in the second half of the 90’s. This is possible thanks to the reduction of the costs of the available technologies and thanks to the growing involvement of manufacturers.

The possibility of intervening with the right means, at the right time, in the right place, with the recommended dosage has always fascinated all members of the supply chain, both in low-impact conventional agriculture and in organic farming. However, there are still several aspects that slow down its diffusion and affirmation on a large scale.

File:D.T3.1.5 Regional Action Plan Italy Crea T2I.pdf

2022-07-18T10:59:56Z

Marek:

REGIONAL ACTION PLAN TO TRANSFORM THE REGIONAL INDUSTRIAL SPECIALIZATION IN PF IN S3 DRIVING FORCE

2022-07-18T10:59:30Z

Marek:

REGIONAL ACTION PLAN TO TRANSFORM THE REGIONAL INDUSTRIAL SPECIALIZATION IN PF IN S3 DRIVING FORCE

2022-07-18T10:58:32Z

Marek: Created page with "D.T3.1.5 MATE PP6 - Hungary Version 1 09.06.2022 '''[https://wiki.precision-farm40.com/images/a/af/Transfarm4.0_D.T3.1.5_Regional_action_plan_PP6_Hungary.pdf PDF version you can download here.]''' == Introduction - the national guidelines on Precision Agriculture =="

File:Transfarm4.0 D.T3.1.5 Regional action plan PP6 Hungary.pdf

2022-07-18T10:58:09Z

Marek:

File:Image2 SL.png

2022-07-14T12:37:40Z

Marek:

Fig. 2: The basic components of precision agriculture technologies.

File:Image1 SL.png

2022-07-14T12:35:38Z

Marek:

Fig 1: The precision agriculture cycle.

REGIONAL ACTION PLAN SLOVENIA

2022-07-14T12:34:27Z

Marek: Created page with "D.T3.1.5 UM, AE-ROBO May 2022 '''[https://wiki.precision-farm40.com/images/2/2b/D-T3.1.5-Regional_action_plan_-_SLO.pdf PDF version you can download here.]''' == Precision agriculture == Precision agriculture (PA), through the use of innovative technologies, is a farm management concept that can be used to increase long-term efficiency, manage uncontrolled change and reduce negative impacts on the environment. PA uses new technologies and innovations, combined with sit..."

File:D-T3.1.5-Regional action plan - SLO.pdf

2022-07-14T12:34:03Z

Marek:

REGIONAL ACTION PLAN BIELSKO-BIAŁA, SILESIAN VOIVODESHIP

2022-07-14T12:30:13Z

Marek:

D.T3.1.5 ARR SA

'''[https://wiki.precision-farm40.com/images/9/95/AT_3.1.5_regional_action_plan_ARR_SA_eng_FIN.pdf PDF version you can download here].'''

== '''INDICE''' ==

* Introduction - the national approach on Precision Agriculture
* Regional Diagnosis of Silesian Voivodeship
* Vision of the rural areas development of the Silesian Voivodeship
* Strategy for the rural development of Silesian Voivodeship 2030
* Possible action for then considerations and implementation.
* Financial framework: European Funds Silesian Voivodeship 2021-2027
* Lessons learned, conclusions and recommendations for policy makers

== '''Introduction - the national approach on Precision Agriculture''' ==
The agricultural sector is currently facing major challenges to feed a growing world population in a sustainable way, whilst dealing with major crises such as climate change and resource depletion. At the same time there are major technological advances in the fields of robotics, nanotechnology, gene technology, artificial intelligence and machine learning, and energy generation, amongst many others.

There are many activities and strategied being implemented on the national level which are strictly related tot he agricultural and food production sector. However in Silesia Voivodeship there are no direct references in regional strategies and documents if we consider Precision Farming as such.

=== National Level: ===
'''The Strategy for Responsible Development''' for the period up to 2020 (including the perspective up to 2030) – SRD – was adopted by the Council of Ministers on 14th February 2017. It is an applicable and key document the Polish State in the field of the medium- and long-term economic policy. The document sets the goals fort he future development:

'''Specific objective I - Sustainable economic growth increasingly driven by knowledge, data and organizational excellence'''

'''“…Small and medium-sized enterprises''' are the basis of the Polish economy and this is why they should be provided with optimal conditions for development. Modern instruments for support of enterprises will be introduced and barriers to the development for entrepreneurship will be diminished, structural transformations will be supported in order to enhance the competitiveness of Polish farmers and agri-food producers…”

One of the 10 main strategic sector tofocus on is:

'''3) the sector of specialist telecommunication and information technologies (e.g. fintech, machine and building automation, cybersecurity, computer games or bioinformatics)'''

Which also includes agei sector and food production and processing.

More specific approach is defined in the document called “'''Strategy for Sustainalbe Development of the Rural areas, Agriculture and Fisheries 2030'''” that defines strategic goals:

==== Direction of intervention: I.2 Food quality and safety ====
Achieving and maintaining a high level of quality and safety of agri-food products based on domestic raw materials and products requires the maintenance of the highest level of scientific and research infrastructure, control system, agricultural and fishery production base.

==== Horizontal measures: ====
1.2.1. Supporting the production and distribution of high quality and innovative products, including traditional, regional and ecological ones - implemented also through sector development projects;

==== Direction of intervention: I.3 Development of innovation, digitalization and Industry 4.0. in the agri-food sector ====
The entities of the agri-food sector should participate in the next industrial revolution, which is determined by innovations (product, process, organizational, marketing), digitalization, satellite technologies, the Internet of things and Industry 4.0, which is a condition for maintaining and strengthening the international competitiveness of this sector. The development of innovative data processing technologies must take into account resilience to cyber threats and increased protection of information, in particular in the context of Big Data and the collection of data from a large number of geographically dispersed sensors (Internet of Things), while at the same time meeting the growing needs for high mobility of data collection, analysis and visualization systems. ICT has the potential to transform agriculture in many ways, including: the use of data from smart sensors in, e.g., weather conditions, soil quality, crop progress, or cattle health, to, among other things, track the overall health of the farm, the productivity of the people employed or the equipment (farm machinery) and solutions used, better control of internal processes by being able to predict the outcome of production, cost management and waste reduction in - through increased control over production, increased business efficiency - through process automation, control over the production process and maintaining higher standards in crop quality and growth capacity - through automation.

An increase in the number of active small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as agricultural and fisheries farms, implementing innovations and with higher efficiency and profitability than before, will avoid the middle-income trap and the average-product trap.

New technologies developed as a result of scientific research will also serve the sector's resilience to increased production and market risks and will facilitate reconciling the need for productivity growth with the need to meet societal expectations in terms of environmental resource protection, climate and provision of other public services.

===== Horizontal measures: =====
1.3.1. creation and implementation of innovative solutions in agriculture and agri-food processing sector, development of innovative agricultural products;

1.3.2. use of ICT in modernisation processes of the agri-food sector 1.3.3. implementation of research projects (national and international) oriented towards innovative solutions in the agrifood sector

1.3.4. implementation of a research and innovation management system in the scientific and research facilities of the agrifood sector, which can also be implemented in other sectors of the economy

1.3.5. dissemination and implementation of innovations in agriculture and increase of demand for innovations among producers and agri-food processing

1.3.6. stimulation of product innovativeness in domestic agriculture and agri-food industry aimed at satisfying the needs resulting from demographic processes taking place in the society and the necessity to prevent civilization diseases.

===== Complementary measures: =====
1.3.7. modernisation in agriculture and fisheries using the possibility of adapting the latest technologies, including inter alia automation, digitalisation, breeding and development of bio-economy;

1.3.8. Creation and implementation of innovative applications and open ICT platforms, which make it possible to provide remote advice, support agricultural producers or encourage users to cooperate actively (including knowledge exchange);

1.3.9. Digitalization in the field of agricultural policy instruments implementation facilitating development and dissemination of tools for optimization of production processes in farms;

1.3.10. implementation of a research programme for innovation (including from the EU framework programme) taking into account the specific nature of Polish agri-food sector (inter alia predominance of small and medium-sized entities, climate conditions) and strategic directions of animal and plant breeding, taking into account climate changes, resistance to harmful organisms or market requirements

1.3.11. Integration of the activities of science, education and development sector (including, among others, research institutes, agricultural universities and scientific units);

1.3.12. Stronger cooperation of the R&D sector with the production and processing sector, inter alia, through new forms of cooperation (e.g. operational groups for innovation of the EIP);

1.3.13. Improving competences and skills related to agricultural production and promotion and dissemination of knowledge concerning innovative solutions in the agri-food sector;

1.3.14. transfer of knowledge from the scientific sector concerning innovative solutions for reducing the negative impact of the fisheries sector on the environment, improving the condition of the environment and living resources

1.3.15. to increase the use of digital technologies in the framework of control and enforcement of the CFP (the use of drones in the control of marine fisheries, the use of satellite techniques for the measurement of breeding ponds)

1.3.16. Develop collaboration between farms and actors along the market chain, e.g. in the form of clusters, parks or technology platforms;

==== Direction of intervention: III.3 Increase of skills and competences of rural inhabitants ====
Skills and competences of inhabitants of rural areas will determine the possibility of taking advantage of new development opportunities connected with technological progress, innovations, market globalization, new value chains, including in the scope of bio-economy. They will also condition their competitiveness on rural and urban labour markets, determining their ability to take advantage of civilization progress.

===== Horizontal measures: =====
3.3.1. development of training services addressed to employees through modernisation of the offer of competence training (adapted to the needs reported by employees and employers), as well as the tools for co-financing a system of improving professional competences;

3.3.2. development of competence system concerning intergenerational succession for owners of family companies and craftsmen;

3.3.3. development of digital competencies - support in the area of education, learning, lifelong learning, flexible adjustment to individual needs of citizens, support addressed to groups with different levels of digital competencies, with particular emphasis on activities aimed at digital inclusion;

3.3.4. conducting educational and information campaigns for the dissemination of benefits from the use of digital technologies.

===== Complementary actions =====
3.3.5. raising the level of knowledge and acquiring new skills, which should translate into an increase in human capital and in the level of employment and entrepreneurship among the inhabitants of rural areas;

3.3.6. implementing lifelong learning policies aimed at facilitating transitions between jobs, up-skilling, entering or reentering the labour market (broad approach to learning, opening up learning for all, partnership for lifelong learning, open approach to qualifications, facilitating access to new careers, investing efficiently in learning)

3.3.7. strengthening the programme in the education of leaders in public and social life, including a system for identifying leaders in society and supporting their development, upgrading the skills and professional qualifications of those working in the agri-food sector and upgrading ICT and business skills;

3.3.8. Dissemination (both in the formal and non-formal education system) of knowledge on social economy;

3.3.9. Improving the skills of adults and their participation in education (including low-skilled persons), inter alia, through strengthening educational and vocational counselling, development of flexible community outlets for adults (especially in rural areas and small towns), promotion of other forms of adult learning (learning by doing, workplace learning and competence development through implementation of social activities), promotion of the benefits of lifelong learning and benefits of inclusion in the digital space, allowing to save time, money, effort and more efficient operation in various areas of life;

=== Regional Diagnosis of Silesian Voivodeship ===
The Silesian Voivodeship is a region located in the southern part of Poland, in the basin of the three largest Polish rivers: the Vistula, the Oder and the Warta. It neighbors on the Opolskie, Łódź, Świętokrzyskie and Małopolskie Voivodships and in the south it borders on the Moravian-Silesian Region in the Czech Republic and the Žilina Region in the Slovak Republic. Geographically, the area is characterized by a diversified geological structure and varied geographical and natural relief. There are mainly mountains - the Silesian, the Żywiec and the Little Beskids, uplands such as the Silesian Upland and the Krakow-Częstochowa Upland, intermediate areas such as the Silesian Foothills and the Rybnik Plateau, and lowland, forested areas of the Racibórz Basin, the Pszczyna Valley and the Lower Vistula Valley. The area of the voivodeship covers 12,333 km2 (urban area: 3,790 km2, rural area: 8,543 km2), which accounts for almost 4% of the country's area.

Silesia is one of the economically (12.4% of GDP) and demographically (almost 4.6 million people) strongest regions in Poland. It is the largest urbanized area in Central and Eastern Europe, with the highest average national population density and urban population ratio - 77%.

Due to its specificity and high industrialization, the Silesian Voivodeship shows the lowest share of agriculture in creating gross added value. This situation may slightly improve in the coming years.

The low share of agriculture in the creation of gross value added in the Silesian Voivodeship is associated with a large share of small and very small farms, which contributes to the deagrarianisation of agricultural production space. These processes are particularly visible in urban agglomerations and their adjacent areas.

The age structure of the population in the Silesia Voivodeship shows that the proportion of people in the post-working age will be growing, both in towns and in rural areas. This problem will concern rural areas to a much greater extent, because the migration of people in the post-working age from cities to rural areas is noticeable, which, together with the migration of people in the working age from rural areas to cities, additionally increases this percentage.

Silesian voivodship is a voivodship with a low unemployment rate - 2nd place in the ranking of voivodships with the lowest unemployment rate, with a decreasing tendency.

Most of the unemployed in Śląskie voivodship live in towns, i.e. 78%, and only 22% live in villages. Women constituted more than a half of the rural unemployed subpopulation.

The climate of the Silesian Voivodeship, like that of the whole of Poland, is characterised by transitions between a moderate maritime and land climate. Due to soil conditions and location, there is a high risk of drought in agriculture.
[[File:Image1 PL.png|center|frame|Agri land in ha in (2000 blue, 2006 red, 2030 green)]]
According to the forecast, the area of land designated for non-agricultural purposes (built-up and urbanised) is expected to increase between 2006 and 2030 by 38%, from 161 thousand ha to 223 thousand ha. At the same time, along with increasing forestation, this will result in a 16% decrease in the area of agricultural land - from 621 thousand ha to 524 thousand hectars.
[[File:Image2 PL.png|center|frameless|1131x1131px]]
Arable land constituted on average 64.9% of the agricultural land in the voivodship (from 39% in the Bielsko subregion to 77% in the Rybnik subregion). The Bielsko-Biała subregion was characterised by the highest share of permanent grassland in the voivodship (26% of agricultural land), and the lowest share of grassland was in the Rybnik subregion - 11%.

==== Crop production. ====
The dominant position in the structure of crops in the region was occupied by cereals. They constituted 78% of all crops in the region, with a small differentiation in subregions. Only in the Rybnik subregion their share was lower (72%). The share of cereals in the crops structure in the voivodship exceeded the limits of rational crop rotation and management in the conditions of sustainable development. There was a slight increase in the area of industrial crops, which in 2010 accounted for only 8% of the sown area.

==== Agri-food processing. ====
In the Silesia Voivodeship there is a well-developed processing network of products manufactured in rural areas. There is a constant tendency to diversify the range of food products with increasing consumption of processed goods and quality requirements. In Silesia the largest number of producers of meat products, including ready-made meat meals - 203, followed by establishments cutting fresh beef - 182, producers of minced meat and raw meat products - 104, producers of processed or processed fishery products - 14 and 6 producers of dairy products (including ice cream).

==== Fisheries in the Śląskie Voivodship. ====
Fishing in the Silesian Voivodeship has a centuries-old tradition. At the turn of the 14th-15th centuries, at the junction of Silesia and Lesser Poland there was one of the two largest centres of pond fishery in Poland - the Rybnik-Oświęcim center. In the following centuries pond farming developed in the whole Silesian voivodship. Currently, most fish farms are located in the southern part of the region, although even in the north there are mainly trout farms. According to data from RRW-22 forms, collected by the Institute of Inland Fisheries in Olsztyn, there are 220 fish farms in the province with a total area of 5,879.2 ha.

==== Livestock production ====
The following trends are being observed: an increase in the number of cattle caused by the unsatisfied and growing demand for milk and dairy products with the concentration of production in large farms and in animal husbandry,especially after the abolition of milk quota, a slow increase in the stock of pigs and poultry - the demand for meat will grow more slowly, a general decrease in the number of horses with an increase in the stock for recreational purposes, the restocking of sheep mainly in Podbeskidzie and Jura Krakowsko- częstochowska.

==== Diagnosis smmary: ====
1.In our province there is a significant share of small farms, in which subsistence farming prevails. The most characteristic feature of agriculture in the region as a whole is the fragmented ownership of farms and land, which means that in many regions there is an anachronistic system, which in market economy conditions is inefficient and difficult to continue functioning. It is necessary to work on further consolidation of agricultural land in the province.

2. Cereals occupy the dominant position in the sowing structure. Industrial plants constitute only 6.7% of the sown area.

3. The Silesian Voivodeship is characterised by low and diversified animal density in subregions and farm area groups. However, a very high number of poultry in farm animal husbandry is distinguished.

4. Agriculture in many rural communes still constitutes an important source of income for the population. The diversification of the rural economy may occur faster only with greater involvement of non-farm economic entities. Small

farms will be forced to lease their land for economic reasons.

5. The growth of rural households in our voivodship was one of the highest in the country. Revenues from various forms of leisure and rural tourism, including agritourism, begin to play an important and increasingly important role in the sources of income of rural households.

6. Reconstruction of our agriculture means, inter alia, modernization of technical infrastructure of farms. Thanks to investments the number of modern specialist machines will systematically increase.

7. Animal production technology requires an increasing scale of production and financial outlays. Further development of animal farms will be confronted with barriers concerning environmental protection and neighbourhood.

8. In the Silesia Voivodeship, farms in the Jura Krakowsko-Częstochowska and Podbeskidzie regions are predestined for organic farming because of their small size and touristic attractiveness. The development of organic farms (new proecological technologies) should also be stimulated and supported by local authorities, especially in environmentally valuable areas.

9. The Silesia Voivodeship belongs to the regions with the biggest emission of dust and gas pollutants in Poland. The process of establishing industrial and energetic crops should be promoted on the most polluted areas. A key role in introducing environmentally friendly technologies is played by the system of state agricultural advisory, which disseminates and implements the principles included in the "Code of Good Agricultural Practice".

10. A small percentage of farmers has a chance of faster development of their holding through supporting investment undertakings with national and EU aid. A significant part of the remaining farms will perform the role of nature conservation, often running recreational and agritourism farms and will not be able to invest and generate income at a level guaranteeing economic viability.

11. In the Silesia Voivodeship, the highest economic viability is demonstrated by farms classified as agricultural types: horticultural crops and breeding of animals fed with concentrated feed.

12. In the Province of Silesia more attention should be paid to implementation of technological and innovative progress in plant and animal production, extension and modernisation of rural infrastructure, and increasing the share of processed products in the commodity production structure. It is necessary to further develop food industry in the context of conditions and specifications of the Silesia Voivodeship.

13. Improvement of quality of life in rural areas of Silesia requires financial support using for this purpose financial means from the state budget and granted within the EU aid. Structural changes, farms modernization and as a consequence the development of rural areas in Silesia should be co-financed from farmers own incomes which, however, have to be on a proper level, much higher than at present.

== '''Regional Level:''' ==

=== Vision of the rural areas development of the Silesian Voivodeship ===
<nowiki>*</nowiki>(Śląskie Strategia Rozwoju Obszarów Wiejskich do roku 2030)

Rural areas of the Silesian Voivodeship in the perspective of 2030 will be characterized by the following positive features:

1. competitive, diversified economic structure developing around traditional economic activities for rural areas, in particular agriculture and food production; among strong specialisations of rural areas in the Silesian Voivodeship the leading role is played by modern agriculture developing in connection with processing activity, with ecological activity and special divisions of agricultural production; various types of tourism - including agrotourism, active, educational, spa, weekend, ecotourism - in which values of rural areas are combined with modern technologies, various complementary economic activities are developed and innovative use of the potential of agricultural and forest farms is made;

2. developing new economy sectors based on the use of unique values of rural areas, including natural and cultural ones, while maintaining their quality and innovations based on cooperation with cities: renewable energy production; care and rehabilitation services related to demographic changes; service and production activities whose competitiveness is based on access to clean natural environment;

3. Developing: scientific and research activities in ecology, agriculture, forestry, ethnography and other fields that are closely related to the activities and potentials characteristic of rural areas;

4. exceptional living conditions resulting from positive relationships between residents, the quality of the natural environment, a high sense of security, accessibility to services and amenities in rural areas, and accessibility to higherlevel services in easily accessible urban areas;

5. consolidated local communities nurturing their cultural and natural heritage and at the same time open to the future and creative, involved in the adoption and implementation of local policies;

6. specific, attractive landscape resulting from the high quality of the natural environment, well-preserved tangible cultural heritage, pro-ecological attitudes of the residents and consistent spatial planning;

7. well-developed internal cooperation networks, including strong relations between farms, broad intersectoral cooperation, structures and institutions combining the potentials of various entities, as well as projects created and implemented in partnership;

8. strong relations with cities contributing to knowledge and technology transfer, connecting producers with consumers, complementary use of potential in cities and rural areas;

9. communication openness to the surroundings, the components of which are: developed transport infrastructure, convenient connections by public transport, availability of ICT networks;

10. respecting the principles of sustainable and balanced development manifested by rational space management, full infrastructural equipment limiting anthropopressive phenomena, as well as high level of residents' responsibility for the natural and cultural heritage.

=== Strategy for the rural development of Silesian Voivodeship 2030 ===
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Strategic goals
!Specific goals
!Actions
|-
|A1. High competitiveness agricultural products of the region and development of agriculture using local environmental conditions.
|K.1.Increasing the profitability of agricultural roduction.
K.2.Improvement of farm structure.

K.3.Synergic development of agriculture and processing.

K.4.Development of agricultural specialisation - development of farms in niche directions of production.

K.5. Development of ecological agriculture and increasing competitiveness of ecological products.

K.6. Improving of cultivation and breeding culture.

K.7. Development of fishery and activities in fishery environment.

K.8.Finding new markets for agricultural products.

K.9.Increasing the use of research and innovation activities for agricultural development.

K.10.Adaptation of agricultural production to climate change.
|'''Information and cooperation networks'''
P1. Forum for information exchange and cooperation integrating institutions operating in rural areas.

P2. Organizing trans-regional cooperation aimed at development of agricultural specialization of the voivodship.

P3. Information, educational and organisational actions favouring consolidation

P4. Creating networks of producer-processor-consumer relations in the region.

P6. Study visits enabling exchange of experience and promotion of good practices in farm development.

P8. Various forms of training addressed to farmers and processors.

'''Production and marketing'''

P11.Setting up of agro-processing incubators oriented towards innovative companies and companies developing local products.
|-
|A3. Growing potential for the rural area economy to generate and absorb innovation.
|K.16. Implementation of innovative solutions in agriculture, forestry, ecology based on results of experiences of scientific and R&D institutions.
K.17. Increasing attractiveness of rural areas for companies with high innovation potential.

K.18. Using the potential of immigrant population for development of innovative activity of rural areas
|'''Information and networking'''
P30.Exchange of experience with regions and centers of high of innovation.

P31.Bank of good innovative practices implemented in the region.

P32.Database of innovation leaders.

'''Education'''

P33.Educational projects supporting creativity and innovativeness of inhabitants of rural areas.

P34.Contests on innovative themes.

P35.Supporting the development of modern vocational education with agricultural profile.

'''Innovation and technology'''

P36.Promoting assets in rural areas of the Silesia Voivodeship for innovative activities - natural conditions, communication links with agglomerations.

P37.Creation of new technologies based on the functioning of operational groups of the European Innovation Partnerships (EIP).
|-
|A5. Availability of amenities that enhance the business attractiveness of the rural area.
|K.22. Improvement of skills and qualifications of inhabitants (trainings, courses).
K.23. Implementation of pro-investment policy encouraging investors to invest capital in rural areas.
|'''Information'''
P43. Implementation of local and supralocal systems in the promotion of investment advantages and investor services in rural areas. rural areas.

'''Education'''

P44. Programmes supporting the development of vocational and entrepreneurial competencies of children and youth in rural areas.

P45. Trainings and courses supporting vocational retraining of inhabitants of rural areas.
|-
|B.1. Availability of public services and technical infrastructure enabling the development of residents in rural areas.
|K.26. Ensure a high level of education in schools at various levels.
|'''Education'''
P49.Educational programs in schools that promote the attractiveness of the rural area and strengthen the local identity of children and youth.
|}

==== Possible action for the considerations and implementation. ====

===== Setting up a Communication Platform for stakeholders =====
National Agricultural Advisory Network in Poland (Ośrodki Doradztwa Rolniczego w Polsce), Lokalne Grupy Działalnia, Agency for Restructurisation and Modernization of Agriculture.

The system of agriculture support in Poland is based on institutions such as Agricultural Advisory Centres and the Agency for Restructuring and Modernisation of Agriculture. These centers deal with a wide range of support for agriculture, transfer of knowledge, training, but also assist in the distribution of funds and subsidies under national and EU programs.
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!
!Promotion of the cooperation
|-
|Goal
|Effective communication of the sectoral actors
|-
|
|'''Setting up a cooperation and information exchange platform'''
|-
|activities
|1. inventory of offers (research institutions and companies) in the scope of performing commissioned and consortium R&D works.
2. Launching a virtual cooperation exchange: offers of research institutions, research offers of companies, proposals of research subjects (including engineering and bachelor's theses, etc.

3. making the commercial offer of research activities more attractive - internal workshops/training to increase the commercialization potential.

4. organization of quarterly networking meetings ("bussines to science") in field thematic groups.

5. creation of a team of knowledge and innovation relays, animators of branch/domain thematic groups.
|-
|Liders and consotrium
|University of Technology
Agri Advisory Services,
|-
|Financing
|European Funds Silesian Voivodeship 2021-2027
|-
|Measures For 1 operational year after start
|1 virtual cooperation exchange platform
5 workshops increasing the potential for commercialization

10 networking meetings

3 knowledge and innovation brokers/relays services

30 study visits to local companies and research institutions
|}

===== Use of technological incubators and laboratories for Industry4.0 companies =====
In the province there is a well-developed system of technology incubators and technology gas pedals operating mainly in the sector of modern technologies, mainly related to IT technologies - Industry4.0. Modern technologies and technical solutions in the field of automation, robotics, Internet of Things solutions or software and Big Data can also find application in the sector of precision agriculture. For this, it is necessary to take advantage of possible and available communication systems and to draw attention to the agricultural sector as a possible recipient of the R&D developments and technology outcomes.

===== Technology transfer centers =====
The use of modern communication channels for the commercialization of research results of companies and research centers and the return of demand for technologies and information solutions
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!
!Cooperation with R&D and Technological Incubators
|-
|
|Network cooperation including strategic technologies
|-
|'''Goal'''
|'''Cooperation and integration of agri market with innovation system in the region'''
|-
|Activities
|1. networking meetings.
2. Organization of competitions for field engineering / semester papers.

3. domain exchange of internships for students and faculty.

4. thematic trainings.

5. workshops for joint search of solutions.

6. Creation of joint R&D cooperation offers with external partners.

7. creation of plans for development of joint research and development infrastructure.
|-
|Leader and Consortium
|Universities, Incubators, seed capital funds, start-uo centers
|-
|Financing
|'''National Funds for R&D Development, PARP'''
|-
|Measures For 1 operational year after start
|20 networking meetings
4 editions of competitions for engineering / semester papers

200 persons who completed thematic trainings

8 workshops of joint solution seeking

3 applications to national or international R&D programs, submitted consortially by network members and external partners.
|}

===== Education system in the field of automation, robotics, electronics and IT, Promotion of the Precision Farming as a possible future career for students =====
In the field of education, there are very many schools, universities and educational centers in the province with specialization in automation, robotics, mechatronics and IT. The education system provides an adequate level of education. The aim is to indicate the possibility of using one's skills not only in industrial sectors traditionally understood as innovative, but also in the sector of broadly understood agricultural production, which is developing very rapidly in terms of implementing the latest technological solutions.
{| class="wikitable"
!
!Education
|-
|
|'''Educational systems for specialized off the schoold additional education and trainings'''
|-
|'''Goal'''
|Implementation of the supporting eduction cations
|-
|Activities
|1. inclusion of new economic partners to the group of employers cooperating with the faculty, constitution of the faculty curriculum council
2. carrying out an analysis of the local economy needs in the field of knowledge, skills and competence of students and graduates of the faculty taking into consideration Precision Farming technological needs

3. working out the curriculum and rules for realization of partnerships between training agencies and agri support national services

4. carrying out internal procedures connected with conducting dual education.

5. promotional recruitment campaign

6. recruitment

7. joint didactic seminars for students and agri sector
|-
|Leader and Consortium
|Agri Support Service (ODR or ARMIR) Education instytutions
|-
|Financing
|'''National Funds for education'''
|-
|Measures For 1 operational year after start
|Analysis of the needs
Common off school educational program

Promotional campagne
|}

==== Financial framework : European Funds Silesian Voivodeship 2021-2027 ====
Priority I: Intelligent Silesia

Specific objective: (i) Developing and strengthening research and innovation capacities and exploiting advanced technologies
{| class="wikitable"
|+
|Developing and strengthening Research and innovation capacities innovation capacity and using advanced technologies
|002 Investments in fixed assets, including research infrastructure, in small and edium-sized enterprises (including private research organisations research organisations) directly related to research and innovation activities
|5 500 000
|-
|Developing and strengthening Research and innovation capacities innovation capacity and using advanced technologies
|004 Investments in fixed assets, including research infrastructure, in public research organisations research organisations and higher education institutions directly related to research and innovation activities
|50 000 000
|}
2.1.1.2. Specific objective: (ii) Reaping the benefits of digitisation for citizens, businesses, research organisations and public institutions

Specific objective: (iii) Enhancing sustainable growth and competitiveness of SMEs and job creation in SMEs, including through investments in to production
{| class="wikitable"
|+
|Strengthening the sustainable growth and competitiveness of Competitiveness of SMEs and Creating jobs in SMEs, including through including through investments productive investments
|025 Business Incubators, support for spin-off and spin-out companies, spin-off and spin-out enterprises and start-up enterprises start-up
|10 465 719
|}
Priority II: Greening Silesia

Specific Objective: (vi) Supporting the transition towards a closed and resource-efficient economy
{| class="wikitable"
|Supporting the transition towards a towards a circular economy closed and resource efficient economy resource-efficient economy
|075 Support for ecological production processes and efficient use of resources resource efficiency in SMEs
|11 000 000
|}
Priority V: Social Silesia

Specific objective: (d) Supporting adaptation to change for employees, enterprises and entrepreneurs, supporting active and healthy ageing and a healthy and

ageing and a healthy and well adapted working environment which takes account of health risks
{| class="wikitable"
|Promoting adaptation employees, enterprises and entrepreneurs to change, Promoting active and healthy ageing and healthy ageing and a healthy and well well-adapted working environment work environment that takes into account health risks
|146 Support for adaptation of workers in, enterprises and entrepreneurs to changes
|107 500 000
|}

=== Other sources that will be continued after approval of new financig programs fort he 2021-2027 ===
'''Digitalization vouchers''' are grants from the European Union funds, under Measure 6.2 POIR - Priority VI of the Operational Programme Intelligent Development. Support for SMEs in the use of digital technologies and adaptation of the digitization business model to changes in the market as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

For whom: Micro, small and medium enterprises operating in Poland

Projects must consist in the introduction (implementation) by SME of a process innovation (new or significantly improved process in an enterprise) through the use of digital technologies.

Thanks to the introduction and use of digital technologies in the enterprise, the project should cause a change in the way of working, processes of the enterprise, concerning production, provision of services, organization or additionally a change in the enterprise's products. The project may additionally consist in an implementation of a product innovation (a new or significantly improved product introduced to the market at least in relation to the existing products of the entrepreneur) connected with the implemented process innovation.

'''Vouchers for innovations''' for SME is a measure whose aim is to finance the purchase of R&D services developed by research and scientific units for your company. The measure is to support the development of cooperation between companies and scientific units.

== '''Lessons learned, conclusions and recommendations for policy makers''' ==
During project implementation and promotion there’s been a significan find within the policy documents and strategies of the region. Thus, Silesian Voivodeship is considered to be one the most important and highy industrialized region in Poland, agriculture productions in located on the very large area of the region, and takes a significant part of the regional landscape. Agricultural production makes good addition to the GPD of the region and such us has to be considered and mentioned in the regional documents as well. Potential of the Industry4.0 technologies implemented into the regional agri sector wil make a segnifican impact on the sector. This is also the case of the food processing sector, which is quite big in the region.

There is a significant number of problems created by an over-emphasis on emergent, high-tech solutions to our food system challenges, and this has potential inclusion and exclusion effects. Firstly, narratives associated with food security may become even more technocentric. The rise of Agriculture 4.0 thinking is only likely to extend this narrative towards the high-tech end of the innovation spectrum, further side-lining other responses to food security challenges which are not technology-based. These include social responses to food security challenges, built on the work of scholars who have shown that lack of access to food is rarely caused by a lack of food production, but by unequal distribution and entitlement to the food being produced due to societal inequalities. Increasing food production using technology, particularly in the developing world, is not a solution to this problem in and of itself. While technology is important to boost productivity and has indeed contributed to enhancing food security and prosperity, merely generating more food does not guarantee improved food security for marginalised groups and Agriculture 4.0 technologies should not be considered a panacea.

We can only achieve a responsible transition to more sustainable agricultural and food systems by working together and good methods of inclusion underpin efforts to innovate responsibly. In order to be responsible, transition pathways should evidently reflect a range of social and environmental needs. Inclusion of a range of actors in determining what the trajectory should be is crucial because existing actors (the ‘usual suspects’) may have a vested interest in maintaining the status quo.

REGIONAL ACTION PLAN BIELSKO-BIAŁA, SILESIAN VOIVODESHIP

2022-07-14T12:01:17Z

Marek:

REGIONAL ACTION PLAN BIELSKO-BIAŁA, SILESIAN VOIVODESHIP

2022-07-14T11:52:14Z

Marek:

File:Image2 PL.png

2022-07-14T11:44:04Z

Marek:

Rural areas

File:Image1 PL.png

2022-07-14T11:40:40Z

Marek:

Agri land in ha in (2000 blue, 2006 red, 2030 green)

REGIONAL ACTION PLAN UPPER AUSTRIA

2022-07-14T10:53:17Z

Marek:

D.T3.1.5 – Regional Action Plan to transform the regional industrial specialization in PF in S3 driving force Version 1 05 2022

'''[https://wiki.precision-farm40.com/images/2/2f/Deliverable_D.T3.1.5_-_Regional_Action_Plan_-_Upper_Austria_-_PP8_-_FIN.pdf PDF version you can download here.]'''

== '''Introduction''' ==
The information provided in this document is based primarily on discussions with S3 managers of the region of Upper Austria, as well as on research on literature provided by them. The provided documents, which are also publicly available, were analyzed for overlaps with the topic of precision farming and form the basis of this regional action plan. As stated at the “Smart Specialization Platform” of the European Commission (<nowiki>https://s3platform.jrc.ec.europa.eu/region-page-test/-/regions/AT31</nowiki>), the Upper Austrian S3 thematic platforms are divided into the 4 main areas

* Bioeconomy – Innovative use of non-food biomass
* Safe and sustainable mobility
* Sport
* High performance production through 3D-printing
The S3 priorities for Upper Austria are

* Industrial production processes
* Energy
* Health and ageing society
* Food and nutrition
* Mobility and logistics

Even if the core task of the Interreg Central Europe project “Transfarm 4.0”, which is precision farming, is not exactly represented in the S3 priorities, some overlaps can be found in several topics. Therefore, more detailed information about Upper Austria´s S3 strategies, which are summarized in the “#upperVISION2030 business and research strategy”, are analyzed in this document.

In order to stand out in the face of global competition and make Upper Austria future-proof over the long term, it is necessary to project a uniform image of the future that can be flexibly adapted to new trends and developments. The business and research strategy #upperVISION2030 opens a new chapter for Upper Austria as is veers away from a rigid program towards a strategy that develops year on year. The new strategy process allows to act more flexibly. The framework it defines also offers the long-term orientation necessary.

=== Sustainable Development Goals ===
Megatrends such as globalization, climate and demographic change, digital transformation and new mobility are challenging regions to drive economic growth and make the transition to a carbon-free economy. The impacts of these megatrends on people and society are highly context-specific and require location-based actions.

The 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), set by the United Nations in 2015, represent the global agenda for the next decade. The big goal is to end poverty, achieve climate neutrality and ensure prosperity for all.

In order to reach the sustainable development goals cities and regions have a major role. Beyond the individual goals set by regions the Agenda 2030 provides another valuable framework for society and business to work more closely together for the development of cities and regions around the world.

The economic and research strategy #upperVISION2030 seeks not only economic but also socio-political trends with a view to sustainability goals and creates synergies with the UN Agenda 2030.
[[File:Image1 UA.png|center|frameless|400x400px]]

== '''The programme''' ==
A location, a region, needs a shared strategy. #upperVISION2030 is far from being the first strategy for business and research policy in Upper Austria - on the contrary: Upper Austria launched our first strategic programme more than 20 years ago. The pace of development has increased dramatically over the past two decades. When the term "evolution" is no longer sufficient to describe the force of change, then it is referred to as disruption. How can an entire region with its innumerable protagonists equip itself for an era in which today's boom sectors have already evaporated by tomorrow? How do you manage to not jump on every bandwagon and still keep ahead?" #upperVISION2030 is the well thought out, shared response. On the one hand it is a stringent process to ensure both long-term orientation and sufficient flexibility. And it is also a clear concept in terms of content designed to meet the great challenges of our time so that the existing strengths of Upper Austria as a location are used in the best possible way. The central focus is on people and their skills with a view to social and technological developments.

=== Fit for the digital age ===
The economic and social benefits of the digital transformation have been successfully implemented in business and industry - our main focus is on people. By 2030 Upper Austria will be a dynamic and cosmopolitan model region for digital humanism - an era that is now emerging as a result of the cooperation between all political, economic and scientific forces.

=== Fit for sustainable solutions ===
In 2030 Upper Austria will be perceived as an industrial region that acts sustainably and that people want to live in. The responsible use and reuse of resources is an essential element here. Upper Austrian businesses and industries are an essential part of the solution to future challenges and can therefore continue to maintain their position among the top players on a global playing field.

=== Fit for human-centred technology ===
Artificial intelligence and robotics will be implemented in all areas of life in 2030 wherever they are needed. The underlying technologies have been made comprehensible to the general public leading to a high level of acceptance in daily use.

=== Fit for new mobility ===
Upper Austria has successfully mastered the structural change in the mobility sector in 2030. Thanks to their expertise, Upper Austrian companies continue to be sought-after partners internationally and successful providers of mobility solutions and components.

== '''The strategic framework''' ==
In order for Upper Austria to remain a location for business, industry and research and to maintain its international competitiveness, the objective must be to promote the development of products, services and technologies and to generate more founding, researching, technology-oriented and exporting companies in Upper Austria.

The strategic framework focuses on smart specialisation and the rapid transfer of research results into business applications in order to place Upper Austria at the forefront of technological developments. In doing so, it builds on the existing strengths of the economy and support Upper Austria's leading companies in expanding their technological lead. Through early recognition of disruptive technologies and the rapid identification of areas of application, development of new business models to create future-proof jobs can be accelerated.

Positioning Upper Austria as a modern technology location increases its attractiveness and visibility for skilled and talented employees in the face of international competition. The strategy builds on existing regional and national networks and continue to drive internationalisation forward. In order to overcome system and sector boundaries, bridges between disciplines that have so far been separate need to be built. The objective is to think more in interdisciplinary approaches in order to make maximum use of the competences and expertise available in Upper Austria. Using the latest digital technologies to redesign value chains and ensure regional value chains by encouraging cross-sector cooperation. Development priorities are set in areas where it is possible to make promising use of the strengths.

At the centre of #upperVISION2030 are people who are skilled and educated and represent a key location factor for Upper Austria. They form the basis for stable growth. For this reason it must be ensured the availability of suitably qualified employees for business, industry and research in Upper Austria over the long term. In addition, there are key technologies and core competences that make Upper Austria independent of a particular industry or subject area.

In order to meet future challenges, the existing core competencies and key technologies - especially in the fields of mechatronics, materials, and information and communication technology - are being continuously developed and expanded. In the third circle, the digital transformation stands as an enabler for all business sectors. Finally, the three content-related fields of "Systems & technologies for people", "Efficient and sustainable industry & production" and "Connected and efficient mobility" follow with their respective thematic focuses.

=== Digital transformation ===
Digital transformation has had an influence on virtually every area of life. It represents the basis for the further development of the latest technologies and sets the course for Upper Austrian business and industry. Digitisation prompts the rethinking of existing value chains and can change entire business models. Companies are finding that data-based decisions and servitisation are becoming more and more important and the use of new technologies in data-driven companies also has an impact on existing organisational structures. A basic prerequisite for the networking of machines and processes is that users accept the new technologies. Issues such as data security and having control of one's own data are therefore becoming increasingly relevant.

==== Objectives ====

* Use data to generate knowledge and create value by raising the innovation potential of new technologies, such as Big Data, Artificial Intelligence etc. in priority areas of action and transferring new technologies into applications
* Achieve a pioneering position in the field of human-centred AI and set quality standards in the classification of AI systems in terms of security and reliability in the way they are used Leading Upper Austria strengthened by the digital transformation means
* To make businesses aware of the necessity for digital transformation.
* To rethink existing business models and make decisions based on trusted data using new tools and technologies.
* To focus on creating and using secure and correct software and hardware systems.

=== Efficient and sustainable industry and manufacturing ===
As the leader in the Austrian ranking, Upper Austria is responsible for a quarter of the total industrial production in our country. Industry and manufacturing in Upper Austria are characterised by a strong business base with many companies that are active internationally. The key to further strengthening the industry and maintaining its high level of value creation lies in the ongoing development of regional production through the use of new technologies. By promoting circular economies we can reduce material consumption and further increase the productivity of raw materials. Because Upper Austria is dependent on importing up to two thirds of its energy, innovations in systems for the storage and distribution of energy will be a decisive success factor for a competitive industry.

==== Objectives ====

* Maintain and expand the technological lead of companies in the region in order to continue to successfully place innovative products and services on national and international markets
* Increase the efficiency of Upper Austrian business and industry and position Upper Austria as a region for "Responsible Technologies & Management

==== Efficient and sustainable industry and manufacturing in Upper Austria means ====

* To develop technological processes that increase flexibility in terms of the use of raw materials, enable the cascading or coupled use of raw and residual materials and generate additional added value as a result.
* To increase the efficiency and sustainability of processes and production methods by implementing new technologies, such as Big Data, Artificial Intelligence, Data Driven Modelling & Simulation etc. with respect to Responsible Technologies and bring these new technologies to practical applications.
* To take into consideration the reuse of components or their recyclability in terms of a holistic product life cycle by promoting recycling-compatible product design.
* To focus on the issues of storage, distribution and efficient consumption of energy and on coupling power, heat, transport and industry by using new technologies and system innovations.
* To see reliable supply, affordability and environmental compatibility as key factors for a competitive reduction in the consumption of fossil fuels.

=== Systems and technologies for people ===
Demographic change is shifting the age structure of the Upper Austrian population. While the proportion of younger people is falling, the number of older people is increasing. The lack of skilled workers caused by this development is a strongly limiting factor for the further development of the region. Systems and technologies that allow people to remain actively involved in familiar surroundings for longer can counteract this effect. The interdisciplinary research and work field of medical technology has undergone strong development in Upper Austria over recent years. The human/machine interface, especially in the area of production and manufacturing, and related topics such as the level of acceptance of supporting systems and new technologies by potential users will become even more important in the future.

==== Objectives ====

* Position Upper Austria as an international competence region for applications at the human/machine interface, especially in the fields of automation and robotics
* Transfer key Upper Austrian technologies and core competences from production to medical technology, especially in the areas of digital health and medical materials Systems and technologies for people in Upper Austria means
* To focus the activities on the human/machine interface and create networked, semi-autonomous as well as autonomous systems that enable people to remain actively involved in familiar surroundings for longer.
* To increasingly think in terms of interdisciplinary and holistic approaches in order to benefit from existing competencies and technologies.

== '''Financial perspective – regional calls''' ==
In Austria, the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG) is the national funding agency for industrial research and development. The FFG Funding Service is the central contact point for enquiries about FFG funding and advisory services. The FFG Funding Service offers information and tailored advice on:

* National and international funding opportunities („where does my project fit“)
* Services, such as advisory and training measures, networking and partner search services
* Information on possibilities for international cooperation in research, development and innovation

In the FFG funding guide, the following topics are listed:

* Digitization & broadband
* Energy transition
* Europe & International
* Society & Security
* Wood: research & knowledge transfer
* Innovative & competitive companies
* Climate-neutral cities
* Cooperation & research infrastructure
* Circular economy
* Live sciences & health
* People, qualification & gender
* Mobility transition
* Production & materials
* Quantum: research & technology
* Space & aviation
* Bottom-up
* Further research areas

Intersections with the core task of the Interreg Central Europe project “Transfarm 4.0”, which is precision farming, can be found in several of those topics for the country of Austria.

Specific regional calls for Upper Austria can be found in the domains of circular economy, digital transformation, and digital health.

=== Regional Call - Circular Economy ===

==== Objective ====
Upper Austria will be perceived as a livable and sustainably operating industrial region in 2030. Description

The significant increase in global consumption of natural resources and the volume of waste linked to it are among the greatest challenges of the 21st century. The implementation of the EU's climate and environmental goals requires a new industrial policy based on the circular economy.

Especially in those industries where the circular potential is high, such as plastics, information technology, electronics, mobility, construction, furniture, food and textile industries and many more, the circular principle can be adopted with the help of a holistic approach and supported by research and innovation. In many of these industries and sectors, the potential has not yet been fully exploited.

Efficient and sustainable industry and production are the main fields of action of the new economic and research strategy #upperVISION2030 in Upper Austria. In order to secure Upper Austria as a business, industry and research location and maintain its international competitiveness, our goal must be to drive forward the development of products, services and technologies. The responsible use and reuse of resources are a basic prerequisite for this.

Business and industry in Upper Austria are an essential part of the solution. They are rising to the challenges and will therefore be able to position themselves among the global leaders in the future as well.

=== Regional Call - Digital Transformation ===

==== Objective ====
In 2030, Upper Austria will be a dynamic and cosmopolitan model region of the new digital humanism that is emerging as a result, thanks to the cooperation of all political, economic and scientific forces. Description

In order to meet the future challenges facing Upper Austria as a business and research location, existing core competencies and key technologies - especially in the areas of information and communications technology - will be continuously developed and expanded. By combining existing technologies and competencies, new knowledge is to be generated.

The digital transformation has an impact on almost all areas of life. It represents the basis for the further development of the latest technologies and thus sets the course for Upper Austria's economy and industry.

Digitalization is rethinking existing value chains, which can change entire business models. Data-based decisions and service economy are becoming increasingly important in companies, and the use of new technologies in data-driven companies is also having an impact on existing organizational forms. A basic prerequisite for the networking of machines and processes is the acceptance of the new technologies by the user. Topics such as data security and control over one's own data are therefore becoming increasingly relevant.

=== Regional Call - Digital Health ===

==== Objective ====
Upper Austria is positioning itself as a competence region for applications at the human/machine interface. Description

In order to secure Upper Austria as a business, industrial and research location and maintain its international competitiveness, our goal must be to drive forward the development of products, services and technologies and to generate more start-up, research, technology-savvy and exporting companies in Upper Austria.

We are focusing on Smart Specialization and the rapid transfer of research results into commercial applications, in order to lead Upper Austria to the forefront of technological advancements. Through the early recognition of disruptive technologies and the rapid identification of fields of application, we are pushing the development of new business models, positioning Upper Austria as a modern technology location and thus increasing the attractiveness and visibility of the location, particularly in the field of medical technology.

The digital transformation has an impact on almost all areas of life. It represents the basis for the further development of the latest technologies and thus sets the course for Upper Austria's economy, industry and healthcare.

The latest digital technologies, artificial intelligence and supporting systems are being put to good use in all areas of life, especially in the healthcare sector. The underlying technologies have been made understandable to the general public and lead to a high acceptance in daily use. The human being is in the center of attention.

The interdisciplinary research and work area of medical technology has already developed strongly in Upper Austria in recent years. Digitalization is also rethinking existing value chains in the healthcare sector, which can change entire business models. Data-based decisions are becoming increasingly important, and the use of new technologies in a data-driven environment is also having an impact on existing processes and organizational forms.

== '''Beneficiaries and stakeholders perspective''' ==

=== Upper Austrian location partners ===
Taking steps and developing measures that benefit the region as a whole, the Upper Austrian location partners are now involved even more than before in the processes for implementing business and research strategy. #upperVISION2030 is a strategic framework designed to support location partners in their year on year planning of business action measures. Annual dialogue rooms guarantee coordinated action without restricting each organisation's freedom to act on their own.

=== Location partners and accompanying organizations ===

* Wirtscharftskammer Oberösterreich
* Business Upper Austria – OÖ Wirtschaftsagentur GmbH
* Industriellenvereiniugung Oberösterreich
* Fachhochschulen Oberösterreich
* Johannes Kepler Universität Linz
* Arbeiterkammer Oberösterreich
* Industrie 4.0 Österreich
* Upper Austrian Research GmbH
* Rat für Forschung und Technologie für Oberösterreich
* Trigon Entwicklungsberatung
* Fraunhofer
* Johanneum Research
* Oberösterreichische Zukunftsakademie

== '''Internal processes perspective''' ==

=== Building the process ===
Developing new methods and future-proofing the existing ones - these are the guiding principles behind the process for the new #upperVISION2030 strategy. Coupled with a new approach focusing on key topics that are important for the future, the Upper Austrian business and research strategy #upperVISION2030 was developed by building on the experience gained from the strategic business and research program Innovative Upper Austria 2020. The integration of external experts enriched the internal view of the location partners on Upper Austria during the strategy development process. That is how Fraunhofer ISI was able to integrate international expertise into the process, as well as national expertise through the Industry 4.0 platform and regional expertise through the Upper Austrian Future Academy. Thanks to their expert knowledge, current trends and drivers were able to be identified and integrated into the process. The corresponding strategies "Upper Austrian Jobs 2030", "Energy Leading Region Upper Austria 2050" and "Tourism Strategy 2022" were also taken into account. The combination of an external, expert-driven strategy development integrated into the Upper Austrian business and research landscape represented by location partners - the employees chamber (AKOÖ), Business Upper Austria, technical universities (FH OÖ), industry chamber (IV OÖ), JKU university in Linz, Upper Austrian Research and the chamber of commerce (WKOÖ) - made it possible to look beyond the borders of Upper Austria.

=== Monitoring ===
Strategic control of the programme is carried out during an annual review. To this end, the implementation and impact of the measures are evaluated on the basis of each objective in each field of action using defined indicators. The key figures obtained provide information about development in each field of action and show if controlling interventions are needed in milestone planning.
[[File:Image2 UA.png|center|frameless|800x800px]]

== '''Learning and growth perspective''' ==

=== Workplace Upper Austria 2030 ===
Workplace Upper Austria 2030 is the strategic framework program underlying labor market policy in Upper Austria. Since 2012, this strategy has been the long-term framework for action in Upper Austria's labor market policy. The goals of the program are to secure skilled workers for the Upper Austrian economy in the long term and to avoid unemployment as best as possible with the aim of achieving full employment.

The most important core points for securing skilled workers are the three strategic goals:

* Strategic goal A: Qualification in line with demand Existing and demanded qualifications on the labor market are optimally balanced and the Upper Austrian education and training system provides qualifications in line with demand.
* Strategic Goal B: Activation for high labor force participation The potential of Upper Austria's employable workforce is utilized in the best possible manner - a high level of Upper Austrian labor force participation is decisive
* Strategic Goal C: Attraction and retention of skilled workers Ensuring the stability or slight growth of Upper Austria's employable population.

Some of the most important activities are:

* „Recruiting international High Potentials“ project
* Career platform
* Student projects
* International house

More information about the workplace Upper Austria 2030 can be found at [https://www.arbeitsplatz-oberoesterreich.at/en/ www.arbeitsplatz-oberoesterreich.at/en/]

== '''Conclusions''' ==
Upper Austria's #upperVISION2030 business and research strategy is integrated into the location partners' objectives system. The interaction of the individual protagonists ensures close coordination with corresponding strategies. A major contribution of the location partners is to see the region as a whole and actively shape the strategy process. Each location partner needs the freedom to act on its own. Nevertheless, transparency, coordinated measures and the use of synergies in the central fields of action are essential for the successful implementation of the business and research strategy. Within the framework of the control model, the interaction of all the protagonists involved is to be ensured.
[[File:Image3 UA.png|center|frameless|600x600px]]

=== Connections between Transfarm 4.0 and smart specialization in PF in Upper Austria ===
In general, Upper Austria has a strong focus on agriculture, since approximately 90 percent of its surface area is used for agriculture and forestry. The diverse landscape structure results in different production focuses like cropping farms, pork production and vegetable cultivation in the centre, strong cattle and milk farming in the west and north of the province as well as alpine farming in the south. Hence, in Upper Austria there are several institutions that conduct research and development in the field of precision agriculture. As learned in the Transfarm 4.0 project, the topics of the pilot actions meet very well with the fields of activities of Upper Austrian companies. For example, the topic of ISOBUS (pilot action 1) is applied in many products of Upper Austrian agricultural machinery manufacturers. Furthermore, also the topics of remote and proximal sensing (pilot action 2) and big and smart data management (pilot action 3) are well related to Upper Austrians S3 priorities, as they meet the topic of the call for digital transformation. Furthermore, the topic of digitization is a core issue at many higher education institutions in Upper Austria. In general, we found that Upper Austria has a very well elaborated strategy with its “#upperVISION2030 business and research strategy”. If we were allowed to make a recommendation, we would want the topic of precision agriculture to be visible in the strategy as well, especially since several companies and institutions in Upper Austria conduct research and development in this field.

REGIONAL ACTION PLAN UPPER AUSTRIA

2022-07-14T10:49:41Z

Marek:

D.T3.1.5 – Regional Action Plan to transform the regional industrial specialization in PF in S3 driving force Version 1 05 2022

'''[https://wiki.precision-farm40.com/images/2/2f/Deliverable_D.T3.1.5_-_Regional_Action_Plan_-_Upper_Austria_-_PP8_-_FIN.pdf PDF version you can download here.]'''

== '''Introduction''' ==
The information provided in this document is based primarily on discussions with S3 managers of the region of Upper Austria, as well as on research on literature provided by them. The provided documents, which are also publicly available, were analyzed for overlaps with the topic of precision farming and form the basis of this regional action plan. As stated at the “Smart Specialization Platform” of the European Commission (<nowiki>https://s3platform.jrc.ec.europa.eu/region-page-test/-/regions/AT31</nowiki>), the Upper Austrian S3 thematic platforms are divided into the 4 main areas

* Bioeconomy – Innovative use of non-food biomass
* Safe and sustainable mobility
* Sport
* High performance production through 3D-printing
The S3 priorities for Upper Austria are

* Industrial production processes
* Energy
* Health and ageing society
* Food and nutrition
* Mobility and logistics

Even if the core task of the Interreg Central Europe project “Transfarm 4.0”, which is precision farming, is not exactly represented in the S3 priorities, some overlaps can be found in several topics. Therefore, more detailed information about Upper Austria´s S3 strategies, which are summarized in the “#upperVISION2030 business and research strategy”, are analyzed in this document.

In order to stand out in the face of global competition and make Upper Austria future-proof over the long term, it is necessary to project a uniform image of the future that can be flexibly adapted to new trends and developments. The business and research strategy #upperVISION2030 opens a new chapter for Upper Austria as is veers away from a rigid program towards a strategy that develops year on year. The new strategy process allows to act more flexibly. The framework it defines also offers the long-term orientation necessary.

=== Sustainable Development Goals ===
Megatrends such as globalization, climate and demographic change, digital transformation and new mobility are challenging regions to drive economic growth and make the transition to a carbon-free economy. The impacts of these megatrends on people and society are highly context-specific and require location-based actions.

The 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), set by the United Nations in 2015, represent the global agenda for the next decade. The big goal is to end poverty, achieve climate neutrality and ensure prosperity for all.

In order to reach the sustainable development goals cities and regions have a major role. Beyond the individual goals set by regions the Agenda 2030 provides another valuable framework for society and business to work more closely together for the development of cities and regions around the world.

The economic and research strategy #upperVISION2030 seeks not only economic but also socio-political trends with a view to sustainability goals and creates synergies with the UN Agenda 2030.
[[File:Image1 UA.png|center|frameless|400x400px]]

== The programme ==
A location, a region, needs a shared strategy. #upperVISION2030 is far from being the first strategy for business and research policy in Upper Austria - on the contrary: Upper Austria launched our first strategic programme more than 20 years ago. The pace of development has increased dramatically over the past two decades. When the term "evolution" is no longer sufficient to describe the force of change, then it is referred to as disruption. How can an entire region with its innumerable protagonists equip itself for an era in which today's boom sectors have already evaporated by tomorrow? How do you manage to not jump on every bandwagon and still keep ahead?" #upperVISION2030 is the well thought out, shared response. On the one hand it is a stringent process to ensure both long-term orientation and sufficient flexibility. And it is also a clear concept in terms of content designed to meet the great challenges of our time so that the existing strengths of Upper Austria as a location are used in the best possible way. The central focus is on people and their skills with a view to social and technological developments.

=== Fit for the digital age ===
The economic and social benefits of the digital transformation have been successfully implemented in business and industry - our main focus is on people. By 2030 Upper Austria will be a dynamic and cosmopolitan model region for digital humanism - an era that is now emerging as a result of the cooperation between all political, economic and scientific forces.

=== Fit for sustainable solutions ===
In 2030 Upper Austria will be perceived as an industrial region that acts sustainably and that people want to live in. The responsible use and reuse of resources is an essential element here. Upper Austrian businesses and industries are an essential part of the solution to future challenges and can therefore continue to maintain their position among the top players on a global playing field.

=== Fit for human-centred technology ===
Artificial intelligence and robotics will be implemented in all areas of life in 2030 wherever they are needed. The underlying technologies have been made comprehensible to the general public leading to a high level of acceptance in daily use.

=== Fit for new mobility ===
Upper Austria has successfully mastered the structural change in the mobility sector in 2030. Thanks to their expertise, Upper Austrian companies continue to be sought-after partners internationally and successful providers of mobility solutions and components.

== The strategic framework ==
In order for Upper Austria to remain a location for business, industry and research and to maintain its international competitiveness, the objective must be to promote the development of products, services and technologies and to generate more founding, researching, technology-oriented and exporting companies in Upper Austria.

The strategic framework focuses on smart specialisation and the rapid transfer of research results into business applications in order to place Upper Austria at the forefront of technological developments. In doing so, it builds on the existing strengths of the economy and support Upper Austria's leading companies in expanding their technological lead. Through early recognition of disruptive technologies and the rapid identification of areas of application, development of new business models to create future-proof jobs can be accelerated.

Positioning Upper Austria as a modern technology location increases its attractiveness and visibility for skilled and talented employees in the face of international competition. The strategy builds on existing regional and national networks and continue to drive internationalisation forward. In order to overcome system and sector boundaries, bridges between disciplines that have so far been separate need to be built. The objective is to think more in interdisciplinary approaches in order to make maximum use of the competences and expertise available in Upper Austria. Using the latest digital technologies to redesign value chains and ensure regional value chains by encouraging cross-sector cooperation. Development priorities are set in areas where it is possible to make promising use of the strengths.

At the centre of #upperVISION2030 are people who are skilled and educated and represent a key location factor for Upper Austria. They form the basis for stable growth. For this reason it must be ensured the availability of suitably qualified employees for business, industry and research in Upper Austria over the long term. In addition, there are key technologies and core competences that make Upper Austria independent of a particular industry or subject area.

In order to meet future challenges, the existing core competencies and key technologies - especially in the fields of mechatronics, materials, and information and communication technology - are being continuously developed and expanded. In the third circle, the digital transformation stands as an enabler for all business sectors. Finally, the three content-related fields of "Systems & technologies for people", "Efficient and sustainable industry & production" and "Connected and efficient mobility" follow with their respective thematic focuses.

=== Digital transformation ===
Digital transformation has had an influence on virtually every area of life. It represents the basis for the further development of the latest technologies and sets the course for Upper Austrian business and industry. Digitisation prompts the rethinking of existing value chains and can change entire business models. Companies are finding that data-based decisions and servitisation are becoming more and more important and the use of new technologies in data-driven companies also has an impact on existing organisational structures. A basic prerequisite for the networking of machines and processes is that users accept the new technologies. Issues such as data security and having control of one's own data are therefore becoming increasingly relevant.

==== Objectives ====

* Use data to generate knowledge and create value by raising the innovation potential of new technologies, such as Big Data, Artificial Intelligence etc. in priority areas of action and transferring new technologies into applications
* Achieve a pioneering position in the field of human-centred AI and set quality standards in the classification of AI systems in terms of security and reliability in the way they are used Leading Upper Austria strengthened by the digital transformation means
* To make businesses aware of the necessity for digital transformation.
* To rethink existing business models and make decisions based on trusted data using new tools and technologies.
* To focus on creating and using secure and correct software and hardware systems.

=== Efficient and sustainable industry and manufacturing ===
As the leader in the Austrian ranking, Upper Austria is responsible for a quarter of the total industrial production in our country. Industry and manufacturing in Upper Austria are characterised by a strong business base with many companies that are active internationally. The key to further strengthening the industry and maintaining its high level of value creation lies in the ongoing development of regional production through the use of new technologies. By promoting circular economies we can reduce material consumption and further increase the productivity of raw materials. Because Upper Austria is dependent on importing up to two thirds of its energy, innovations in systems for the storage and distribution of energy will be a decisive success factor for a competitive industry.

==== Objectives ====

* Maintain and expand the technological lead of companies in the region in order to continue to successfully place innovative products and services on national and international markets
* Increase the efficiency of Upper Austrian business and industry and position Upper Austria as a region for "Responsible Technologies & Management

==== Efficient and sustainable industry and manufacturing in Upper Austria means ====

* To develop technological processes that increase flexibility in terms of the use of raw materials, enable the cascading or coupled use of raw and residual materials and generate additional added value as a result.
* To increase the efficiency and sustainability of processes and production methods by implementing new technologies, such as Big Data, Artificial Intelligence, Data Driven Modelling & Simulation etc. with respect to Responsible Technologies and bring these new technologies to practical applications.
* To take into consideration the reuse of components or their recyclability in terms of a holistic product life cycle by promoting recycling-compatible product design.
* To focus on the issues of storage, distribution and efficient consumption of energy and on coupling power, heat, transport and industry by using new technologies and system innovations.
* To see reliable supply, affordability and environmental compatibility as key factors for a competitive reduction in the consumption of fossil fuels.

=== Systems and technologies for people ===
Demographic change is shifting the age structure of the Upper Austrian population. While the proportion of younger people is falling, the number of older people is increasing. The lack of skilled workers caused by this development is a strongly limiting factor for the further development of the region. Systems and technologies that allow people to remain actively involved in familiar surroundings for longer can counteract this effect. The interdisciplinary research and work field of medical technology has undergone strong development in Upper Austria over recent years. The human/machine interface, especially in the area of production and manufacturing, and related topics such as the level of acceptance of supporting systems and new technologies by potential users will become even more important in the future.

==== Objectives ====

* Position Upper Austria as an international competence region for applications at the human/machine interface, especially in the fields of automation and robotics
* Transfer key Upper Austrian technologies and core competences from production to medical technology, especially in the areas of digital health and medical materials Systems and technologies for people in Upper Austria means
* To focus the activities on the human/machine interface and create networked, semi-autonomous as well as autonomous systems that enable people to remain actively involved in familiar surroundings for longer.
* To increasingly think in terms of interdisciplinary and holistic approaches in order to benefit from existing competencies and technologies.

== Financial perspective – regional calls ==
In Austria, the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG) is the national funding agency for industrial research and development. The FFG Funding Service is the central contact point for enquiries about FFG funding and advisory services. The FFG Funding Service offers information and tailored advice on:

* National and international funding opportunities („where does my project fit“)
* Services, such as advisory and training measures, networking and partner search services
* Information on possibilities for international cooperation in research, development and innovation

In the FFG funding guide, the following topics are listed:

* Digitization & broadband
* Energy transition
* Europe & International
* Society & Security
* Wood: research & knowledge transfer
* Innovative & competitive companies
* Climate-neutral cities
* Cooperation & research infrastructure
* Circular economy
* Live sciences & health
* People, qualification & gender
* Mobility transition
* Production & materials
* Quantum: research & technology
* Space & aviation
* Bottom-up
* Further research areas

Intersections with the core task of the Interreg Central Europe project “Transfarm 4.0”, which is precision farming, can be found in several of those topics for the country of Austria.

Specific regional calls for Upper Austria can be found in the domains of circular economy, digital transformation, and digital health.

=== Regional Call - Circular Economy ===

==== Objective ====
Upper Austria will be perceived as a livable and sustainably operating industrial region in 2030. Description

The significant increase in global consumption of natural resources and the volume of waste linked to it are among the greatest challenges of the 21st century. The implementation of the EU's climate and environmental goals requires a new industrial policy based on the circular economy.

Especially in those industries where the circular potential is high, such as plastics, information technology, electronics, mobility, construction, furniture, food and textile industries and many more, the circular principle can be adopted with the help of a holistic approach and supported by research and innovation. In many of these industries and sectors, the potential has not yet been fully exploited.

Efficient and sustainable industry and production are the main fields of action of the new economic and research strategy #upperVISION2030 in Upper Austria. In order to secure Upper Austria as a business, industry and research location and maintain its international competitiveness, our goal must be to drive forward the development of products, services and technologies. The responsible use and reuse of resources are a basic prerequisite for this.

Business and industry in Upper Austria are an essential part of the solution. They are rising to the challenges and will therefore be able to position themselves among the global leaders in the future as well.

=== Regional Call - Digital Transformation ===

==== Objective ====
In 2030, Upper Austria will be a dynamic and cosmopolitan model region of the new digital humanism that is emerging as a result, thanks to the cooperation of all political, economic and scientific forces. Description

In order to meet the future challenges facing Upper Austria as a business and research location, existing core competencies and key technologies - especially in the areas of information and communications technology - will be continuously developed and expanded. By combining existing technologies and competencies, new knowledge is to be generated.

The digital transformation has an impact on almost all areas of life. It represents the basis for the further development of the latest technologies and thus sets the course for Upper Austria's economy and industry.

Digitalization is rethinking existing value chains, which can change entire business models. Data-based decisions and service economy are becoming increasingly important in companies, and the use of new technologies in data-driven companies is also having an impact on existing organizational forms. A basic prerequisite for the networking of machines and processes is the acceptance of the new technologies by the user. Topics such as data security and control over one's own data are therefore becoming increasingly relevant.

=== Regional Call - Digital Health ===

==== Objective ====
Upper Austria is positioning itself as a competence region for applications at the human/machine interface. Description

In order to secure Upper Austria as a business, industrial and research location and maintain its international competitiveness, our goal must be to drive forward the development of products, services and technologies and to generate more start-up, research, technology-savvy and exporting companies in Upper Austria.

We are focusing on Smart Specialization and the rapid transfer of research results into commercial applications, in order to lead Upper Austria to the forefront of technological advancements. Through the early recognition of disruptive technologies and the rapid identification of fields of application, we are pushing the development of new business models, positioning Upper Austria as a modern technology location and thus increasing the attractiveness and visibility of the location, particularly in the field of medical technology.

The digital transformation has an impact on almost all areas of life. It represents the basis for the further development of the latest technologies and thus sets the course for Upper Austria's economy, industry and healthcare.

The latest digital technologies, artificial intelligence and supporting systems are being put to good use in all areas of life, especially in the healthcare sector. The underlying technologies have been made understandable to the general public and lead to a high acceptance in daily use. The human being is in the center of attention.

The interdisciplinary research and work area of medical technology has already developed strongly in Upper Austria in recent years. Digitalization is also rethinking existing value chains in the healthcare sector, which can change entire business models. Data-based decisions are becoming increasingly important, and the use of new technologies in a data-driven environment is also having an impact on existing processes and organizational forms.

== Beneficiaries and stakeholders perspective ==

=== Upper Austrian location partners ===
Taking steps and developing measures that benefit the region as a whole, the Upper Austrian location partners are now involved even more than before in the processes for implementing business and research strategy. #upperVISION2030 is a strategic framework designed to support location partners in their year on year planning of business action measures. Annual dialogue rooms guarantee coordinated action without restricting each organisation's freedom to act on their own.

=== Location partners and accompanying organizations ===

* Wirtscharftskammer Oberösterreich
* Business Upper Austria – OÖ Wirtschaftsagentur GmbH
* Industriellenvereiniugung Oberösterreich
* Fachhochschulen Oberösterreich
* Johannes Kepler Universität Linz
* Arbeiterkammer Oberösterreich
* Industrie 4.0 Österreich
* Upper Austrian Research GmbH
* Rat für Forschung und Technologie für Oberösterreich
* Trigon Entwicklungsberatung
* Fraunhofer
* Johanneum Research
* Oberösterreichische Zukunftsakademie

== Internal processes perspective ==

=== Building the process ===
Developing new methods and future-proofing the existing ones - these are the guiding principles behind the process for the new #upperVISION2030 strategy. Coupled with a new approach focusing on key topics that are important for the future, the Upper Austrian business and research strategy #upperVISION2030 was developed by building on the experience gained from the strategic business and research program Innovative Upper Austria 2020. The integration of external experts enriched the internal view of the location partners on Upper Austria during the strategy development process. That is how Fraunhofer ISI was able to integrate international expertise into the process, as well as national expertise through the Industry 4.0 platform and regional expertise through the Upper Austrian Future Academy. Thanks to their expert knowledge, current trends and drivers were able to be identified and integrated into the process. The corresponding strategies "Upper Austrian Jobs 2030", "Energy Leading Region Upper Austria 2050" and "Tourism Strategy 2022" were also taken into account. The combination of an external, expert-driven strategy development integrated into the Upper Austrian business and research landscape represented by location partners - the employees chamber (AKOÖ), Business Upper Austria, technical universities (FH OÖ), industry chamber (IV OÖ), JKU university in Linz, Upper Austrian Research and the chamber of commerce (WKOÖ) - made it possible to look beyond the borders of Upper Austria.

=== Monitoring ===
Strategic control of the programme is carried out during an annual review. To this end, the implementation and impact of the measures are evaluated on the basis of each objective in each field of action using defined indicators. The key figures obtained provide information about development in each field of action and show if controlling interventions are needed in milestone planning.
[[File:Image2 UA.png|center|frameless|800x800px]]

== Learning and growth perspective ==

=== Workplace Upper Austria 2030 ===
Workplace Upper Austria 2030 is the strategic framework program underlying labor market policy in Upper Austria. Since 2012, this strategy has been the long-term framework for action in Upper Austria's labor market policy. The goals of the program are to secure skilled workers for the Upper Austrian economy in the long term and to avoid unemployment as best as possible with the aim of achieving full employment.

The most important core points for securing skilled workers are the three strategic goals:

* Strategic goal A: Qualification in line with demand Existing and demanded qualifications on the labor market are optimally balanced and the Upper Austrian education and training system provides qualifications in line with demand.
* Strategic Goal B: Activation for high labor force participation The potential of Upper Austria's employable workforce is utilized in the best possible manner - a high level of Upper Austrian labor force participation is decisive
* Strategic Goal C: Attraction and retention of skilled workers Ensuring the stability or slight growth of Upper Austria's employable population.

Some of the most important activities are:

* „Recruiting international High Potentials“ project
* Career platform
* Student projects
* International house

More information about the workplace Upper Austria 2030 can be found at [https://www.arbeitsplatz-oberoesterreich.at/en/ www.arbeitsplatz-oberoesterreich.at/en/]

== Conclusions ==
Upper Austria's #upperVISION2030 business and research strategy is integrated into the location partners' objectives system. The interaction of the individual protagonists ensures close coordination with corresponding strategies. A major contribution of the location partners is to see the region as a whole and actively shape the strategy process. Each location partner needs the freedom to act on its own. Nevertheless, transparency, coordinated measures and the use of synergies in the central fields of action are essential for the successful implementation of the business and research strategy. Within the framework of the control model, the interaction of all the protagonists involved is to be ensured.
[[File:Image3 UA.png|center|frameless|600x600px]]

=== Connections between Transfarm 4.0 and smart specialization in PF in Upper Austria ===
In general, Upper Austria has a strong focus on agriculture, since approximately 90 percent of its surface area is used for agriculture and forestry. The diverse landscape structure results in different production focuses like cropping farms, pork production and vegetable cultivation in the centre, strong cattle and milk farming in the west and north of the province as well as alpine farming in the south. Hence, in Upper Austria there are several institutions that conduct research and development in the field of precision agriculture. As learned in the Transfarm 4.0 project, the topics of the pilot actions meet very well with the fields of activities of Upper Austrian companies. For example, the topic of ISOBUS (pilot action 1) is applied in many products of Upper Austrian agricultural machinery manufacturers. Furthermore, also the topics of remote and proximal sensing (pilot action 2) and big and smart data management (pilot action 3) are well related to Upper Austrians S3 priorities, as they meet the topic of the call for digital transformation. Furthermore, the topic of digitization is a core issue at many higher education institutions in Upper Austria. In general, we found that Upper Austria has a very well elaborated strategy with its “#upperVISION2030 business and research strategy”. If we were allowed to make a recommendation, we would want the topic of precision agriculture to be visible in the strategy as well, especially since several companies and institutions in Upper Austria conduct research and development in this field.

File:Image3 UA.png

2022-07-14T10:48:31Z

Marek:

Conclusions

File:Image2 UA.png

2022-07-14T10:42:37Z

Marek:

Internal processes perspective

REGIONAL ACTION PLAN UPPER AUSTRIA

2022-07-14T10:29:36Z

Marek:

File:Image1 UA.png

2022-07-14T10:29:00Z

Marek:

Sustainable Development Goals

REGIONAL ACTION PLAN BIELSKO-BIAŁA, SILESIAN VOIVODESHIP

2022-07-01T11:16:39Z

Marek: Created page with "D.T3.1.5 ARR SA '''[https://wiki.precision-farm40.com/images/9/95/AT_3.1.5_regional_action_plan_ARR_SA_eng_FIN.pdf PDF version you can download here].''' == INDICE == * Introduction - the national approach on Precision Agriculture * Regional Diagnosis of Silesian Voivodeship * Vision of the rural areas development of the Silesian Voivodeship * Strategy for the rural development of Silesian Voivodeship 2030 * Possible action for then considerations and implementati..."

D.T3.1.5 ARR SA

'''[https://wiki.precision-farm40.com/images/9/95/AT_3.1.5_regional_action_plan_ARR_SA_eng_FIN.pdf PDF version you can download here].'''

== INDICE ==

* Introduction - the national approach on Precision Agriculture
* Regional Diagnosis of Silesian Voivodeship
* Vision of the rural areas development of the Silesian Voivodeship
* Strategy for the rural development of Silesian Voivodeship 2030
* Possible action for then considerations and implementation.
* Financial framework: European Funds Silesian Voivodeship 2021-2027
* Lessons learned, conclusions and recommendations for policy makers

== Introduction - the national approach on Precision Agriculture ==
The agricultural sector is currently facing major challenges to feed a growing world population in a sustainable way, whilst dealing with major crises such as climate change and resource depletion. At the same time there are major technological advances in the fields of robotics, nanotechnology, gene technology, artificial intelligence and machine learning, and energy generation, amongst many others.

There are many activities and strategied being implemented on the national level which are strictly related tot he agricultural and food production sector. However in Silesia Voivodeship there are no direct references in regional strategies and documents if we consider Precision Farming as such.

File:AT 3.1.5 regional action plan ARR SA eng FIN.pdf

2022-07-01T10:41:28Z

Marek:

REGIONAL ACTION PLAN UPPER AUSTRIA

2022-06-30T06:45:21Z

Marek: Created page with "D.T3.1.5 – Regional Action Plan to transform the regional industrial specialization in PF in S3 driving force Version 1 05 2022 '''[https://wiki.precision-farm40.com/images/2/2f/Deliverable_D.T3.1.5_-_Regional_Action_Plan_-_Upper_Austria_-_PP8_-_FIN.pdf PDF version you can download here.]''' === '''Introduction''' === The information provided in this document is based primarily on discussions with S3 managers of the region of Upper Austria, as well as on research on..."