TALLHEDA 4th Brainstorming Visit to the Agricultural University of Athens!

The Agricultural University of Athens (AUA) welcomed researchers, educators, entrepreneurs, and students from across Europe for the 4th Round of the TALLHEDA Project Brainstorming Action, a two-day event dedicated to advancing knowledge exchange and skills in digital agriculture.

Held at the Elections Hall of the Central Administration Building, the event was organized by the Informatics Lab of AUA under the theme "Shaping the Future of Digital Agriculture: Knowledge Exchange and Skills." The gathering brought together a rich mix of international experts and local innovators, reflecting the collaborative and cross-border spirit at the heart of the TALLHEDA project.

Day 1 – Tuesday, May 12: From Soil Science to Smart Robotics

The first day opened with welcoming remarks from the Rectorate Authorities of AUA, followed by an introduction by Assoc. Prof. M. Ntaliani of the Informatics Lab, who set the stage for a packed programme of brainstorming lectures and discussions.

The morning sessions featured presentations from Belgium, Serbia, and Greece:

• A. Bourafai (Ghent University) and J. Vangeyte (ILVO, Belgium) introduced the Soil Quality Analysis Tool (SQAT Project), exploring how digital tools can help farmers and agronomists better assess and manage soil health.

• K. Uyttenhove (ODYC, Belgium) presented advances in Precision Manure Application, demonstrating how data-driven approaches can optimize nutrient management while reducing environmental impact.

• N. Kopilović (TERRA, Serbia) spoke on learning digital agriculture through the QuantiFarm Toolkit, making the case for a shift from individual tool use to broader systems thinking in agricultural education.

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The afternoon spotlight went to M. Papachristopoulou from iKnowHow S.A., who presented real-world robotics applications in Greek agriculture, offering an inspiring look at how automation is already transforming farming practices on the ground. The day concluded with a Key Points Discussion, before participants gathered for a social dinner and networking event in the evening.

Day 2 – Wednesday, May 13: IoT, Drones, and Student Innovation

The second day maintained the momentum with an equally diverse lineup, opening with a presentation by As. Prof. G. Lagogiannis of AUA's Informatics Laboratory on Wireless Sensor Networks and IoT Applications in Digital Agriculture — a foundational area for enabling real-time farm monitoring and decision-making.

F. Chatzipapadopoulos from Smart Agro Hub then brought theory to life with a lecture on Irrigation Digital Twins, exploring how virtual farm replicas can help optimize water use in practice.

Following a coffee break, A. Zerkoulis, CEO and Co-Founder of Inagros, offered a practitioner's perspective with his talk "From Farmer to Farm Manager", addressing the evolving role of the modern agricultural professional in a digitally connected world.

One of the highlights of the day was a live Demonstration of Agricultural Drones in a Vineyard by V. Psiroukis, PhD of AUA, illustrating the practical potential of drone technology for precision viticulture.

The afternoon sessions shone a light on student-led innovation, with three undergraduate researchers from AUA presenting their own digital agriculture projects:

• M. Xanthoudakis (PhD) presented a Digital Assistant for Aromatic Plants, helping growers manage cultivation with smart guidance.

• Z. Paxinou introduced StrawBot, a chatbot designed to support digital tool adoption in strawberry production.

• E. Angelakou showcased AgriVend, a smart assistant for innovative agri-business applications.

• I. Giaketa demonstrated an Augmented Reality Educational Application for Beekeeping, bringing immersive technology to apicultural training.

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The event closed with an Open Discussion of Brainstorming Results, during which participants reviewed key conclusions, proposed action points, and addressed managerial and coordination issues to guide the next phases of the TALLHEDA project.

A European Collaboration Bearing Fruit

The 4th Brainstorming Round underscored TALLHEDA's role as a vital platform for connecting academic research, industry expertise, and student talent around the shared challenge of digitalising European agriculture. With participants from Belgium, Serbia, and Greece contributing perspectives from the field, the lab, and the classroom, the event demonstrated that the future of farming is both collaborative and deeply innovative.