4th MEETING OF THE PROJECT “AGROINFORMATICS”
UNDER THE EUROPEAN PROGRAM ERASMUS+ KA220
Novo Mesto, Slovenia, 16–19 December 2024
As part of the European Program Erasmus+ KA220, the Vocational Laboratory Center of Serres actively participates in the “AGROINFORMATIX” project (Code: 2023-1-RS01-KA220-VET-154237). This project focuses on the synergy of Informatics with the agricultural and livestock sectors. Its primary goal is to develop an innovative application designed to support farmers and livestock breeders in three countries (Greece, Serbia, Slovenia) through digital tools that enhance production management and the organization of agricultural and livestock activities.
The Fourth Meeting in Novo Mesto:
The fourth meeting of the project took place in Novo Mesto, Slovenia, from 16 to 19 December 2024, with representatives from all participating schools and organizations. The Vocational Laboratory Center of Serres was represented by its Director, Mr. Apostolos Klonis, and the project’s Communication Manager, Mr. Savvas Alexandridis. Other participants included representatives from Slovenia (Barbara Turk and Boštjan Punčuh) and Serbia (Ivan Miloš, Snežana Milosavljević, Vesna Jović), as well as Mr. Bojan Stević, an expert from the Agricultural Advisory Service of Serbia.
Project Progress and Application Presentation:
During the meeting, the project coordinator, Mr. Ivan Miloš, presented the progress made so far, emphasizing that all activities are proceeding according to schedule. He highlighted the significance of the pilot version of the application, which includes sections for agriculture, fruit cultivation, and livestock. This version is expected to be ready by July 2025.
Participants discussed both the strengths and technical shortcomings of the application in detail:
Strengths:
1. The ergonomic and visually friendly design facilitates navigation, particularly in field conditions.
2. All essential data for farmers, such as processing times, types of pesticides, and harvesting periods, are clearly organized.
3. The application is lightweight, does not require much storage space, and has not experienced technical issues during use.
Technical Shortcomings:
1. It does not yet support QR code scanning for animal identification.
2. Functions for managing medical data of animals, such as pigs, need to be added.
3. Additional user instructions are required in some sections, such as price entries.
Agreed Next Steps:
Following extensive discussions, the partners reached the following decisions:
1. Graphic Update: The Vocational Laboratory Center of Serres will develop a new background for the application, incorporating the logos of the partner organizations and Erasmus+.
2. Technical Improvements: Observations regarding shortcomings will be addressed by the end of February 2025.
3. Final Version: The application will be made publicly available via Google Play Store and agroinformatix.com, with its data accessible in PDF format.
4. Presentation: The final version of the application will be showcased in an online meeting in February–March 2025.
Visits and Networking in the Region:
During the meeting, participants visited local businesses and production facilities reflecting Slovenia’s agricultural tradition:
1. Vinarstvo Colnar: A winery specializing in refined French and international varieties, featuring an underground aging space with French oak barrels.
2. Kmetija Karlovček: An agricultural unit for apple production and distribution, equipped with modern refrigeration and packaging facilities with a capacity of 10,000 tons.
3. Zidanica Majzelj: A modern winery with state-of-the-art equipment for producing and fermenting high-quality wines.
The international team also toured Novo Mesto’s landmarks, enriching their experience with elements of cultural heritage and local history.
Timeline and Upcoming Meetings:
The fifth partners’ meeting will take place in Greece from 5 to 8 May 2025, while the final meeting will be held in Serbia from 8 to 11 July 2025. These meetings will showcase the project’s completion and results, with an emphasis on promoting the application to farmers and livestock breeders.
Pedagogical Team of the Vocational Laboratory Center of Serres