The overarching aim of the QuantiFarm project is to support the further deployment of digital technologies in agriculture (DATs) as key enablers for enhancing the sustainability performance and competitiveness of the agricultural sector. To achieve this goal, QuantiFarm aims to establish a comprehensive assessment framework for the independent qualitative and quantitative assessment of the multiple costs and benefits of DATs, as well as of their sustainability impact.
Following a multi-actor approach, QuantiFarm will carry out 30 test cases involving commercial farms from seven agricultural sectors across 20 European countries. The aim will be to assess the DATs used in the farms, translate the findings into policy recommendations and feed the results into the QuantiFarm Digital innovation Academy that will help strengthen the capacity of advisors to provide innovative advisory services on DATs and enable farmers to make the best selection and use of DATs. Farmers and a broad range of other actors will also benefit from a set of decision support tools, including a recommender system, cost-benefit calculators, and a benchmarking tool derived from testing and validation of DATs and their costs, benefits and sustainability on site over 3 growing seasons.
The project will support policy makers by delivering policy recommendations and a Policy Monitoring Tool, which can be used by CAP governing bodies, accredited certification bodies, regulators and others. The tool will allow for an assessment of the impacts of DATs on sustainability as well as for monitoring and evaluating policies and interventions at the farm, regional and national level. A Behaviour Analysis Methodology will also be developed based on key determinants of adoption and perception of DATs including values, motivations and knowledge of DATs for agriculture as well as an overview of why, when, how and who adopt DATs, based on data collected from farmers, advisors and policy stakeholders.
