1 Please, tell us more about the pathway of « Digital Wallonia 4 Business, Agriculture of the Future Program »

The Agriculture of the Future program aims to increase the digital maturity of the agricultural sector through 4 crucial objectives:

– optimization of production;

– improvement of agricultural practices;

– strengthening the link between the farmer and the consumer;

– the development of commercial activities on farms.

Sensors, robots, connected objects, decision support and management tools… Walloon agriculture today has a range of connected digital tools to gain competitiveness and better respect the environment. The use of these tools combined with collected data offers opportunities to be seized by the Walloon agricultural and digital sectors.

Here are the 4 main ones:

Optimize production

The yield of each plot of a farm can, today, be precisely optimized while respecting the soil, animal welfare and the environment. We can, for example, modulate fertilizer applications within the same plot according to soil differences or detect certain animal health problems (hyperactivity, etc.). 

• Reduction in strenuous physical tasks. Example: the use of a milking robot offers more flexibility in work and a better quality of life.
• Additional leverage to reduce the use of pesticides.
• Soil cared for to conserve and improve its agronomic potential.

Opportunities: several regulations (Europe, Belgium, etc.) aim to gradually reduce the use of synthetic inputs and encourage the reinventing of ancestral practices such as mechanical weeding. These provisions provide a market for the robotization of agriculture.

Improve agricultural practices

The collection and processing of large-scale data allows, among other things, the development of efficient predictive systems for continuous improvement of agricultural practices.

• Data acquisition is a prerequisite for any strengthening of the economic and environmental performance of agricultural practices.
• The farmer moves from knowledge acquired through his long and isolated empirical experiences (we test and refine our practice alone) to the use of predictive models that are both collective and effective.

the increase in the volume and type of data from farms also allows an improvement in the services offered to farmers such as parametric insurance linked to real-time data capture.

Renewing the link between the farmer and the consumer

Data collection throughout the agri-food supply chain (through technologies such as BlockChain) ensures efficient and transparent traceability. The position of the farmer is strengthened. Dialogue with the consumer is re-established.

• The consumer can make a choice informed by information that has become accessible such as the origin of a seed, the production conditions or the plot where their product was grown. It can act on the societal and environmental impact of its purchases.
• Identifiable, the producer can speak directly to the consumer. He can more easily justify the price of a product and get him to pay more for better quality and more virtuous practices.
• The development of short circuits is encouraged.

Opportunity: To facilitate this dialogue, the farmer must develop his online communication skills. Specific training and advice must be developed.

Develop commercial activities of farms

The combination of their knowledge of the agricultural sector and the rise of digital technology offers farmers numerous commercial opportunities: promotion and reservation of lodging or guest rooms on the farm, online sales, development of products and services specific to the profession of farmer, etc.

• The farmer becomes aware of his entrepreneurial skills and values the potential of his farm.
• The farmer, as a specialist in his profession, dictates innovation in line with his specific needs. His position is strengthened.

to maximize his chances of success, the farmer must be supported in his entrepreneurial approach. There is also a wide range of training and a specific consultancy profession to be developed.

2 What is the greatest success « Digital Wallonia 4 Business, Agriculture of the Future Program » has achieved so far in the green digital transition?

As part of Digital Wallonia and the Walloon Recovery Plan, the Walloon Government has validated a budget of 7,052,072 euros in order to accelerate the adoption and deployment of digital technology within the agricultural sector. Seven projects were selected. The theme of the environment and more sustainable agricultural practices is obviously strongly taken into account in these different projects.

The Duratechfarm project aims to measure the impact of SmartFarming on the consumption of inputs having an impact on the environment (fertilizers, pesticides, fuel, etc.) in relation to the impact on production (in quantity and quality). In addition, the priority agronomic levers of the project are the management of irrigation and the carbon content of the soil, which are 2 major environmental issues.

Another project, the Sunshine project itself, concerns the greater forage autonomy resulting from the use of OAD which will have a significant positive environmental impact through better valorization of forage resources in quantity and quality, a reduction in external inputs (concentrates, N for meadows rich in legumes) and de facto direct and indirect environmental impacts linked to this import (e.g. reduction in greenhouse gases emitted during the production and transport of these inputs). It also contributes, by supporting the maintenance of meadow ecosystems, to the fight against, for example, global warming through increased storage of C, soil erosion by maintaining permanent cover, pollution of water resources by nitrates. or even the erosion of biodiversity.

3 What do you see as an added value of project DG VET in relation to the existing training material for the green-digital economy transition?

The Green Deal publication by the European Commission emphasizes the necessity for a more intelligent and resilient European Green Economy, particularly focusing on enhancing skills, research, and innovation. The DG-VET project aligns seamlessly with this vision, as its outcomes and activities are strategically crafted to offer adaptable support, guidance, and information on how these achievements can be expanded and reproduced in various European regions. Furthermore, the innovative training material and the interactive DG-VET e-learning platform serve as substantial tools for European stakeholders and policymakers. These resources contribute significantly to advancing the cause of supporting and promoting social inclusion and employment for young/women NEETs in the emerging sectors of the Digital and Green Economy. Consequently, this initiative aims to create a noteworthy impact at the European level.

4 In what way do you think the collaboration between project DG VET and « Digital Wallonia 4 Business, Agriculture of the Future Program » can beneficiate in the present and in the future?

The DG-VET project, in conjunction with the “Digital Wallonia 4 Business, Agriculture of the Future Program,” stands poised to yield substantial present and future benefits. Currently, the DG-VET project aligns with the European Commission’s Green Deal objectives, offering transferable support and information for upscaling and replication across diverse European regions. Simultaneously, the “Digital Wallonia 4 Business, Agriculture of the Future Program” accentuates digital agriculture transformation in Belgium, aligning with the broader goals of sustainability and innovation. Together, these initiatives create a synergistic impact, fostering skills development, research, and innovation within the Digital and Green Economy sectors. In the present, they contribute significantly to social inclusion and employment, particularly for young citizens. Looking forward, their combined efforts lay the groundwork for a more resilient, technologically advanced, and sustainable European landscape, reinforcing the region’s position in the global digital and green sectors.