Final National Training Session of the Digital Innovation Academy | Cyprus
Organised by Filagrotiki Symvouleftiki Ltd, the three-hour session brought together farmers and advisors from Orini Larnaka, a region where tree crops and beekeeping are closely linked. The event focused on supporting farmers and advisors in understanding and applying digital agriculture solutions, with a focus on the adoption and application of Digital Agriculture Technology Solutions (DATSs).
A Training Focused on Real Needs
Titled “Digital Agriculture Solutions in Tree Crops and Beekeeping”, the session addressed the realities of local producers managing olive groves, citrus orchards, and apiaries.
The agenda included:
- > QuantiFarm results in olive cultivation
- > Presentation of the QuantiFarm Toolkit
- > The role of advisors in digital adoption
- > Applications of DATSs in tree crops and pollination monitoring
- > Open discussion and Q&A
The training was delivered in Greek and attended by 12 participants (10 men and 2 women), including farmers and advisors.
From Olive Groves to Beehives: Digital Tools in Practice
Participants explored real-life applications of Gaiasense, Gaiatrap, and digital solutions for pollination and beekeeping monitoring. Discussions focused on how these solutions can improve irrigation decisions, pest monitoring, and pollination management, while effectively supporting farmers in using DATSs combining tree crops and beekeeping as a combined farming activity. The QuantiFarm Toolkit was also presented as a practical tool to assess the economic and sustainability impact of digital investments.
Addressing Adoption Challenges
Beyond technical demonstrations, the session addressed a crucial theme of the QuantiFarm project: the behavioural dimension of digital adoption. Discussions focused on farmers’ familiarity with digital farming (reported as generally low), the importance of advisory services in building trust, and the need to combine tree crops and beekeeping within a holistic digital strategy.
Participants openly reflected on challenges specific to Cyprus, including the small size of local holdings, and limited water availability affecting irrigation-related investments. These insights align closely with QuantiFarm’s broader behavioural analysis work and reinforce the need for tailored, context-specific advisory support.
Lessons Learned and Future Perspectives
The session concluded with constructive feedback. Participants highlighted the value of the training while suggesting that future activities could include more hands-on, on-site demonstrations, ideally hosted at a demo farm equipped with training facilities.
As the final National Training Session in Cyprus, the event provided farmers and advisors with practical insights into the use of digital tools in tree crops and beekeeping. Through presentations and open discussion, participants exchanged experiences, and reflected on the opportunities and challenges of digital adoption in the Cypriot context.
