A new Cypriot project, AgriProAct, aims to turn the island's weather, satellite and soil data into practical advice for individual fields, allowing farmers to act ahead of drought, frost or heavy rain and giving the state earlier visibility of emerging agricultural risks.
Farming under growing pressure
Farming conditions in Cyprus have become increasingly difficult, with drought, sudden downpours, late frosts and rising salinity now affecting every growing season. Decisions that once relied on experience, such as when to irrigate, how much fertiliser to apply, or when to move animals off a wet field, now carry greater risk. AgriProAct is built on the premise that the country already collects substantial amounts of relevant data, and that this data can be converted into advice farmers can use directly.
How the system works
AgriProAct draws on data from the Department of Meteorology and the University of Cyprus' network of weather stations and forecasts, alongside satellite imagery, soil sensors and, on livestock farms, GPS collars. The system combines these sources to project the conditions each field is likely to face over coming days, and continuously checks its forecasts against actual outcomes to refine its advice over time. The project is being developed in close cooperation with the Department of Meteorology, whose data forms a core part of the system.
Practical, field-specific guidance
Rather than presenting raw data, the system is designed to deliver short, clear recommendations by app, text message or website, covering irrigation timing and volume, optimal fertilisation windows, early warnings for frost, drought or heavy rain, and, on mixed farms, guidance on resting a field before grazing damages the soil. Each recommendation is accompanied by an indication of the system's confidence level, with the aim of supporting farmers' decisions rather than replacing them.
Addressing a gap in existing forecasts
Cyprus's existing weather forecasts cover areas of roughly two kilometres, a resolution too broad to capture localised conditions such as a frost pocket within a vineyard or the microclimate of a single vegetable plot. AgriProAct aims to bring forecasting down to the level of the individual field by combining national weather data with satellite imagery and ground-based sensors. Each recommendation includes a brief explanation and a stated confidence level, an approach intended to build farmers' trust in the system's advice. The project is also designed to connect field-level conditions with government planning, giving the Ministry of Agriculture earlier visibility of developing risks so that public support can be planned in advance rather than allocated after losses occur. The system is built on data and infrastructure Cyprus already owns, which its developers say gives it a realistic path to nationwide use and, potentially, adaptation in other Mediterranean regions facing similar conditions.
Project team and next steps
The project is coordinated by TERRATEQ Innovation, in cooperation with the University of Cyprus and the CYENS Centre of Excellence. "We're taking data the country already owns and turning it into guidance a farmer can act on tomorrow morning," said Dr Marios Sophocleous, coordinator at TERRATEQ Innovation.
In a later phase, AgriProAct is planned to be tested on real farms spanning vegetable, vineyard, and mixed cereal-and-livestock systems, with locations and participating farmers still being finalised. These pilot trials are intended to demonstrate the system's practical impact.
More information is available at agriproact.terrateqinnovation.com.
This project is funded by the Republic of Cyprus through the Research and Innovation Foundation (RIF), within the framework of the RESTART 2016–2020 Programmes for Research, Technological Development and Innovation, under the "AI in Government" Programme, Call AI IN GOV'T/0725/0012.
