The 92nd International Agricultural Fair in Novi Sad, held from 17 to 22 May 2025, brought together innovators, farmers, researchers, and businesses from across Europe and beyond. Among them were two Horizon Europe projects – STELAR and CrackSense – showcasing how data-driven solutions are shaping the future of farming.
Our joint participation was more than just sharing a stand. It was about highlighting a shared vision: making agriculture smarter, more predictable, and better equipped to tackle real-world challenges.
Why the Novi Sad Fair Matters
The Novi Sad Agricultural Fair is one of the most important gatherings for the agri-food sector in the region. For over 90 years, it has been a space where technology meets tradition and where ideas grow into action. This year, more than 1,200 exhibitors from 40+ countries joined the event, attracting over 130,000 visitors.
For CrackSense, it was the perfect opportunity to meet growers, industry experts, and policymakers face-to-face and bring our solutions closer to those who need them.
Smarter Farming: A Shared Goal
CrackSense and STELAR came together at this year’s fair after signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), formalising our collaboration around precision agriculture and predictive analytics.
While STELAR focuses on using satellite data to improve early-season yield forecasts and make agricultural planning more reliable, CrackSense is tackling a specific but widespread issue: fruit cracking. Through a network of smart sensors and real-time data analytics, CrackSense helps growers get timely, location-specific information to prevent fruit damage and reduce yield losses.
Together, we are working towards more predictive, data-informed farming practices – whether it is forecasting yields or detecting risks like fruit cracking before it is too late.
CrackSense Open Day: Engaging the Public and Media
The CrackSense team made a strong impression at the Novi Sad Agricultural Fair by organising a dedicated CrackSense Open Day, aimed at bringing our solutions closer to growers, visitors, and media representatives.
One of the highlights was our feature on Agro TV, Serbia’s year-round agriculture channel. During the live broadcast, Sandra Kolaric, Communications Manager at Foodscale Hub, presented the CrackSense project, explaining the issue of fruit cracking and how our precision farming solutions can help improve field monitoring and reduce yield losses.
Srdjan Penjivrag, Chief Research Officer at VizLore LLC, provided a hands-on demonstration of the TOMMY system, showing how it collects and processes orchard data in real time through a network of smart sensors and an edge computing unit. His demonstration featured a mini replica of the TOMMY system alongside a fascinating hybrid plant – a cross between a lemon and a mandarin.
Throughout the day, visitors were able to explore how CrackSense technology works, ask questions, and discuss the ongoing challenge of fruit cracking. Events like this are essential in connecting research with real-world agricultural needs and demonstrating how technology can make a practical difference in the field.
As CrackSense continues its piloting phase, field trials are actively progressing across different regions to validate our predictive sensor-based solutions in various crop conditions. The insights we gather will continue to support growers in making data-informed decisions that protect their yields and improve resilience.
You can watch the full interview (in Serbian) on Agro TV’s channel below.
"Visitors had the chance to experience CrackSense up close. Many growers we spoke to confirmed that fruit cracking remains a major concern. Our collaboration with STELAR is all about enabling smarter agriculture through better information and shared solutions."
Insights from STELAR
Over at the STELAR stand, visitors explored how better-organised agricultural data can transform farm management and food safety. Through interactive quizzes and open conversations, the STELAR team emphasised the importance of improving access to AI-ready datasets and breaking down data silos in agriculture.
"STELAR is now in its final year, and we are proud to showcase our digital tools, which are available on GitHub. Joining forces with CrackSense here at the Fair shows how collaborative efforts can truly make a difference in making agricultural data accessible and useful for those working directly in the field."
What’s Next?
As STELAR moves toward its final event, the CrackSense team is pushing forward with pilot activities. Field trials and experimental setups are now underway across different regions to fine-tune our sensor-based solutions for predicting fruit cracking in various crops and conditions.
Both projects remain committed to sharing knowledge, learning from the field, and helping build agricultural systems that are more resilient, data-driven, and practical for farmers.
To keep up with the latest news and upcoming activities, follow CrackSense and STELAR on LinkedIn.
