The ability to optimize inputs at a spatial scale has been enabled with the use of Variable Rate Applications (VRA). Despite the fact that there are numerous VRA systems aimed at arable crops, specific systems for or-chard management utilizing precision monitoring and application of the orchards are still lacking. These cropping systems face increasing market pressure to produce quality products and provide a detailed traceable system for the origin of the product, including, the treatments and the conditions that have occurred during the production. The main aim of this project is to advance the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of the VRA for orchard management, from the research stage to prototype testing, to enable more optimized use of inputs in fruit pro-duction, minimize the use of pesticides and protect the environment. The consortium has five partners from five countries participating with funding under this ICT-Agri Call. The field applications were carried out in 3 countries: variable rate irrigation in Spain, variable-rate fertilization in Turkey and variable rate spraying in Denmark. Specific orchards have been identified in all three countries: apples in Denmark and Turkey and olive oil and citrus trees in Spain. The project consists of five research activities. The first research activity develops a set of algorithms for operations management for VRA in orchards based on task allocation and auxiliary data, the second activity implements a set of sensing systems for 3D representation of the tree canopy, and the remaining three research activities deal with the three VRA (irrigation, fertilization and spraying). The project also undertakes adoption studies in the three countries, where the experimental fields are located.
