- Partner from Montenegro: Upbeat Hub d.o.o
- Project acronym: BIO-TAC
- Full name of the project: Development and Pilot of Autonomous Tool Carrier for Sustainable Biointensive Vegetable Production
- Recipients working on the Small Project:
- FR1 GREEN TOOLS TECH d.o.o.
- FR2 UPBEAT HUB d.o.o.
- FR3 PZ AGRONOVA
- Contact information (Dalila Mandić, info@upbeathub.com.com, +38267111630)
- Description of the Small Project:
The project addresses the pressing need for small-scale farmers to access affordable, efficient, and environmentally friendly farming solutions. The common challenge in the programme area, which spans Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro, is the lack of accessible agricultural technologies for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), particularly for sustainable biointensive vegetable farming. Current tools are either too complex, costly, or not suitable for small-scale operations, limiting the capacity of farmers to scale production sustainably. This challenge is compounded by limited access to innovative technologies, which hampers the competitiveness of SMEs in the agricultural sector.
The overall objective of the project is to develop and introduce an affordable, easy-to-use, autonomous tool carrier that empowers small-scale farmers to enhance their productivity while adhering to sustainable agricultural practices. The expected change is a significant reduction in manual labour, improved efficiency in farming operations, and increased profitability for small-scale farmers. This will contribute to strengthening the competitiveness of SMEs in the agricultural sector and support rural economies, biodiversity, and climate resilience.
Outputs/Deliverables: The project will deliver several key outputs:
- Development of the Autonomous Tool Carrier for Sustainable Biointensive Vegetable Production, which will be an innovative, low-cost solution for small-scale farmers.
- Pilot production and testing of the tool, which will be conducted across different regions within the programme area to ensure adaptability and gather user feedback.
- External expertise for technical development and market entry, ensuring that the product meets high standards of functionality, ease of use, and market readiness.
- Market research and outreach activities to introduce the product to new markets, including presentations at direct engagement with farmers and agricultural cooperatives. The target market segment are farmers, agricultural SMEs, and cooperatives in the programme area, who will gain access to affordable, efficient technology that can transform their farming practices. Additionally, rural communities will benefit from increased economic activity, job creation, and a strengthened local food system.
Approach and Cross-Border Necessity: The project takes a collaborative cross-border approach, leveraging the unique expertise of partners from different regions. GREEN TOOLS TECH will lead the engineering and production of the tool, UPBEAT HUB will handle the automation and technological aspects, while AGRONOVA will focus on market integration and commercialization. Cross-border cooperation is essential for this project because it addresses shared challenges across the participating regions, such as the need for affordable, sustainable farming solutions and limited access to technology. By combining expertise from different countries, the project ensures that the tool is adaptable to various agricultural contexts, promoting cross-regional knowledge sharing and innovation. This cooperation enables the project to pool resources, overcome market fragmentation, and provide a solution that is applicable across borders, thus increasing the competitiveness of SMEs throughout the programme area.
What’s New/Original about the Project: The project introduces several innovative aspects that make it unique:
- Autonomous technology at a fraction of the cost: The tool will use existing irrigation systems for navigation instead of expensive GPS and AI-driven technologies, making it far more affordable and accessible to small-scale farmers.
- Open-source model: The project will make the tool’s plans and software available as open-source, allowing for global collaboration and continuous improvement. This will accelerate innovation, making it easier for farmers, engineers, and developers to adapt the tool to their specific needs and regional conditions.
- Focus on biointensive farming: The tool is specifically designed to support biointensive farming methods, which are known for promoting biodiversity, improving soil health, and increasing yields. This aligns with global sustainability goals and provides a solution for small-scale farmers looking to increase their productivity while reducing environmental impact.
In conclusion, the Autonomous Tool Carrier for Sustainable Biointensive Vegetable Production project offers an innovative, practical solution to a common challenge across the programme area. By improving access to affordable, autonomous farming technology, the project will support the competitiveness of SMEs, enhance sustainability in farming, and contribute to rural development. Through cross-border cooperation, the project will ensure that the tool is adaptable, scalable, and beneficial across diverse agricultural contexts, ensuring a lasting impact beyond the project’s lifetime.
- Total Small Project budget (in EUR); 152.540,11 EUR
- The amount of EU co-financing (in EUR); 129.659,10 EUR
- Duration of the Small Project (in months) 12
- Date of the beginning of the project 01.02.2025
- Date of the end of the project 01.02.2026
- The location of the Small Project and the countries concerned: Velika Gorica – Croatia, Podgorica – Montenegro, Novi Grad – Bosnia and Herzegovina
- https://cbchb.eu/cbc-cro-bih-mne/embrace/
Disclaimer:
This publication has been produced with the assistance of the European Union. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of Upbeat Hub d.o.o and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Union.