The UNIOS CoLab will take place in Osijek, Croatia (11–12 November 2025), focusing on Advanced Technologies for Smart Farming. This CoLab responds to the urgent global and local need for sustainable and efficient food production, driven by the continuous growth of the world’s population.
Why this matters
On a global scale, the rising demand for food—both plant-based and animal-derived—calls for solutions that enhance productivity, reduce resource consumption, and ensure food security. These challenges are also visible regionally, in Slavonia and Baranja, Croatia’s agricultural heartland, where rich farming traditions meet significant potential for technological innovation.
A unique regional opportunity
Slavonia and Baranja’s diverse agricultural landscape—vineyards, orchards, farms, and livestock—provides fertile ground for innovation. The region’s research institutions and growing industry in agriculture and technology make it an ideal environment to explore how AI, robotics, and automation can complement traditional farming practices.
Potential applications range from crop harvesting and pruning to disease detection, livestock management, and breeding—helping overcome key challenges such as environmental variability, efficiency, and scalability.
What the CoLab will do
The CoLab will serve as a platform for collaboration between researchers, industry, and local communities. By directly engaging with the fields and farms of Slavonia and Baranja, participants will:
- Identify practical solutions and recent achievements in smart farming
- Exchange knowledge and practices between academia and industry
- Explore opportunities for new projects, research initiatives, and funding
- Strengthen the region’s role as a hub for agricultural innovation
Challenges to address
The CoLab will also take a close look at the main barriers to innovation:
- Knowledge transfer: Bridging the gap between research and practice
- High costs of automation: Making advanced technologies accessible to small farms
- Skills gap: Building local expertise in robotics, AI, and automation
- Ethical considerations: Addressing questions of data privacy, workers’ rights, animal welfare, and environmental impact
- Sustainability: Ensuring technologies are energy-efficient, climate-resilient, and environmentally friendly
The bigger picture
By confronting these challenges, the CoLab aims to create an inclusive, innovative, and sustainable framework for smart farming. The outcomes will not only strengthen local communities in Slavonia and Baranja but also contribute to global food security efforts—positioning the region as a leader in agricultural technology and innovation.
Categories: Colab Field Trip
Topics: Food Sustainability
