On 4 August 2025, the Horizon Europe CrackSense project hosted an Open Day in the Local Community Evangelistria, Vocha, in Kiato, Greece. The event welcomed farmers, researchers, and local stakeholders, offering a closer look at how remote and proximal sensing can help tackle one of agriculture’s most persistent challenges – fruit cracking. This Open Day in Greece created an opportunity for practical learning, collaboration, and exchange of ideas around the project’s ongoing work.
Why Fruit Cracking Matters
Fruit cracking is a serious issue that affects many fruit species, including sweet cherries, citruses, pomegranates and table grapes. It often results from irregular water uptake or sudden changes in environmental conditions, causing the fruit skin to split before harvest. For growers, this means reduced marketable yield, financial loss, and wasted resources.
Through its research and field activities, CrackSense focuses on identifying the causes and predicting the occurrence of fruit cracking. By combining data from ground sensors, remote imaging, and climate monitoring tools, the project aims to help growers make timely decisions that protect their crops. The Open Day in Greece formed part of a dedicated series of public events within the project, organised to present findings, share field experiences, and gather feedback from those directly affected – the growers themselves.
Exploring Innovation During the Open Day in Greece
The event began with a welcome speech and introduction by Katerina Kantari from the Agricultural University of Athens (AUA), the host organisation. Guests were then guided through the experimental vineyard used by the project to study table grape production under local growing conditions. The tour offered an on-site perspective of the challenges farmers face, such as irregular rainfall patterns and high temperature fluctuations that increase the risk of cracking.
The heart of the Open Day in Greece was the live technical demonstration. Attendees observed a UAV flight equipped with multispectral and thermal cameras, illustrating how aerial data collection provides valuable insights into plant health, canopy temperature, and water stress. This remote sensing method complements proximal sensing, where ground-based tools gather precise measurements directly from the plants. Experts explained how each dataset contributes to early detection of stress conditions linked to cracking, supporting more accurate forecasting and decision-making.
For projects like CrackSense, Open Days are more than field demonstrations – they are opportunities to bridge the gap between research and real-world application. They allow farmers to ask practical questions, see technologies in use, and understand how data supports better decision-making. Equally, they enable researchers to gather feedback that refines their work, ensuring that innovations remain relevant and useful for those working on the ground.
What Comes Next
As part of the CrackSense dissemination plan, several Open Days have already been held across Europe, each focusing on different fruit crops and environmental conditions. The Open Day in Greece was another important step in showcasing how collaborative research and technology can reduce fruit losses and promote sustainable production. The project will continue to organise similar events, strengthening connections between science and agriculture while advancing tools that make fruit cultivation more resilient to future challenges.
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