For many small and medium-sized farms, adopting digital technology can feel like a difficult investment. Farmers may be aware of precision agriculture and digital platforms, but limited time, costs, connectivity and uncertainty about which tools are truly useful can stand in the way of adoption.
The Farmtopia SIP12 Open Day, held on 21 May 2026 at Kievo Winery in Dolni Balvan, Karbinci, North Macedonia, brought these questions into the field. Hosted by Kievo Winery and led by Mario Petkovski, the event introduced participants to RAMAS – the Remote Agricultural Monitoring and Advisory System and demonstrated how digital information and remote agronomic advice can support everyday farm decisions.
Eighteen participants took part, including farmers, farm advisors, researchers, students, technical staff and other agricultural professionals.
Bringing digital advice closer to the farm
The event began with an introduction to the Farmtopia project and the results achieved through the RAMASphere project, followed by a field visit and live demonstration of RAMAS at Kievo Winery.
For many participants, digital technology was still relatively new. Weather applications on smartphones and spreadsheets for recording crop cycles and inputs were among the most common tools used in their daily activities. Although participants were generally familiar with the idea of precision agriculture, hands-on experience with more advanced digital solutions remained limited.
Kievo Winery provided a useful example of what greater digital adoption can look like. The farm had already been using RAMAS during the pilot year, allowing participants to see the system not simply as a concept, but as a tool being used in a real farming environment.
Seeing the technology in action
The field demonstration was the standout moment of the Open Day. Participants were able to see how RAMAS brings together different sources of agricultural information, including soil maps, nutrition maps, satellite imagery and advisory reports, and how this information can support crop management.
The demonstration also showed the wider range of technologies implemented at Kievo Winery, including photovoltaic systems, tractor auto-steering and irrigation. Seeing these technologies directly in the field helped connect digital innovation with practical farming operations.
The experience was particularly valuable because participants could observe the results of a full growing season rather than simply seeing a demonstration of the platform itself. The documented pilot results, including reductions in pesticide and fertiliser use through data-driven recommendations, helped demonstrate the potential practical and economic value of digital decision support.
For some participants who had initially been sceptical about the usefulness of digital tools for smaller farms, seeing RAMAS operating at Kievo Winery changed that perception.
From data to actionable advice
One of the features that attracted particular interest was the connection between digital information and direct communication with agronomists.
Rather than expecting farmers to interpret complex datasets independently, RAMAS combines monitoring information with advisory support. Participants highlighted the potential value of being able to receive recommendations remotely, reducing the need for agronomists to make frequent on-site visits.
The integration of satellite data and weather APIs through RAMASphere was also seen as a useful development. For farms that cannot justify investing in physical weather stations, access to this information through a digital platform could provide an additional source of information for farm management.
The message from participants was clear: digital tools are most useful when they turn data into clear, practical recommendations that farmers can act on.
Making digital innovation accessible
Cost was the most frequently raised concern during the discussions. Participants questioned whether the return on investment would be sufficient for farms operating with limited margins. Internet connectivity in rural areas was another practical barrier, while some participants were concerned about the availability of technical and advisory support over the long term.
These concerns highlighted the importance of designing digital solutions around the realities of smaller farms.
Participants particularly appreciated RAMAS’s modular structure, which allows farmers to select individual programmes rather than committing to a complete package. This could make it easier for farms to adopt digital tools gradually, according to their specific needs and budgets.
They also emphasised the importance of simple interfaces, local-language support, reliable connectivity and access to agronomists familiar with the regional agricultural context.
From demonstration to real interest
The practical nature of the Open Day generated strong engagement. The workshop, “How to Implement RAMAS on your farm?”, prompted detailed questions about the onboarding process, advisory programmes and costs.
The discussion continued beyond the planned agenda, with the Q&A session running around 15 minutes over schedule because of the number of questions from participants.
Several participants requested follow-up contact with the advisory team to explore the possibility of piloting RAMAS on their own farms. Two participants requested the presentation slides and RAMAS user guide, while a representative from APRZ expressed interest in exploring adoption at cooperative level, where a shared advisory model could potentially reduce costs per farm.
Participants also raised questions about data ownership and privacy, highlighting the importance of trust alongside technological functionality.
Building digital farming around farmers' needs
The SIP12 Open Day demonstrated that digital innovation can be particularly convincing when farmers can see it working in a real farm environment.
At Kievo Winery, participants could move from the presentation room to the vineyard and see how soil information, satellite imagery, advisory reports and automated technologies can come together to support farm management. The experience showed that digitalisation does not have to mean replacing farmers’ knowledge or adding unnecessary complexity. Instead, the right tools can provide farmers and advisors with better information to support their decisions.
For Farmtopia, this is an important part of making digital farming more accessible. The SIP12 experience showed that when digital solutions are affordable, practical, adaptable and supported by human expertise, they can become a useful part of everyday farming- even on small and medium-sized farms.