The Ecosystem Bylaw – Precisionfarm

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Precision Farming Knowledge Transfer Ecosystem bylaw

1. Subject matter

1.1. With this document, the parties intend to establish an agreement in principle to pursue the purposes and objectives set out below.
1.2. An agreement that, although not binding, establishes the general intentions of the underwriters with regard to the purposes and objectives indicated.
1.3. The present agreement is realized within the CE0200761 Project Interreg Agri-digital Growth funded under the Central Europe Programme 2021 – 2027 which has within its objectives the activation of a Precision Farming Knowledge transfer Ecosystem.

2. Aims and objectives

2.1. The aim of this Agreement is to create a network for the precision farming knowledge transfer across Central Europe. Within the project Agri-Digital Growth, project partners aim to identify and map stakeholders within the regions of the Interreg Central Europe programme who are actively engaged in advancing digitalisation, promoting sustainabile practices, producing machineries in the primary sector and its related value chain. This initiative aims to foster collaboration among companies (agricultural machinery and systems manufacturers, farmers, consultants, etc.), research institutions, agricultural chambers, and business support organisations. The identified stakeholders will be incorporated into the platform www.agridigitalgrowth.eu, which will serve as a central reference point for companies seeking knowledge centers to establish partnerships and promote synergies in the field of precision farming.

The platform will serve as a ample and dynamic repository, hosting a ‘Map of Knowledge Centers’, which will build upon and expand the ‘Map of Providers and Manufacturers of Precision Farming Technologies’ developed within the framework of the Interreg Central Europe Transfarm 4.0 project. Established and managed by ARSSA, the platform will remain active for a minimum of three years after the conclusion of the project (November 2026). It will be systematically updated to support the promotion of initiatives, the dissemination of knowledge, the sharing of experiences, and the exchange of resources among its partners. The platform will be designed to facilitate collaboration among agricultural machinery and systems manufacturers, research centers, and precision farming organizations, fostering the advance of knowledge in the field of precision agriculture.

2.2. The objectives of this Agreement include, but are not limited to, the following points. Additional objectives may be included as deemed appropriate:

Support the implementation of digital and innovative technologies and know-how transfer especially to support the agricultural sector at regional, national and international level in the Interreg Central Europe program regions.
Support and integrate existing and new local initiatives/organisations on precision and digital farming.
Promote sustainable agricultural practices to reduce environmental impact.
Promote the development of skills through training and dissemination of knowledge on advanced technologies.
Facilitate the exchange of knowledge and experience between farmers, researchers, advisors and agricultural machinery and systems manufacturers.
Support the research and development of new technological solutions and agricultural practices.
Promote the identification of funding for precision agriculture projects and other issues of interest to partners.

3. Commitment of the parties

3.1. The signatories of this Agreement commit to promoting a culture of developing, validating and implementing digital and innovative technologies in the agricultural sector. Their efforts will focus on identifying and updating stakeholders interested in developing collaboration, research and business opportunities through the network, which will be established with the following characteristics.

4. Structure of the network

4.1. The Network or other legal body that will be identified is open to all subjects that intend to promote the development of the primary sector, in particular research centers, universities, agricultural machinery and systems manufacturers, service and consulting providers, business support organizations, public bodies and regulators active in the agricultural and sustainability sector.

4.2. Each member actively participates in the activities and contributes to the achievement of the common objectives according to their own competences and resources.

4.3. Hub and Spoke Structure and roles:

4.3.1. Hub: It includes the founding partners of the Network (Agri-Digital Growth project partners) and the research centers that subsequently join it and make a specific request. The hubs act as central cores for the management of activities, the coordination of projects and the definition of common strategies. They drive together with companies innovation, skills development and the promotion of sustainability within the Network.

CREA -Council for Research and Economics, Italy;
Josephinum Research, Austria;
Linz Center of Mechatronics GmbH, Austria;
EIT Digital IVZW, Belgium;
Federunacoma SURL, Italy;
Fondazione Fenice onlus, Italy;
Plan 4 all, z.s., Czech Republic;
University of Maribor, Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences Slovenia;
Hungarian University Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Hungary;
University of Zagreb, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture, Croatia;
Agency For Regional Development Bielski Biala, Poland.

4.3.2. Hub Roles: Hubs coordinate the activities of the Network and facilitate collaboration between partners, developing and sharing new knowledge, technologies and methodologies for agriculture. They are active in:

Leading and cooperating in the development and adoption of new technologies in the agricultural sector.
Coordinate and/or join initiatives to promote sustainable agricultural practices.
Organize and/or contribute to training programs and workshops to enhance partners’ skills.
Promote, support and/or coordinate research projects within the Network.
Identify funding opportunities and coordinate the preparation of proposals to obtain funds.

4.3.3. Spoke: It includes all production organisations, such as agricultural machinery and systems manufacturers, farms, technology providers, consultants, startups and other operating entities. The spokes develop, implement and adopt the technologies and practices promoted by the Network, contribute practical feedback, participate in pilot tests and disseminate the good practices developed together with the hubs.

4.3.4. Spokes Roles: Spokes collaborate with the hubs and can propose and participate in the various initiatives of the Network, contributing to:

Research and development of new solutions and pilot projects.
Develop training programs to enhance the skills of workers and students.
Participate in project proposals and funding opportunities.
Share experiences, data and best practices with the hubs and other partners of the Network.

5. Specific measures for interested stakeholders to act on the recommendation provided

5.1. The Precision Farming Knowledge Ecosystem aims offer the following benefits to the partners of the network:

Ensure that stakeholders belonging to the network receive targeted training in the areas relevant to them, an online courses area will be made available in the platform www.agridigitalgrowth.eu. It will provide training on specific topics related to precision farming, digitalization in agriculture and sustainability. Each project partner and more in general the hubs will provide innovative information to support the digitalization of the sector.
Promote the exchange of knowledge and its transfer from theory to practice, favour cooperation between companies, farmers and research institutions through workshops, seminars and field demonstration.
Promote the exchange of best practices and mutual support, the ecosystem serves as a platform for networking stakeholders to promote the continuous exchange of knowledge and the practical implementation of precision farming technologies. The aim is to bring the knowledge generated by research institutions closer to stakeholders (agricultural manifacturers, advisors, farmers, students). The platform will host a map of the organization devoted to precision farming and relative contacts to favour networking between associates.
The network aims to support farmers and advisors in upskilling their digital knowledge, improve their capacitiy in evaluating the adoption and exploitating the potential of precision farming.
The network aims to support agricultural manifacturers and organisations linked to the agricultural value chain,in developing new solution for precision agriculture and its integration on the device or equipment.

Moreover, the Precision Farming Knowledge Ecosystem supports:

5.1.1. International Standards and Guidelines

The Network promotes the adoption of common standards to ensure the quality of the practices and technologies used.
All activities of the Network comply with national and international regulations on safety, agricultural regulation and use of technologies.
The Network takes a participatory approach, actively involving farmers and other stakeholders in knowledge transfer.

5.1.2. Sustainability and Innovation

The Network is committed to developing strategies for adaptation to climate change and to promoting the use of innovative technologies and practices to improve the efficiency and sustainability of agricultural activities.
The Network monitors the state of the art of agricultural technologies and practices, with the aim of updating its guidelines and operational activities.

5.1.3. Research and Funding

The Network supports partners in the search for public and private funds to finance digitization, precision agriculture and sustainability projects.
The Network organizes and participates in workshops, seminars and conferences to promote research and share discoveries with the public and partners.

5.2. Partnership, Registration, Renewal and Charges

Registration: Participation in the Network is open to all entities that share the purposes and objectives defined in this agreement. Registration shall be made through the platform www.agridigitalgrowth.eu
Renewal: Partnership is automatically renewed every year, unless the member withdraws.
Withdrawal: A member may withdraw from the Network at any time by written notice to the coordination committee with at least 30 days’ notice.
Charges: Participation in the Network is free of charge and does not entail any direct financial obligation for the partners.

5.3. Collaboration mechanisms

The hubs collaborate through regular meetings (every quarter at least 1 time), both virtual or/and in-person, to discuss progress, plan new activities and share knowledge.
The Network uses online collaborative platforms to facilitate communication and sharing of documents, resources and ideas.
The network may organise study visits to hubs or spokes of the network and to organisations outside the network.

5.4. Communication, Dissemination and Use of Data

The Network develops and maintains an online platform for sharing knowledge, experience and resources among partners (www.agridigitalgrowth.eu).
The Network organizes training and dissemination events to promote good practices and innovation in the agricultural sector.
The founding partners have the right to use the contact details of the partners to promote initiatives of the Network and / or the partners themselves. These data will be used exclusively for purposes related to the objectives of the Network (point 2), such as the communication of events, collaboration opportunities, updates on ongoing projects and other activities relevant to the agricultural sector.

6. Final provisions

6.1. Compromissory clause

For any dispute between partners, concerning the interpretation, execution or application of provisions, regulations or deriving from resolutions legally adopted by the competent bodies of the Network, the parties refer to the decision of the Court of Padua.

6.2. Final provisions

The provisions of these agreement may be amended with the approval of a qualified majority of the founding partners.
The Network may be dissolved with the consent of the majority of the founding partners or when its aims are no longer achievable.

7. Effectiveness

7.1. This writing represents a declaration in good faith of the intentions of the Parties as of today and constitutes the basis for the completion of the negotiations described in the preceding Articles.
7.2. The present writing has therefore a programmatic, non-binding nature, and should not be understood as a proposal, preliminary contract or option and therefore no obligations or commitments will arise for the Parties.

8. Project consortium – hubs – founders of the precision farming knowledge transfer ecosystem

Lead partner P1 – CREA
P2 – Josephinum Research
P3 – Linz Center of Mechatronics GmbH
P4 – EIT Digital IVZW
P5 – Italian Agricultural Machinery Manufacturers Federation
P6 – Fenice Foundation NGO
P7 – Plan4all
P8 – University of Maribor
P9 – Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences
P10 – University of Zagreb, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture
P11 – Regional Development Agency in Bielsko-Biała.