Expertise Offered

Offered Capabilities & Institutional Strengths: We offer European consortia deep scientific expertise and unique semi-arid/arid field testing infrastructure from the Institute of Soil, Water and Environmental Sciences at the Volcani Institute (ARO):

• Multi-Scale Remote Sensing & EO Analytics: Integration of multi-spectral, hyperspectral, thermal, and LiDAR data from proximal sensors, drones, and satellite constellations (Sentinel-2, PlanetScope, Venus) for dynamic crop stress and water status detection.

• 3D Crop Modeling & Phenotyping: Extensive published methodology in 3D point cloud processing, canopy structure analysis, and AI-based feature segmentation for precision field operations and yield forecasting.

• Marginal Water & Nutrient Dynamics: Decades of institutional experience in the physics and biochemistry of precision drip irrigation, brackish water management, reclaimed wastewater recycling, and root-zone salinity dynamics.

• Operational Pilot Infrastructure (Living Lab): Access to fully instrumented dryland research stations, lysimeter facilities, and commercial trial networks in Israel, serving as an ideal non-EU Mediterranean testbed to stress-test digital agricultural technologies against extreme climate conditions.

Ideal Role in Proposals:

• Leading or contributing to Work Packages on Remote Sensing & Sensor Fusion, Digital Twin / Model Development, or Field Validation & Living Labs in water/nutrient-scarce environments.

• Proven track record in European framework programmes (Horizon Europe, H2020, COST Actions) ensuring reliable delivery under Lump Sum funding rules.