INNOSETA
INNOSETA
A little bit about the project:
INNOSETA is a European project funded by the Horizon 2020 program (grant agreement no. 773864), coordinated by the Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UMA-UPC). The consortium brings together 15 partners from different European countries, and its implementation period was from May 2018 to October 2021.
Main objective
INNOSETA aims to create a self-sustaining and innovative thematic network focused on spraying equipment, training, and advice (SET A: Spraying Equipment, Training and Advising), in order to bridge the gap between research/innovation and real-world farming practices in Europe. In other words, to bring technical and scientific advances to the field, facilitate their adoption, and promote a more efficient, safe, and sustainable use of plant protection products.
Need for the project
Although modern sprayers, advanced application technologies, optimized methods, and best practices (BMPs) for crop protection have been developed in recent years, these solutions often fail to reach the end farmer. Reasons for this include farm diversity, cultural differences, lack of training, and economic limitations. Consequently, many innovations do not translate into real changes in the field. INNOSETA identifies this “innovation gap” and proposes a structured approach to overcome this obstacle.
Strategy and approach
To achieve its objectives, INNOSETA developed the following lines of action:
- Preparation of a comprehensive inventory of spraying technologies, available equipment, training materials and advisory tools (SETA), both commercial and research-based.
- Assessment of the needs and barriers faced by farmers and end users regarding the adoption of these technologies —considering geographical diversity, farm size and agronomic context.
- Creation of a accessible and free digital platform, multilingual, where the following are grouped:
- Spraying products / equipment.
- Training materials.
- Studies, guides and best practices.
- Related projects and technical articles.
- Organization of an international network of actors (research, industry, advisory, farmers) and implementation of regional and international workshops, events and workshops to facilitate the exchange of experiences and promote the adoption of innovations.
- Development of a policy recommendations guide to support authorities and policymakers in implementing more sustainable crop protection strategies, in line with European regulations.
Achievements and outstanding results
- Identifying the main obstacles that limit the adoption of modern spraying technologies in different EU countries, providing a solid basis for guiding training and transfer strategies.
- Compilation, evaluation and classification of more than 200 SETA (equipment, materials, tools) available offering a complete and up-to-date resource for agricultural professionals.
- Launch and implementation of the INNOSETA platform, which offers free access to all the resources collected (equipment, training, bibliography, guides), facilitating its use by farmers, technicians and advisors.
- Organization of regional workshops and international networking activities that have made it possible to connect research, industry, advisors and end users, promoting the dissemination and discussion of new practices.
- The inclusion of INNOSETA in official training programs on pesticide application equipment, as a complement to inspection and certification courses in the EU, reinforces its institutional relevance.
Expected impact and strategic relevance
INNOSETA makes a decisive contribution to the modernization and sustainability of crop protection in Europe through:
- Facilitating the real adoption of advanced technologies by farmers of different sizes.
- Improving the safe, efficient and responsible use of plant protection products.
- Reduction of environmental impact and health risks resulting from poorly calibrated or inadequate applications.
- Convergence between research, innovation and agricultural practice closing the traditional techno-scientific gap.
- Strengthening the European agricultural innovation chain through training, advice and multi-sector collaboration.
INNOSETA represents a model of effective knowledge transfer: it takes scientific and technological developments that are often inaccessible or little known and makes them available to the agricultural sector in a practical, organized and free way.