The Linux Foundation | 21 February 2024
Collaboration will address problems of accessibility, performance, and sustainability of digital farming tools in the agriculture sector.
SAN FRANCISCO – FEBRUARY 21, 2024 – The AgStack Foundation (AgStack) is excited to announce their collaboration with OpenAgri, a Horizon project funded by the European Union, which aims to empower farmers with free, open-source tools that can operate even in remote locations with limited network connectivity. Led by the University of Maastricht and a consortium of 18 diverse partners, the project connects farmers to cutting-edge technologies, closing the gap between rural and urban communities. This fosters a more inclusive and prosperous future for all. The project will address several key problems faced by the agricultural sector, particularly related to the accessibility, performance, and sustainability of digital farming tools.
AgStack is the Linux Foundation’s open source software project focused on creating free, reusable, pre-competitive digital public infrastructure specifically for the food and agriculture ecosystem. Leveraging the Linux Foundation’s proven governance process which spans 30 years of open source software development driving value for public and private stakeholders across multiple industries, AgStack is increasing the innovation efficiency and interoperability of digital offerings within food and agriculture.
From Promise to Action: Co-Creating Tomorrow's Agriculture
For years, the potential of Agricultural Digital Solutions (ADSs) has been discussed, yet widespread adoption has been slow. OpenAgri will address this by placing farmers at the core of its mission. The project will collaboratively develop cost-effective and energy-efficient open-source tools tailored to the specific needs of farmers including those in remote locations.
“OpenAgri signifies more than tools - it's a paradigm shift," said Prof. Christopher Brewster, coordinator of OpenAgri. "We're putting farmers at the heart of the digital revolution, equipping them with open-source capabilities that foster co-creation. We will create an open-source ecosystem that breaks down cost barriers, builds trust, and overcomes connectivity hurdles, putting farmers in the driver's seat of a sustainable agricultural future. Within our 14 Sustainable Innovation Pilots (SIPs) spanning 10 European countries, and ranging from secluded mountains to peri-urban farms, farmers and technology developers will work closely to craft solutions addressing their challenges. Together, they design innovative answers tailored to the specific needs of agriculture in diverse landscapes.”
OpenAgri is not just a lab experiment; it is a living community. That’s why beyond farmers, a variety of agricultural actors will be included, such as advisors, scientists, and ADS providers that will be collaborating in real-world testing grounds.
“We are excited to work with the OpenAgri consortium as they embark on this ambitious project,” said Sumer Johal, the executive director of AgStack. “The vision laid out for the project aligns well with AgStack’s mission to simplify the digital landscape faced by farmers by increasing interoperability and accelerate the innovation. The only way to make this sustainable is to leverage the open source community along with research and industry players. There are insights on which we can collaborate with the OpenAgri team.”
OpenAgri’s Open Call
The upcoming Open Call will enable creation and testing of new Open Source ADSs. The Open Call will fund small consortia of two entities, a farmer and an ADS provider. It will select 9 new SIPs. A total of €900,000, equating to €100,000 per SIP will be distributed.
Making Informed Choices with AI Support
But OpenAgri does not stop with pilots. The project will develop an AI-powered Decision Support Tool that will guide farmers, advisors, and policymakers in selecting the best possible solution for any situation, from cloud-powered analytics to edge-based sensors.
“The inclusion of AI into the agriculture decision making process in an open and transparent data structure is an exciting aspect to the project,” said Shishir Verma, SVP of AgStack ecosystem development. “The adaptation of existing data sets using AI & advanced analytics to better gain insights and enable value added actions will unlock efficiency and drive better outcomes on the farm. We look forward to learning and sharing from the OpenAgri effort across AgStack and the open source ecosystem broadly.”
The consortium participating in OpenAgri is dedicated to the vision of a future where sustainable, resilient agriculture thrives, powered by the collective ingenuity of farmers, nurtured by open-source solutions, and fuelled by collaboration.
The OpenAgri project has received funding by the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme. All the information is available on the project's website, as well as Facebook, Linkedin, X and Youtube.
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