Digital Transformation in Agriculture!

Angeliki Milioti
Apr 9
3 min read

Updated: Apr 21

The Informatics Laboratory of the Agricultural University of Athens (AUA), under the auspices of the Hellenic Agricultural Insurance Organization (ELGA), hosted a successful hybrid conference on "Digital Transformation in Agriculture: Knowledge and Innovation Networks", a flagship event organized within the framework of the European TALLHEDA project.

About the Event

Held on Wednesday, 1 April 2026 at the Library Amphitheatre of the Agricultural University of Athens, the conference brought together academics, industry representatives, policymakers, and students to explore the latest advances in digital agriculture. The event was also accessible online via live streaming, extending its reach to participants across Europe.

The conference aimed to strengthen digital agriculture through collaborative networks, innovative practices, and educational initiatives — core pillars of the TALLHEDA mission.

Programme Highlights

The day opened with welcoming remarks from the University Rector and Prof. Konstantina Kostopoulou, Director of the Informatics Laboratory, who set the stage for a rich programme of presentations.

The morning sessions covered a wide range of topics at the intersection of technology and agriculture:

Geospatial Technologies in Agricultural Digital Transformation — Prof. Dionysios Kalyvas (GIS Research Unit, AUA) explored the spatial dimension of digital agriculture and the role of geotechnologies in modernizing the sector.

ELGA's Digital Transformation — Andreas Lykourrentzos, President of ELGA, presented the organization's ongoing efforts to digitize its crop assessment processes, marking a major step forward in agricultural insurance.
AMALTHEA: AI-Assisted Agricultural Land Classification — Asst. Prof. Emmanouel Psomiadis demonstrated an innovative dynamic, multi-layered digital mapping tool that categorizes agricultural land by productivity levels.

Modern Challenges in Food Production and Nutrition — Rodios Gamvros, President of the Scientific Committee of the Federation of Hellenic Food Industries (SEVT), addressed the pressing challenges facing the food production landscape today.

From Knowledge to Innovation — Irini Xaxiri, Programmes Manager at SEVT, discussed the crucial role of European projects in bridging academia and industry.

After the coffee break, presentations turned to practical applications and international collaborations:

Frost Damage in Tree Crops & the Life-Frostdefend Programme — Prof. Dimitris Georgakopoulos (AUA) shared strategies for frost forecasting and mitigation in arboricultural systems.

Cropt: From Research to AI-Driven Deep Tech Startup — Dr. Oskar Marko, co-founder of Cropt, presented the journey from academic research at BioSense Institute to building a successful AgriTech startup.

Precision Agriculture for Protein Excellence — Camilla Bizzarri (Agricolus) showcased how precision agriculture tools are being leveraged within the VALPRO Path Project.

Practical Applications of Satellite Data — Ervin Csoke (World from Space) outlined real-world uses of satellite data across the agricultural cycle.

The afternoon featured a presentation on the Agri-food Partnership of the Region of Thessaly as a regional coordination and innovation mechanism, where Prof. Dimitris Savvas (AUA / ECONUTRI project) demonstrated automated nutrition and irrigation management in hydroponic cucumber cultivation.

The event closed with an open discussion and summary session.

Student Research in the Spotlight

A dedicated E-Session ran throughout the conference breaks, showcasing innovative student work developed within the TALLHEDA framework through e-poster presentations: