AgFutura Technologies attended the CODECS General Assembly that took place in Almeria, Spain on the 12th, 13th, and 14th of December 2023, hosted by the University of Almeria.

The primary objective of the assembly was to provide an overview of the project, present its progress, and analyze the upcoming steps of CODECS. Additionally, the event aimed to enhance networking and collaboration among consortium partners.

The proceedings commenced with a welcoming speech and a comprehensive project overview. The rest of the inaugural day was dedicated to work package presentations, including a demonstration training session and theory consolidation exercise. A presentation on the forthcoming steps in the assessment of costs and benefits of digitalization technology was also included. The highlight of the day was a cross-visit to the demo farm, providing a valuable opportunity to witness the integration of digital technologies into production capacities and experimental sites. The day concluded with feedback from Living Labs participants on the annually conducted workshops.

The second day kicked off with the Living Lab marketplace, where AGFT had the opportunity to present RAMAS in greater detail to partners and address numerous questions. The remaining sessions centered on presentations of work packages not covered on the first day and the determination of subsequent steps.

The event concluded on the third day, which was dedicated to coordinating the Living Labs, managing dissemination, communication, and outreach efforts, as well as conducting an exercise on policy analysis and roadmap development.

Ag Futura Technologies, as a partner in the consortium, has a significant role in the project itself with its contribution. Our Living Lab (RAMAS) in CODES is the key research unit providing input to all work packages with data collection, analysis, reporting, validation, and co-creation. AGFT also contributes to the development of the Digital technology assessment toolkit, more specifically a technology assessment tool for users.

The CODECS project or “Maximizing the CO-benefits of agricultural Digitalization through conducive digital ECoSystems” is funded by the Horizon Europe program, with a duration of four years (2022-2026). The consortium consists of 31 partners from 20 countries. By assessing a full range of social, economic, and environmental costs and benefits the CODECS platform will host search, demonstration, and assessment tools.

CODECS aims to advance sustainable digitalization by developing methods, tools, and evidence to enhance our collective understanding, assessment, and foresight of the benefits and costs of farm digitalization. The project initiatives foster the emergence of digital ecosystems that maximize the benefits of digitalization for all. CODECS has built a network of 21 Living Labs, comprised of farmers, knowledge intermediaries, stakeholders, and policymakers, to address emerging agricultural challenges, evaluate the impact of digital technologies on economic, social, and environmental outcomes, and provide valuable insights to inform policymaking and support sustainable farming practices.