Enabling technologies for small farms

Lab for Sustainable Living

Enabling Technologies for Small-Scale Agriculture

The Lab for Sustainable Living is an independent initiative exploring how emerging technologies—AI, robotics, XR, data analytics, and visualization—can empower small family farms to become more sustainable, resilient, and economically viable.

Under this umbrella, we are developing a suite of "Enabling Technologies" aimed at transforming the way small farms producing fruit and berries plan, operate, and engage with customers. Our focus is on pragmatic innovation—making advanced tools accessible, affordable, and directly beneficial to small-scale producers and their local ecosystems.

Current Exploratory Projects

• Digital Twins for Small Farms
  Automating the creation of digital representations of fields, orchards, and greenhouses using drone and sensor data, enabling simulation, monitoring, and optimization of farm operations.

• Human–Machine Collaboration Tools
  Investigating the use of exoskeletons, wearable robotics, and XR-assisted interfaces for safer, more ergonomic fieldwork and maintenance.

• Affordable Autonomy
  Exploring pathways toward AI-supported and semi-autonomous harvesting, adaptable to small farm contexts where flexibility, safety, and cost are critical.

• Immersive Visualization and Customer Engagement
  Using VR/AR and advanced visualization to connect consumers to the realities of sustainable farming, enhance farm storytelling, and build trust-based customer relationships.

Goals and Approach

Our aim is to prototype and validate enabling technologies that reduce environmental impact, improve working conditions, and increase profitability for smallholders—without losing the character and biodiversity that define local food production.

The Lab currently operates as a self-funded pre-competitive initiative, seeking to build partnerships across Europe with universities, technology developers, SMEs, and agricultural cooperatives who share the vision of human-centered, technology-enabled sustainable farming.

Looking for Partners

We are actively seeking EU-based collaborators interested in:

• Joint research and development projects

• Horizon Europe or regional funding applications

• Pilot testing of enabling technologies on small farms

• Knowledge exchange on digital transformation and sustainability