About
Welcome to Nostradamus, an innovative EU-funded project dedicated to advancing the sustainability and resilience of the agricultural sector in alignment with the Farm to Fork strategy, the Common Agricultural Policy, and the European strategy for data. By developing a robust, real-time digital platform, Nostradamus harnesses the power of Earth Observation, IoT, and advanced algorithms to optimize resource use, enhance yields, and promote sustainable farming practices.
Our consortium unites 16 partners from 10 European countries, including universities, research institutes, SMEs, and public sector representatives, ensuring a rich, multi-disciplinary approach. With five demonstration sites across diverse biogeographical and socio-economic regions, Nostradamus will refine and test its applications in real-world settings while fostering collaboration among stakeholders such as farmers, policymakers, and scientists.
A key feature of the project includes two Open Calls, providing €400,000 in funding to innovative third-party projects aimed at enhancing farm decision-making and digital tools for policy creation.
Through cutting-edge technology and a strong multi-actor approach, Nostradamus is paving the way for a data-driven, sustainable, and competitive agricultural future across Europe.
Primary Objective
The primary goal of Nostradamus is to safeguard EU Food Security and independence in agricultural inputs by creating a centralised Data Cube Ecosystem for real-time, aggregated, and accessible agricultural data, while also developing open-source digital applications to modernise and enhance the efficiency, resilience, and competitiveness of the EU agricultural sector.
WHY Nostradamus?
Why Nostradamus for the agricultural sector?
Nostradamus empowers the agricultural sector by providing key actors with aggregated and up-to-date information, user-friendly digital tools, and essential skills to optimize farm decision-making, enhance policy creation and evaluation, and promote sustainability. By adopting an inclusive multi-actor approach and leveraging Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Systems (AKIS) and the EIP-AGRI initiative, the project ensures that diverse perspectives, needs, and challenges are addressed, fostering a more resilient and efficient agri-food chain, even in areas with limited connectivity.
Why Nostradamus for open-source digital solutions?
Nostradamus leverages diverse data sources to develop and optimize edge, cloud, and mixed digital solutions, ensuring interoperability, transparency, and high performance in algorithm development. By advancing open-source technologies and fostering decision-support systems, the project enhances the sustainability and competitiveness of the agricultural sector, addressing environmental, socio-economic, and administrative needs. Additionally, it lays the groundwork for future technological advancements in EU agriculture, setting a standard for innovation and collaboration.
Why Nostradamus for European independence and Food Security?
Nostradamus empowers EU independence and food security by providing digital decision-making tools and live data sources to support farmers, policymakers, and other stakeholders in maintaining a resilient and sustainable agricultural sector. Through high-quality data and multifunctional digital applications, the project addresses rising food prices, input costs, and supply chain challenges, aligning with EU strategies like the Green Deal and CAP. By fostering collaboration through a multi-actor approach, Nostradamus ensures efficient, equitable, and sustainable solutions for a robust agri-food system.
Nostradamus Demo Sites
Nostradamus incorporates five demonstration sites across diverse biogeographical and socio-economic regions, serving as hubs for testing, refining, and showcasing the project’s digital applications. These sites will host training activities, interactive workshops with farmers, IT experts, and young scientists, and provide opportunities for Third Parties to develop and demonstrate digital solutions. Designed to address regional challenges like weak connectivity, agrochemical use, and farmer education, the sites also foster collaboration with AKIS ecosystems and EU partnerships, creating educational platforms to advance sustainable and efficient agricultural practices.
Germany
This demo site, managed by DLG, is situated in the Continental biogeographic region, which accounts for 29% of the EU's territory. Known for its high cereal yields and low fertilizer consumption rates, Germany exemplifies sustainable agricultural practices supported by national policies and extensive farmer training. This pilot site focuses on crops like winter wheat, sugar beet, and maize, while addressing connectivity challenges in areas with low internet speeds. Equipped with advanced instrumentation, including a weather station, soil moisture sensors, and a subsurface drip irrigation system, the site will drive innovation and test sustainable solutions for modern agriculture.
Serbia
The Nostradamus demonstration site in Serbia, coordinated by BIOSENSE and CROPT, is situated in Vojvodina within the Pannonian biogeographical region, renowned for its highly productive black soils. This area is a global leader in maize exports and non-GMO soybean production, with cereals occupying over 90% of farmland. Despite the fragmentation of fields and dominance of small-scale farms, digital literacy is rapidly improving, supported by tools like BIOS’s farm management system, already used by over 20,000 users. The site will focus on crops like maize, wheat, soybean, and sunflower, and is equipped with advanced technology, including a weather station, multispectral drones, soil moisture sensors, and a LoRaWAN network, to drive innovation and digital adoption in small-scale farming.
Switzerland
This demo site hosted at the Swiss Future Farm, is located in the Alpine biogeographical region. Known for its high cereal yield per hectare and advanced agricultural practices, Switzerland offers a unique setting for innovation, supported by its robust research and development sector and favorable government policies. Despite its well-developed telecommunications infrastructure, some areas still experience lower-than-average internet speeds, making it an ideal location to explore solutions for connectivity challenges. The site focuses on crops like wheat, sugar beet, barley, canola, and corn, and is equipped with cutting-edge instrumentation, including a weather station, multispectral drones, and machinery data collection tools, to drive research and innovation in sustainable agriculture.
Slovenia
The Nostradamus demonstration site in Slovenia is located in the Pomurje region, a key agricultural area bordering Austria, Hungary, and Croatia. Despite its small size, the region is vital to Slovenian agriculture, hosting 22% of the country's fields and 25% of its orchards and vineyards. However, challenges such as small farm structures, fragmented land, and low farmer bargaining power result in modest agricultural incomes. By leveraging data-based decision support systems, the project aims to boost competitiveness and productivity in the region. The site focuses on crops like wheat, barley, oat, spelt, and corn, utilising over 20 weather stations, IoT devices for soil and temperature monitoring, and machinery data to drive innovation and sustainability in local agriculture.
Cyprus
The Nostradamus demonstration site in Cyprus is located in the Mediterranean biogeographical region, representing 20.6% of the EU's territory. Cyprus has the lowest cereal yield productivity and land area under cereal production in the EU, despite ranking high in fertilizer consumption. Additionally, 90% of Cypriot farmers rely solely on practical experience, lacking formal agricultural training, and the country faces challenges with low average internet speeds. The site focuses on barley and wheat, cultivated using conventional methods, and will utilise advanced instrumentation, including weather stations, multispectral drones, precision plant protection tools, soil moisture sensors, and a LoRaWAN network, to improve agricultural productivity and sustainability.
Work Plan
WP1
Multi-actor networking, D & E activities, and post-project sustainability plan
Lead Beneficiary: ECoE
This work package focuses on raising awareness about data-based support systems for agriculture, establishing a network of Multi-Actor Platforms (MAPs), analyzing challenges to EU Food Security and independence, executing dissemination and stakeholder engagement activities, developing IPR management strategies, and creating a sustainability plan to ensure the long-term impact of project outcomes.
WP2
Preliminary actions for digital solutions and needs-driven requirements
Lead Beneficiary: AUTH
WP2 aims to define the workflow for developing core modules tailored to the agricultural sector, identify data requirements based on user needs, and create a reference architecture with an application generation engine to support the development of digital applications.
WP3
Development of cohesive data production pipelines
Lead Beneficiary: TERRADUE
WP3 focuses on merging existing agricultural databases, establishing IoT networks for data collection, integrating data sources and models to improve understanding of water and nutrient cycles, and analyzing economic and social factors affecting the agricultural sector.
WP4
Deployment of core modules for EU Food Security and Independence
Lead Beneficiary: BIOSENSE
Work Package 4 (WP4) in the NOSTRADAMUS project aims to develop core modules that enhance EU food security and reduce dependence on agrochemical imports, forecast droughts and hydrological stresses, estimate crop suitability and yields, project soil fertility and crop nutrition needs, and provide tools for sustainable pest management.
WP5
Development and implementation of Data Cubes
Lead Beneficiary: UNIGE
WP5 focuses on guiding the production of rasterized data from various sources, such as satellite imagery and geospatial databases, for integration into Data Cubes, developing a unique Data Cube for each participating country's agricultural zone, and implementing an exploitation platform to utilise these Data Cubes effectively.
WP6
Third-party funding for digital applications and capacity building
Lead Beneficiary: F6S
WP6 aims to leverage third-party funding to create a network of experts for developing, testing, and validating digital applications, establish assessment criteria for inclusivity, monitor and evaluate the performance of these applications, co-design training activities, and assess the overall effectiveness and impact of the applications developed by third parties.
WP7
Project management
Lead Beneficiary: ECoE
Work Package 7 (WP7) focuses on managing the overall project framework, including administrative, financial, networking, and strategic aspects, ensuring proper data management, timely production of quality results, establishing review procedures, steering the project towards high-quality outcomes, and ensuring compliance with all ethical standards.
Consortium
Meet the Nostradamus Consortium, a dynamic partnership of experts and innovators committed to transforming the agricultural sector through cutting-edge digital solutions. With extensive experience in managing and executing EU Horizon Projects, our consortium brings together a diverse range of expertise from 16 partners across 10 European countries.
Our consortium includes leading universities, research organizations, SMEs, and public sector representatives, all collaborating to build a scalable, data-driven platform for improving agricultural sustainability and food security. From advanced digital technologies and IoT solutions to policy and data management, Nostradamus is driven by a shared vision of enhancing EU agricultural resilience, independence, and competitiveness. Together, we are pioneering the future of farming, one digital solution at a time.
Meet our Partners
ERATOSTHENES CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE (ECoE)
A new, autonomous, and self-sustained Centre of Excellence, namely ERATOSTHENES Centre of Excellence of the Cyprus University of Technology (CUT) has been established through the ‘EXCELSIOR’, H2020 Widespread Teaming Phase 2 project. The newly established centre has been created as a result of upgrading the existing Remote Sensing and Geo-Environment Lab, which has been operating within the Department of Civil Engineering and Geomatics of the Cyprus University of Technology since 2007.
The vision of the ERATOSTHENES Centre of Excellence is to become a world-class Digital Innovation Hub for Earth Observation, space technology and Geospatial Information and to be the reference Centre in the Eastern Mediterranean, Middle East, and North Africa.
The Digital Innovation Hub will create an ecosystem which combines state-of-the-art remote sensing, data management and processing technologies, cutting – edge research opportunities, targeted education services and promotion of entrepreneurship. In order to be dynamic and innovative, the Digital Innovation Hub will be based on two major infrastructures, which are a Satellite Ground Receiving Station and a Ground-based atmospheric remote sensing station. ERATOSTHENES Centre of excellence is paving the way for Cyprus to enter the space arena.
ECoE is the Project Coordinator, providing expertise in remote sensing, Data Cubes development, plant phytopathology & physiology, assessing soil health state utilizing EO services, data management; will provide significant infrastructure, while will also ensure the successful development of MAPs as Digital Innovation Hub.
GERMAN AEROSPACE CENTER (DLR)
DLR is the Federal Republic of Germany’s research center for aeronautics and space, conducting research and development activities in aeronautics, space, energy, transport, security, and digitalization. The German Space Agency at DLR plans and implements the national space program on behalf of the federal government, while two DLR project management agencies oversee funding programs and support knowledge transfer. As global challenges in climate, mobility, and technology evolve, DLR leverages the expertise of its 55 research institutes and facilities to develop innovative solutions. With 10,000 employees united by a common mission, DLR explores Earth and space and develops technologies for a sustainable future, contributing to strengthening Germany’s position as a leading hub for research and industry.
AG FUTURA TECHNOLOGIES (AGFT)
AgFutura Technologies (AGFT) is a company specializing in consulting services and equipment for digital agriculture. Their work spans four key areas: Digital Agriculture, where they provide remote monitoring and advisory services for various field crops, vegetables, and permanent crops, applying digital technologies to support decision-making across all phases of farm management; Agribusiness Development, offering services for establishing and improving agribusinesses through thorough analysis, strategy development, action plans, and tailored training; Project Development, where they assist in the development and implementation of national and international agricultural projects as a business support organization (BSO); and the Center for Digital Agriculture, which offers regular and specialized education and training programs in agronomy, agroeconomy, and digital technologies tailored to clients’ needs.
AGFT has significant expertise in farming practices and methodologies, digital agriculture, agri-food, and farming business modellingand agroeconomics.
CROPT DOO NOVI SAD (CROPT)
Cropt is a deep tech startup that develops AI solutions for agriculture of the future. It was founded as a spin-off from BioSense Institute, the EU’s Centre of Excellence for AgTech. The team has so far won many prestigious awards, such as the 1st prize at Syngenta Crop Challenge, CGIAR Inspire Challenge and Reach Incubator. Our solutions for smart sowing strategies increase farmers’ profits for 30% while simultaneously reducing the risk and environmental footprint. To do that, we combine satellite, soil, weather and field data and apply state-of-the-art AI algorithms for yield prediction, risk assessment and optimisation of decision-making.
Cropt offers their expertise in AI, data science, digital agriculture, and development of advanced solutions based on AI and big data analytics.
ITC - INOVACIJSKO TEHNOLOSKI GROZD MURSKA SOBOTA (ITC)
ITC cluster aims to foster cross-sectoral innovation based upon novel technologies and ICT, while bringing together SMEs and other institutions from different sectors and turn them into being ‘’Smart’’. The Cluster focuses its effort in setting up foundation that allows knowledge actors and industry players (especially SMEs) to detect, create and exchange new technologies and best practices, which will allow them to create new services and products, and thus generate new value chains.
ITC offers their expertise in stakeholder analysis direct engagement with all key decision-makers and stakeholders, MAA, and assessing soil health state utilizing EO services.
DLG e.V. - GERMAN AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY
The DLG (Deutsche Landwirtschafts-Gesellschaft – German Agricultural Society), founded in 1885 by engineer and author Max Eyth, is a leading organization in the agricultural and food sectors with approximately 30,000 members. As a politically independent and expert organization, the DLG is dedicated to promoting technical and scientific progress, setting standards, and driving innovation through its various projects and activities. With an international orientation, it shares knowledge and expertise globally with leading practitioners, experts, and specialist organizations. Its key areas of activity include knowledge transfer, trade exhibitions, machinery and farm input tests, and food testing.
DLG are experts in stakeholder engagement with more than 30.000 members, sharing knowledge and expertise for practical and digital farming, and provides farmers with information that is an important decision-making aid for investments and practical use.
CZECH UNIVERSITY OF LIFE SCIENCES PRAGUE (CZU)
The Czech University of Life Sciences is a public university. Currently there are 27 public universities and 2 state universities in the Czech Republic. Both public and state universities are financed by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports. However, public universities are managed by their Rectors’ Board and an Academic Senate, whereas state universities are managed by the relevant Ministries (i.e. Ministry of the Interior for the Police Academy, and Ministry of Defence for the University of Defence).
CZU are experts in systems approach to food security and food system analysis, plant phytopathology, plant physiology, invasive species, contaminants, agrobiodiversity, and post-project sustainability.
BIOSENSE INSTITUTE - RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE FOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES IN BIOSYSTEMS (BIOS)
BioSense, Research and Development Institute for IT in biosystems, is a pioneer in digital transformation of agriculture in Serbia, founded in 2015. Exploring scientific and technological frontiers regarding the application of IT in agriculture, the Institute strives to deliver state-of-the- art digital solutions to the farming sector in Serbia and the world, in order to ensure higher yields with smaller investments.
BioSense brings to the project their expertise in IoT, processing EO data, stakeholder analysis and engagement as a Digital Innovation Hub and in the connections and feedbacks of agricultural response to management practices.
TERRADUE SRL (TERRADUE)
Terradue Srl (Roma, Italia) is addressing the Earth Sciences research & education sector, with core competencies aimed at engineering distributed systems & Cloud services, providing consultancy for international organizations, and developing partner programs for Terradue’s Open Source Software & Open Standards strategy.
Terradue are Research and Innovation experts, having significant expertise in RS and innovative services in Earth Science, tailored for data-intensive applications remove barriers and automate Cloud data storage, data analysis algorithms and massive computing power.
KMETIJSKO GOZDARSKA ZBORNICA SLOVENIJE KMETIJSKO GOZDARSKI ZAVOD MURSKA SOBOTA (KGZS - ZAVOD MS)
KGZS Zavod murska Sobota is one of the eight regional institutions that make up the Chamber of Agriculture and Forestry of Slovenia. It was established to provide public agricultural consultancy services, professional tasks in the production of agricultural plants, professional tasks in animal husbandry, gene bank tasks, professional tasks in forestry and fisheries and other tasks that are in accordance with the concessions obtained in the area of Pomurje region. KGZS Murska Sobota aims to preserve the population of the countryside, professionally advise and educate users in agricultural activities, while at the same time supplying them with the highest quality genetic material for animal husbandry. Furnished with its knowledge, experience and expertise, visionises to become a central professional, advisory and educational institution for agriculture and rural development in the region.
KGZS represents the public advisory service and is the core of Slovenian AKIS and part of the Chamber for Agriculture and Forestry of Slovenija, and member of EUFRAS, Copa-Cogeca and SEASN.
F6S NETWORK IRELAND LIMITED (F6S IE)
F6S is a leading global founder and startup network that helps private and public sector entities around the world to promote, communicate and disseminate technical and research projects. F6S stands for F-ounder-S. Our mission is to help founders and startups grow to solve the world’s pressing social, economic, environmental, sustainability and innovation problems. In addition to F6S’ work with governmental entities, we also work with corporates, investors, research institutions, programs, universities and others in the global startup ecosystem. F6S tools deliver company growth through grants, funding, investment, pilot contracts, partnerships, jobs & talent recruitment, company services and more.
F6S has significant expertise in stakeholder engagement, recommendations, open-calls, and tech-enabled innovation. AUTH
will provide their significant expertise in software and advisory IT tools development.
EMINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT AND ENVIRONMENT OF CYPRUS (MARDE)
The Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment aims at promoting sustainable development for agriculture and fishing, while contributing to environmental protection and sustainable management of both the environment and Cyprus natural resources through projects, initiatives and actions.
MARDE represents the agricultural sector authority, policy maker, and the connecting link of Nostradamus project with AKIS platforms.
ARISTOTELIO PANEPISTIMIO THESSALONIKIS (AUTH)
The Aristotle University of Thessaloniki is the largest university in Greece. The main campus is located in the centre of the city of Thessaloniki, and covers an area of about 33.4 hectares. It comprises 10 faculties which consist of 40 schools and 1 single-School Faculty. In Nostradamus, AUTH provides their significant expertise in software and advisory IT tools development.
UNIVERSITY OF GENEVA (UNIGE)
The Academy of Geneva was officially founded in 1559 by two eminent Reformers, Jean Calvin and Théodore de Bèze, and was then renamed University of Geneva (UNIGE) in 1873. For the last four and a half centuries, the Alma mater has attracted students and researchers to Geneva from all over the world.
Composed of nine faculties, – Science, Medicine, Humanities, Economics and Management, Social Sciences, Law, Theology, Psychology and Educational Sciences, and Translation and Interpreting –, the UNIGE also boasts several interfaculty centres, and offers a programme in Environmental Studies.
Located at the heart of international Geneva, the UNIGE has woven a vast network with International and non-governmental organisations. These connections facilitate collaborations between scientists and researchers, including from the CERN (European Organisation for Nuclear Research), the UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme), and the WMO (World Meteorological Organisation).
UNIGE are experts in the development of innovative technologies (responsible for the development of Swiss Data Cube), Big Earth Data processing and analysis ready data.
UNIVERSITY OF ST. GALLEN
Founded in 1898, University of St. Gallen has become a centre of excellence through our practice-oriented approach, international flair and integrative view of studies. Today, we are one of Europe’s leading business schools and are EQUIS and AACSB accredited. They are experts in socio-economics and assessing societal/stakeholder engagement and social impact, management education and educational/outreach activities, and promoting equity.
FEDERAL DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC AFFAIRS, EDUCATION AND RESEARCH EAER (WBF)
The EAER deals with economic affairs and trade policy, including agricultural policy. It is also responsible for education, research and innovation. Further areas such as housing are also part of its remit. WBF are experts in the development of digital solutions and data processing for plant protection, optimization of efficient fertilizations, and IoT analysis.
