The Farmtopia Open Call Sustainable Innovation Pilot 10 (SIP 10) ABS Veggie demonstrated the practical potential of digital agriculture solutions during the ABS Veggie Open Day, held on 20 May 2026 at the farm of PG Svetislav Pačarić in Žabalj, Serbia.
Organised within the Farmtopia project under Horizon Europe and coordinated by Agro Budget System (ABS), the event brought together farmers, advisors, input and technology providers, cooperatives, and other stakeholders interested in improving the sustainability and climate resilience of vegetable production through digital innovation.
Live demonstrations highlight digital agriculture in practice
Participants had the opportunity to explore how the ABS Veggie platform supports small and medium-sized vegetable producers cultivating traditional onion and cabbage varieties through practical demonstrations and presentations.
Attendees observed:
– Earth Observation (EO) satellite parcel monitoring and NDVI analysis
– Digital Field Book functionalities and integration
– Live drone-supported field applications
– Production planning and field activity tracking tools
-Digital connectivity solutions linking farmers with suppliers
Field demonstrations generated particularly strong interest among participants, especially regarding precision spraying, water optimisation, and the practical use of EO data for crop monitoring.
These practical sessions helped demonstrate how digital technologies can support more efficient irrigation, crop protection, traceability, and day-to-day decision-making adapted to the realities of small farms.
Validation of tools within Farmtopia: ABS Veggie Platform
SIP10 focused on validating the ABS Veggie platform under real farming conditions and demonstrating how accessible Agricultural Digital Solutions (ADSs) can support small-scale vegetable production.
Consultations and discussions with participants highlighted the value of combining EO monitoring, Digital Field Book functionalities, production planning, and precision agriculture applications within a single practical framework.
For many participants, this was their first direct exposure to EO monitoring and drone technologies operating in the field environment, helping translate digital concepts into practical farming applications. Feedback collected during the event confirmed strong interest in user-friendly tools that support better planning, resource management, and operational efficiency while remaining accessible for smaller producers.
Digital Agriculture Adoption: Strong Interest, Practical Challenges
Discussions throughout the Open Day highlighted both opportunities and barriers for wider adoption of digital agriculture solutions.
Participants recognised the potential of digital tools to improve irrigation management, optimise input use, strengthen traceability, and support more informed decision-making. At the same time, important challenges remain, including implementation costs, digital literacy, and the need for solutions that are tested and validated under local production conditions.
Farmers emphasised that successful adoption depends on technologies being practical, affordable, easy to use, and clearly connected to everyday farming needs.
Additional training opportunities, practical demonstrations, and advisory support were identified as important next steps for building confidence and expanding uptake.
Knowledge Exchange and Collaboration Across the Agricultural Ecosystem
The Open Day also served as an important networking and knowledge exchange platform, strengthening collaboration between farmers, agricultural advisors, and technology providers.
Participants expressed strong interest in continued engagement through future workshops and hands-on demonstrations, particularly focused on EO interpretation, Digital Field Book usage, and drone-supported precision agriculture.