On 27 May 2025, researchers and innovators will gather at OTEAcademy in Athens, Greece, for the NESTLER event, a Horizon Europe initiative focused on sustainable agricultural technologies. Running from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. (CEST), the event brings together diverse stakeholders to share approaches aligned with the Farm to Fork strategy and the European Green Deal.
CrackSense will be among the participants, sharing insights into real-time fruit monitoring as part of the event’s exploration of advanced tools for agricultural resilience.
NESTLER: A Shared Platform for Progress
The NESTLER project aims to reinforce sustainable farming through holistic monitoring of animal, plant, and human health. Its technical platform combines satellite imagery, drone data, and IoT sensor streams with machine learning pipelines. This multi-layered approach supports data-driven policy and on-the-ground actions that reflect the complex interdependencies in agri-food systems.
The event in Athens serves as a collaborative touchpoint for key actors in these efforts, facilitating dialogue and partnership across ongoing Horizon initiatives. Notably, the event is organised by the NESTLER Project and Synelixis Solutions SA, and will host experts from other leading EU-funded initiatives such as AgriDataValue and the GEORGIA EU Project, showcasing how integrated data approaches are enabling smarter, more responsive agriculture across Europe and beyond.
CrackSense Participation: Monitoring Fruit Cracking via Remote Sensing
The Agricultural University of Athens (AUA), a consortium member of the Horizon Europe-funded CrackSense project, will contribute to the event with a presentation titled “Estimating Pomegranate Fruit Cracking via Remote Sensing.” The talk will highlight how CrackSense applies both proximal and remote sensing technologies to assess cracking risk directly in the field.
Pomegranate cracking poses not only physiological concerns but also significant implications for yield and marketability. CrackSense introduces a shift from manual inspection to predictive monitoring, using a combination of multi-sensor setups and AI-driven analysis. Could scalable detection help growers take timely action and reduce food loss? Join the session as Katerina Kantari shares insights into this data-driven approach.
Key Topics and Shared Goals
The agenda touches on a range of themes relevant to modern farming strategies:
- Integrating AI for crop monitoring and predictive analysis
- Using UAV and satellite data to refine field management
- Circular approaches like insect protein production and organic fertilisers
- Tools for economic risk assessment in agri-food supply chains
- Strengthening international cooperation, with a focus on EU–Africa partnerships
CrackSense’s contributions underscore how specialised challenges like fruit cracking can be addressed within this wider context.
What Makes This Event Stand Out?
With a focus on precision agriculture, remote sensing, and agri-environmental sustainability, the NESTLER event offers invited participants a valuable opportunity to exchange knowledge, explore innovative solutions, and highlight how Horizon projects like CrackSense are shaping smarter, more resilient farming practices.
What unites the participants is not just the technology, but a shared drive to apply it meaningfully. While tools like machine learning or GIS systems may power the backend, the purpose is grounded: helping farmers make informed decisions, reducing environmental impact, and improving food outcomes.
