QuantiFarm Demo Event in Lithuania | Bringing Digital Innovation to Beekeeping
On 12 August 2025, the QuantiFarm project organised a hands-on demonstration event titled “Bees Live Demo” in the Vilkaviškis region, Lithuania, highlighting how digital technologies can support smarter and more efficient beekeeping practices.
The event brought together 20 participants, including farmers, advisors, policymakers, technology providers, and representatives from agricultural input companies. This diverse group created a collaborative environment for exchanging ideas, experiences, and perspectives on the future of digital beekeeping.
Setting the scene
The demonstration took place at a working bee farm, offering participants a direct connection to real-life conditions. The programme began with an introduction to the QuantiFarm project and its objectives, followed by a presentation of the digital solution and its role within modern agriculture.
The agenda combined theoretical insights with practical demonstration, including:
- – Presentation of the technology
- – Live demonstration on-site
- – Comparison between farms using digital tools and those without
- – Open discussion and Q&A session
Smart beehive monitoring in practice
At the core of the event was a smart farming Decision Support System (DSS) developed by betavia.lt, designed to support beekeepers through real-time data.
The system enables:
- – Continuous monitoring of beehive conditions through sensors installed inside the hives
- – Remote access to data, reducing the need for constant physical inspections
- – Visualisation of information via a digital dashboard
Farmer perspectives and feedback
Participants showed strong interest in the technology and its practical applications. Many expressed a clear willingness to adopt such solutions in their own operations.
A key benefit highlighted was the possibility to monitor bee activity remotely, allowing for more efficient time management and reduced disturbance of the hives.
At the same time, the event introduced many farmers to a relatively new concept, the digitalisation of beekeeping. Discussions and knowledge exchange were described as highly valuable, contributing to a better understanding of both the opportunities and challenges linked to adopting digital tools.
Challenges and lessons learned
Working with bees requires specific protective equipment and safety measures. As a result, participants were not able to approach active hives closely during the demonstration.
To address this limitation, organisers prepared a demonstration beehive, allowing participants to observe how sensors are installed and how the system operates in practice.
The need for deeper data understanding
One of the most important takeaways from the event was participants’ strong interest in understanding and interpreting the data visualisations provided by the system.
In particular, farmers expressed the need for:
- – Guidance on reading and analysing dashboard graphs
- – More detailed explanations of how data translates into actionable decisions
This feedback points to the importance of organising dedicated workshops and follow-up training sessions, supporting farmers in fully utilising digital tools.
A step forward for digital beekeeping
Overall, the event was perceived as a valuable and forward-looking experience. Participants highlighted the importance of continuing such initiatives, suggesting that similar events should take place at least twice per year, both before and after the beekeeping season.
Moving forward
The “Bees Live Demo” demonstrated how digital innovation can extend beyond traditional crop and livestock farming into areas such as apiculture.
By combining technology, field experience, and stakeholder interaction, QuantiFarm continues to support farmers in exploring practical, data-driven solutions that enhance efficiency and sustainability.
As interest in digital beekeeping grows, initiatives like this play a crucial role in bridging the gap between innovation and everyday farming practice, ensuring that technology delivers real value where it matters most: in the field.
