Digital tools are no longer optional extras on the farm: they’re essential for tackling today’s agricultural challenges. This is exactly the context behind the EU CAP Network workshop “Sensing the Future: Practical Applications of Proximal and Remote Sensing for Farmers and Advisors” in Valencia on 27–28 January 2026 — a timely gathering that promises to bridge the gap between cutting-edge sensing technology and everyday farm decision-making.
This two-day brings together farmers, advisors, researchers, and technology providers from across the EU to explore how proximal (on-site sensors) and remote sensing (satellites, drones) can improve efficiency, sustainability, and resilience on the ground. While these technologies are already part of precision farming, practical adoption remains uneven, often because of cost, data complexity, and uncertainty around economic benefit.
One of the biggest challenges for farmers today knowing how to use data. Proximal and remote sensing can generate huge amounts of information on soil moisture, crop health, nutrient status, animal well-being and more. However, without contextualised interpretation and integration into management systems, those data streams remain under-used. The workshop will showcase real-world examples where sensing data have been integrated into farm management platforms, providing insights that matter on a daily basis — not just in theory.
For farmers, this means concrete benefits like more precise use of water, fertilisers and plant protection products, which can reduce costs, improve yields, and limit environmental impact.
Researchers will find the workshop equally valuable as it is a knowledge exchange platform as well, where scientific insights meet field realities. Discussions will explore barriers to uptake and help define future research priorities that are grounded in real farm needs.
Another layer of discussion is the broader implications of digitalisation — especially around data governance, privacy, and fairness. Many farmers remain cautious about sharing farm data with service providers, concerned about who controls it and who benefits economically.
Finally, by linking practical applications with policy goals under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), such as competitiveness through innovation and sustainable resource use, the workshop helps align innovation with strategic priorities. It also supports cross-sector dialogue, inviting contributions from EIP-AGRI Operational Groups, Horizon projects, and national networks to broaden the impact beyond the event itself.
For info e registration, visit the dedicated EU-CAP Network page