This blog post is based on the 24th Practice Abstract from the second batch of Farmtopia Practice Abstracts.
Small vegetable farms are particularly exposed to the effects of climate change, rising production costs and limited access to digital technologies. In Serbia, some farmers are responding by reintroducing traditional vegetable varieties that are better adapted to local conditions and more tolerant of drought and heat.
However, these varieties are often not supported by detailed production guidelines, reliable market information or digital decision-support tools. At the same time, many precision-farming solutions are designed for larger farms and can be too complex or expensive for smallholders.
ABS Veggie, developed through a Farmtopia Open Call Sustainable Innovation Pilot, explores how these challenges can be addressed through a free-to-farmer digital solution designed specifically for small-scale vegetable production
Bringing traditional varieties and digital farming together
ABS Veggie combines several tools in one decision-support environment:
- Production planning
- Earth Observation (EO) monitoring
- The Farmtopia Digital Field Book
- Gene bank information on traditional vegetable varieties
- Optional drone-supported field operations
- Local weather information
Farmers receive parcel-specific recommendations based on satellite-derived vegetation and soil-moisture indicators combined with local weather data.
The Farmtopia Digital Field Book is used to record farming activities, creating a digital record of what happens in each field. These records improve traceability while also providing additional information that can support the decision-making process.
The platform also connects farmers with gene bank information, helping them identify traditional varieties that may be better suited to their local agroecological conditions.
Where drone services are available, the system can additionally support more precise application of crop protection products.
Tested under real farming conditions
The solution was co-created and validated together with the family farm PG “Svetislav Pačarić” in Serbia, focusing on cabbage and onion production.
During the pilot, ABS Veggie progressed from TRL 6 to TRL 8, demonstrating the solution under real farming conditions.
The experience showed that digital decision support can improve resource efficiency without necessarily making farm management more complicated.
Reducing inputs while maintaining crop performance
Compared with conventional practices, the pilot reported several resource-efficiency improvements:
- Up to 21% reduction in fertiliser use while maintaining crop performance.
- 12–20% water savings through EO-supported irrigation scheduling.
- Reduction of water used for pesticide application from approximately 200 litres to 20 litres per treatment when using drone-assisted spraying.
- More than 85% of field activities digitally recorded, supporting traceability and sustainability documentation.
These results demonstrate the potential of combining satellite information, farm records, weather data and targeted field operations to support more efficient use of resources.
The pilot also helped facilitate the introduction of traditional vegetable varieties by providing information that can help farmers select suitable cultivars and manage them according to site-specific conditions.
Practical steps for farmers
Farmers using ABS Veggie can start by digitally registering their production parcels before the growing season and ensuring that parcel boundaries are accurate. During the season, it is important to regularly record field operations in the Digital Field Book. Keeping these records up to date helps maintain traceability and provides a stronger basis for the recommendations generated by the system.
Before making decisions about irrigation, fertilisation or crop protection, farmers can also consult the EO-based recommendations and combine them with their own field observations.
Other practical steps include:
- Using local weather forecasts together with satellite information when planning field operations.
- Considering precision drone applications where available to reduce water consumption during crop protection.
- Using gene bank information to identify traditional varieties suited to local soil and climatic conditions.
- Gradually introducing suitable traditional varieties into commercial production rather than changing the entire production system at once.
Supporting climate resilience on small farms
One of the key advantages of ABS Veggie is that it brings several sources of information together in a system designed for small-scale vegetable production.
The platform does not focus solely on precision agriculture technology. It also addresses the knowledge and management needs surrounding traditional varieties, helping farmers combine local agricultural resources with modern digital tools.
Although the pilot focused on cabbage and onion production, the modular design of the solution means that the approach can potentially be adapted to other crops and small-scale farming systems.
Combining local knowledge with digital tools
ABS Veggie demonstrates how digitalisation can support climate-resilient farming without requiring smallholders to adopt overly complex systems. By combining Earth Observation, weather information, digital farm records, traditional-variety knowledge and optional drone services, the solution provides farmers with a more connected way to plan, monitor and document their production. For small vegetable farms, this approach can help improve resource efficiency, traceability and decision-making, while supporting the continued cultivation of varieties adapted to local conditions.
Based on Farmtopia Practice Abstract 24
Official title: Smart Farming Services for Climate-Resilient Cultivation of Old Vegetable Varieties (ABS Veggie OC SIP)
This blog post was created from Practice Abstract 24, part of the second batch of Farmtopia Practice Abstracts.
Publisher: Agro Budžet Sistem (ABS), PG “Svetislav Pačarić” (PGSP)
Author: Aleksandar Marotić
Contact: office@agrobudget.com