AI-AGRI project launched: partners seek practical artificial intelligence solutions for agriculture

14 July 2026

AI-Agri banner picture

Saku, 8 July 2026 – The kick-off meeting of the international AI-AGRI project took place in Saku, Estonia, bringing together partners from Estonia, Finland, Latvia and Lithuania to agree on the first implementation steps and discuss how artificial intelligence can support mainstream farmers in their everyday decision-making.

The aim of the AI-AGRI two-year project is to strengthen the capacity of mainstream farmers to use artificial intelligence and to develop a practical decision-support prototype that helps farmers organise their daily work more efficiently. The project focuses in particular on identifying farmers’ real needs and current experiences, as well as analysing existing technological solutions across the partner countries.

During the kick-off meeting, the partners were introduced to the project objectives, outputs and activity plan for the period July–December 2026. During this first implementation period, the partners will focus on mapping so-called lighthouse farms and technology companies, organising local inspirational events, and preparing case studies in order to collect practical examples of the use of artificial intelligence in agriculture.

The meeting underlined that the solution to be developed within the project should be built around a common core for all partner countries, while also allowing the possibility to develop additional country-specific features in the future. It was also emphasised that the project should create long-term value and deliver a practical tool that is genuinely useful for farmers and helps make their work easier.

According to Andres Huul, Head of the Innovation Service at the Centre of Estonian Rural Research and Knowledge and representative of the Lead Partner, although AI tools for weather, soil monitoring, yield mapping, fertilisation and crop protection decisions already exist, only a limited number of producers use them effectively. Mainstream farmers often face a lack of trust in such tools, as well as limited knowledge and skills needed for their wider adoption.

Guest speakers at the meeting included Martin Karner from AI & Robotics Estonia (AIRE) and Heilo Altin from IntelliDry OÜ, who presented practical examples of the use of artificial intelligence, sensors and automation in agriculture.

The AI-AGRI project is funded by the Interreg Baltic Sea Region Programme. Official project information and key results will be published on the Interreg web platform.