Our CATEC headquarters in Seville hosted a technology conference as part of the Hub Iberia Agrotech Más (HIBA+) project, at which various experts from companies and innovation and research organisations were able to gain first-hand insight into the latest developments and advances in the use of innovative solutions applied to the agri-food sector, such as unmanned aerial systems (UAS, UAV) and various related digital technologies in this field.
The event began with a technical presentation on the latest applications of drones in precision agriculture and CATEC’s experience and technological capabilities in this field, delving into issues such as bespoke solutions developed for different agricultural scenarios, the main UAS platforms and commercial solutions available, and the evolution of UAV technology applied to agriculture in recent years. A practical case study was also presented, comparing different solutions applied during an actual growing season using unmanned systems in the agricultural sector.
Afterwards, attendees were given a tour of CATEC’s facilities, where they learnt how we carry out our work in the areas of Avionics and Systems and Smart Industry, as well as discovering our UAV platforms used in monitoring campaigns and test flights, our data-driven decision-making technologies, and our R&D capabilities to drive the digital transformation of the agri-food sector. The event concluded with an interesting networking session between attendees and our engineers and technicians, during which they were able to exchange knowledge and discuss concerns regarding new technologies for the agricultural sector.
The Spain-Portugal Interreg Cooperation Project (POCTEP) Hub Iberia Agrotech Más (HIBA+) is an initiative coordinated by the Regional Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development of the Regional Government of Andalusia, through Andalucía Agrotech DIH, and involves a consortium in which CATEC participates alongside other partners such as the FINNOVA Foundation, the University of Córdoba (UCO), the FUNDECYT-PCTEX Foundation, Smart Farm Colab, the National Institute for Agricultural and Veterinary Research of Portugal, Andalusian Agri-Food Cooperatives, the European Foundation for Innovation and Technology Application, DATAlife, the University of the Algarve, and the Polytechnic Institute of Beja. In addition, the Galician Agency for Innovation, the Galileo Galilei Secondary School and the INESC TEC association are also collaborating on the project.
HIBA+ has a budget of 2.85 million euros, 75 per cent of which is funded by the ERDF, and is scheduled to be completed on 31 December 2026.
For more information about the project, please follow this link: https://hubiberiaagrotech.eu/
