AgriCloud: Demonstration of a cloud-based precision farming management system for a sustainable and intensive agriculture to secure long-term food supply in Europe

Project information
The project intends to commercialize an integrated precision farming service model in the cloud to increase farming productivity and profitability in a sustainable way. Today, the majority of farmers manage their crop by gut feeling, leading to inappropriate fertilization, plant damage and unnecessary environmental impact. The AgriCloud system is the first holistic management approach, processing all available data from agronomic sensors, machinery and service companies and, backed by plant nutrition expert knowledge, will facilitate a targeted use of fertilisers and herbicides, efficient machinery utilisation and workflow management. Farmers are operating a mixed stock of stand-alone agricultural machinery. AgriCloud meets their need for integrated solutions with only one data infrastructure for a coordinated, easy-to-use machinery control from one user interface that informs on the causalities and determinants of yield. The feasibility study comprises an investigation of market structures, segments and barriers, specifically of international markets, a customer survey, the identification of 7 pilot customers and development of an IP strategy. Technical goals are an customer-oriented specification and revision, risk analysis and consideration of regional characteristics. AgriCloud helps maintain Europe’s agricultural competitiveness and sustainability and manage climate change adaptation to ensure long-term food security and food quality. AgriCloud also contributes to implement the recent EU Common Agriculture Policy (CAP).
Project results: 
AgriCloud will increase yield production between 3-10%, reduce lodging to 50-100%, reduce fertilisers by 12-20% and improve harvest efficiency by 12-20%. Farmers total annual savings amount to approx. 130€/ha, so that their pay-back time, dependent on the total arable land, is about 1.5-3 years. The estimated market potential for Agricon is about 28 Mill.€ in 2021.
Project partners: 
AGRI CON GMBH PRECISION FARMING COMPANY Germany
Project dates: 
May 2015 to October 2015
Contact
Contact project
Contact organisation: 
AGRI CON GMBH PRECISION FARMING COMPANY Germany
Funding
Funding agency: 
Horizon 2020 - SME Instrument
Grant: 
k€50
Total budget: 
k€71