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Project title

Digital tool technology for smart farming: Improving sustainability and reducing carbon footprint in the Irish horticulture and tillage sector

Primary Funding Agency

Science Foundation Ireland

Co-Funding Organisation(s)

Lead Organisation

Atlantic Technological University

Lead Applicant

Not listed

Project Abstract

Each stage of the food production process- growing, harvesting, transporting, processing, packaging, distributing, cooking and disposing residuals (Crippa 2021), contributes to GHG emissions. TEAGASC reported 35% of total global GHG emissions are through anthropogenic food production (TEAGASC, 2022), where supply-chain activities contribute significant amount to emissions at later part. Irish horticulture/tillage farms have the most efficient carbon footprint, and with Irelands� immense potential for the regional production of a wide variety of vegetables and cereal crops, these sectors can be expanded in a sustainable and climate friendly way for self-sufficiency in these sectors. The novelty of our approach lies in developing an open-source digital-twin platform through stakeholder involvement and co-creation activities along with dedicated workshops to account for each farm's carbon footprint by adopting sustainable, climate-friendly farming practices. Such approach is still at novice stage in Ireland, particularly for the horticulture/tillage farms. This, tool will use low-cost sensor networks to monitor the emissions and accommodate a web-based application to knowledge sharing and facilitate farmers to sell their produce. To complete the project in a timely manner, we identify the timeframe with target milestones, and accommodate proper budget for each of the planed tasks.

Grant Approved

�254,000.00

Research Hub

Climate Change

Research Theme

3. Climate Solutions, Transition Management and Opportunities

Start Date

01/06/2023

Initial Projected Completion Date

30/11/2024