A delegation from the PestNu project, comprised of Dr. Ria Pechlivani and Nicolaos Giakoumoglou from the coordinator’s team (CERTH), visited Tilamur aquaponics facilities on the 4th of July 2023, to verify the efficiency of the sustainable food production technology under the latest innovations of AI-based robotic traps (by AGROROBOTICA partner) and real-time nitrite and nitrate analyzer (by TELLAB partner) integrated in the greenhouse where vegetables are produced in hydroponic systems (NFT) and the aquaculture area where the fish culture tanks and the recirculation and filtration systems are located.
Discussions took place to promote PestNu systemic innovations in modern food systems where precision agriculture and aquaculture are capable of optimizing natural resources such as water, energy consumption, fertilizers, etc.
PestNu partners had a fruitful discussion with the Minister of Agriculture and Aquaculture of the Region of Murcia Mr. Antonio Luengo, on how digital and space-based technologies in systemic with agro-ecological and organic practices can optimize the use of the scarce water resources that the Region of Murcia has both for agriculture and for human consumption. Mr. Luengo reaffirmed the commitment that this department, as an LoI-signed member of PestNu, will support the dissemination of project’s outcomes to make farmers in the Murcia region aware of the technologies that are being used in this project and advisory on policies for smart agriculture and organic farming.