By Ilias Tsaparelis | Project Manager | RFF
The STELLA project has successfully completed its first year! From laying the groundwork for innovative pest surveillance systems to engaging with farmers and researchers across Europe and New Zealand, the project partners have been working hard to set the stage for the transformative work ahead.
This first year has been all about preparation: building relationships, creating tools, and gathering knowledge that will directly impact farming communities by improving pest detection, safeguarding crops, and enhancing sustainable farming practices.
Let’s explore the journey of the STELLA project so far, the milestones reached and how they can bring us closer to delivering practical solutions for farmers and policymakers.
Looking Back: A Year of Progress and Impact
A Promising Start
The STELLA project officially began on January 1st, 2024, setting the stage for a transformative journey in pest management. The kickoff meeting, held in February, brought together members of the consortium, including SMEs, universities, research institutes, and NGOs. This gathering was not just a meeting of minds but the start of a shared mission to tackle pest challenges threatening crops and livelihoods, with a strong foundation of collaboration and expertise.
Connecting Communities and Setting the Stage
Bringing Farmers and Experts Together
The heart of STELLA lies in its Use Case Pilots (UCPs), designed to address real-world pest challenges in six distinct regions. In 2024, local farmers, advisors, and researchers were consulted to document their needs, insights, and expectations. This effort ensured that the solutions being developed are practical, user-friendly, and tailored to local conditions and requirements.
Farmers shared their interest about STELLA’s Pest Surveillance System (PSS), recognizing its potential to simplify and enhance pest monitoring. Early engagement like this is crucial to ensuring that the tools, once developed, are both adopted and impactful for those who need them most.
Effective Communication
STELLA also focused on ensuring that its mission is clear and accessible to everyone. By creating a unique visual identity and leveraging social media, newsletters, and other communication channels, we’ve started building a community of stakeholders who are eager to follow the project’s progress.
Building Tools for the Future
Developing Data Collection Protocols
One of the most critical steps in 2024 was creating clear guidelines for collecting data about pests and diseases. These guidelines and protocols will help farmers, researchers, and citizen scientists gather accurate and actionable information, to ensure that pest surveillance is consistent and reliable across the target regions.
Collaboration Beyond Borders
Recognizing the power of teamwork, STELLA partnered with other agricultural initiatives (Cerberus, ICAERUS, SHARIng-MeD, Smart Droplets) to exchange ideas and solutions. This collaboration helps avoid duplication of efforts and ensures that the best practices from around the world are integrated into STELLA’s work.
A Major Milestone: Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
In addition, STELLA signed its first Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Quantifarm project!
This partnership represents a significant step forward in fostering innovation and creating impactful solutions that benefit farmers and agricultural stakeholders.
Participation in Conferences and Events
In addition to its technical advancements, STELLA has actively participated in regional and international conferences to share its vision and engage with a broader audience. These events have provided a platform to:
- Showcase the potential of the STELLA Pest Surveillance System (PSS).
- Highlight the project’s goals and early progress.
- Foster connections with other stakeholders, including policymakers, researchers, and practitioners.
By presenting STELLA’s work at these events, the consortium has strengthened its visibility and created opportunities for collaboration and knowledge exchange, ensuring the project’s impact extends beyond its direct participants.
Turning Knowledge into Action
Innovative Pest Monitoring Tools
The STELLA team reviewed cutting-edge technologies, from AI and IoT sensors to drones and citizen science apps, to gain insights into how they can be used to detect and manage pests more efficiently. These tools aim to provide early warnings to farmers, allowing them to take timely action to protect their crops.
Preparing the Ground for Pilots
Armed and fueled by stakeholder feedback and technical knowledge, project partners laid the groundwork for implementing the STELLA PSS across the six predefined pilot sites. This includes identifying pest challenges, training local teams, and setting up systems to evaluate the technology’s impact.
Next Steps: What’s Ahead for STELLA
As we move into the second year, STELLA is shifting from preparation to action.
- Deploying Tools in the Field: STELLA’s tools will be deployed by farmers and researchers in real-world settings, testing their effectiveness in managing pests and safeguarding crops.
- Empowering Communities: Through workshops and training sessions, we’ll equip farmers and advisors with the knowledge and skills to use these tools confidently.
- Expanding Knowledge: An e-learning platform is being developed to make STELLA’s resources accessible to a global audience, ensuring that its impact extends far beyond the project. The initial version of the platform is expected to be ready by September 2025.
Sharing Results: We’ll continue engaging with stakeholders, sharing insights, and gathering feedback to refine our solutions further.
Conclusion: A Shared Mission for the Future
The work done in the first year set a strong foundation for STELLA’s mission to transform pest management. But this is just the beginning. With the continued dedication of our partners and the invaluable input from farming communities, we’re confident that STELLA will make a lasting difference for agriculture, sustainability, and food security.
Stay tuned as we take the next steps in this exciting journey!
EN 
EL 
FR 
IT 
LT 
DE 
NL