Highlights from the 1st STELLA Capacity Building Workshop

By Dimitra Fourkalidou | Head of Communications | reframe.food

On June 4, the STELLA Horizon Europe project held its 1st Capacity Building Workshop, bringing together researchers, agronomists, farmers, and innovation experts from across Europe to explore cutting-edge tools for pest detection and crop protection.

The Workshop featured expert-led presentations covering the full spectrum of pest monitoring technologies piloted across Europe.

Kicking off the session, the Agricultural University of Athens presented the STELLA project’s vision, objectives, and its core component — the Use Case Pilots, which serve as real-world testbeds for deploying and evaluating digital pest surveillance technologies across diverse agricultural environments. Additionally, we got a brief overview of the STELLA Pest Surveillance System (PSS), an innovative platform combining early warning models, AI-powered pest detection, and data-driven pest response.

The Lithuanian pilot, led by AgriFood Lithuania DIH, focused on digital strategies for managing aphid-transmitted PLRV in potato crops. Effective control of this virus is critical, as it poses a significant threat to yields and quality in potato production across Europe.

Satellite-based remote sensing tools were introduced by BOKU University, while AUA demonstrated how UAV technologies contribute to pest detection through crop condition mapping.

On the ground, EdenCore presented the Viewer tool, offering AI-based crop monitoring via high-resolution imaging.

METOS by Pessl Instruments contributed to the workshop with a focus on proximal sensing technologies. Their team introduced the iSCOUT® Remptre electronic insect traps, along with the iSCOUT® Mobile App—a citizen science tool that enables farmers to monitor pest presence using smartphones.

Finally, the Quantifarm project was introduced, connecting the workshop themes to broader EU efforts in agricultural innovation and sustainability.

Participants had the opportunity to ask questions, share insights, and see how these solutions are deployed in diverse environments—from Lithuanian potato fields to Mediterranean orchards.

This workshop was not just about information—it was about activation: helping stakeholders build capacity and readiness to adopt smart technologies in pest management.

Stay connected with STELLA as we continue with more capacity-building workshops and share field results throughout 2025.