GreenFit’s 3rd Plenary Meeting in Serbia
On 13 -14 October 2026, MaYA took part in GreenFit’s 3rd Plenary Meeting in Arilje, Serbia, hosted by GreenFit’s Serbian partner, Arilje Raspberry (ARA). The meeting brought together European partners to explore innovative agricultural technologies, exchange experiences and discuss how digital solutions can respond to farmers’ needs.
Together with the Merill Rural Network, MaYA represents Malta in the project, exploring how GreenFit’s digital and climate-smart farming solutions could benefit the local agricultural community.
Day 1: Technology Sessions and Pilot Pitches
The first day featured interactive demonstrations of four technologies: the EcoSustain digital farm management platform, climate data integration, virtual and augmented reality (XR-AgriTrain), and the drone-in-a-box system.
Pilot partners also presented these solutions from a farmer’s perspective, focusing on their practical benefits and potential applications in different agricultural settings.
For Malta, the discussions highlighted both opportunities and challenges. EcoSustain could help farmers centralise farm records and improve planning, in addition to integrating local weather information, such as wind conditions, which would make it more useful. Virtual reality showed promise for interactive training, allowing farmers to practise techniques in a simulated environment. However, limited mobile connectivity in some areas could affect the use of certain tools, while the drone-in-a-box system may have more limited applications given Malta’s generally small agricultural parcels.
These exchanges reinforced the importance of adapting digital innovation to local farming conditions and ensuring that new technologies offer practical value to farmers.
Day 2: Farm Visit
On the second day, partners visited Slobodan’s farm in Arilje, where he grows raspberries and operates a fruit-processing facility specialising in freeze-drying.
Slobodan shared his experience of investing in agricultural infrastructure, including automated irrigation, water storage and greenhouses, where he is also experimenting with growing raspberries in pots.
The visit offered a valuable insight into raspberry production in the region and an opportunity to exchange experiences on agricultural practices and innovation across different European contexts. After having hosted the second plenary meeting here in Malta and its rural areas, we affirm these field visits expose the group to the complexities of adapting each technology to the local needs and culture, contributing to the purpose of the project’s research.
Open Days and Follow-up Actions
By 2027, each pilot partner is expected to organise an open day, giving farmers the opportunity to discover GreenFit’s technologies and try the tools themselves.
Following the meeting, MaYA’s key actions include preparing a sample VR training lesson for farmers, in the form of a presentation or video, and providing feedback on the session. Partners also discussed the importance of clarifying future access costs so farmers can better understand the potential investment before deciding whether to adopt the technologies.
For MaYA, the meeting was a valuable opportunity to explore new solutions, exchange knowledge with European partners and consider how digital innovation can be adapted to Malta’s agricultural needs.
Stay Connected with GreenFit!
Interested in the future of digital and climate-smart agriculture? Join the GreenFit community and mailing list to stay updated on project developments, upcoming activities and opportunities to get involved.
A heartfelt thank you to GreenFit’s Serbian partner, Arilje Raspberry (ARA), for hosting the meeting and for the warm hospitality in Arilje!
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