Objectives

EXOCROP

The project aims to develop an integrated agroclimatic service (ExoCrop) for farmers to enhance the competitiveness, resilience, and adaptation of Romania’s agricultural sector in the context of current climate change.

By integrating the scientific results obtained by the research entities within the project consortium and smart technologies, the service will provide information on the baseline favorability for three niche crops in Romania (sweet potato, peanuts, and cowpea). Additionally, by incorporating seasonal weather forecasts (for the next seven months) and proposed crop rotation schemes for each agro-climatic macro-region in Romania, the service will enable farmers and stakeholders to make informed, scientifically grounded decisions to optimize productivity and yield for a given growing season.

OS1: Zoning of the agro-pedo-climatic favorability of niche crops grown experimentally in southern Romania by P2

A1.1. Identification of climatic and non-climatic factors that influence the favorability of the chosen crops and the establishment of related databases

A1.2. Realization of algorithms for detecting the degree and areas of favorability for the chosen crops in Romania

A1.3. Creation of favorability maps for the 3 cultures at the scale of Romania for the historical period and for the future period

OS2: Extension of the Crop Suitability platform and realization of algorithms for automatic detection of the degree of favorability for the three niche crops.

A2.1. Industrial research aimed at providing open data services and premium services for clients using the service.

A2.2. Automating the detection of favorability levels for selected crops using conventional algorithms and artificial intelligence models.

A2.3. Development of the Science4All component.

SO3: Validation of the favorability mapping obtained in OS1-OS2 through the establishment of experimental demonstration plots for the three types of niche crops.

A3.1. Selection of locations for demonstration plots at the experimental level

A3.2. Establishment and monitoring of demonstration plots at experimental level for selected niche crops

A3.3. The proposal of crop rotations that integrate the 3 crops for different agricultural regions in Romania

A3.4. Adjusting the conditions of favorability based on the results of the experimental batches

OS4: Development of the integrated agro-climatic service for farmers.

A4.1. Industrial research to integrate results based on seasonal data and forecasts into the integrated agroclimatic service

A4.2. Evaluating the feasibility of using seasonal forecasts provided by ECMWF for agricultural land areas in Romania

A4.3. Development of integrated agro-climatic service for farmers