Location: Croatia | Industries: Public sector
Supporting Local Farmers in Croatia with AI-driven Local Advisor
Local Advisor
Introduction
Within Croatia’s beautiful nature and rich cultural heritage lies a vital agricultural sector, serving as a cornerstone of the nation’s economy and identity. However, amidst global challenges, Croatian farmers grapple with many challenges jeopardizing the sustainability of their practices.
From market disruptions to the impacts of climate change, alongside labor shortages and limited access to agricultural knowledge, local Croatian municipalities confront significant hurdles in maintaining their local agricultural resilience.
To overcome this challenges and support farmers, Croatian municipalities are seeking solutions that honor rural traditions while embracing innovation for a more sustainable agricultural future.
Challenge
Digitalization is inevitable for the future of the agricultural industry, especially given the need to achieve a sustainable global food system to feed the growing world population. In Croatia, where the digitalization of agriculture is only 5 percent, small and medium-sized producers make up the majority of the sector.
Recognizing that the initial step toward digitalizing small and medium farms involves granting them access to knowledge and advice, Croatian cities Kutina, Novska, Djakovo and Ludbreg introduced an innovative AI Agronomic Advisory Platform called “Local Advisor” to provide farmers with essential information, advice, and knowledge to enhance their production and achieve local sustainability.
“Kutina is traditionally a city of technology and innovation, while also strongly developing the agro-tourism segment. We are aware of the challenges faced by our producers, and by introducing the Local Advisor, we aim to ensure a stable future for local production and directly support our producers.”
Zlatko Babic, Mayor of the City of Kutina
Results
Croatian municipalities launched a new AI-driven communication channel via WhatsApp platform. It is a free communication platform intended for all farmers in their local community, regardless of size, and represents a direct communication channel between the city and farmers, intended for consultation and sharing of knowledge, information and active involvement of farmers in matters important for the growth and development of local agriculture.
“Ludbreg has been actively working to support local farmers for several years through the adoption of technological innovations. By introducing the Local Advisor, we want to provide our producers with always available advice and access to information, and improve our communication with them.” – Dubravko Bilic, Mayor of the City of Ludbreg.
Local Advisor provides farmers with constant access to knowledge across a wide spectrum of agronomic topics – from general agricultural inquiries to pest control, disease prevention, plant nutrition, fertilization, and regenerative practices, this platform supports farmers at every stage.
It also fosters active collaboration between cities and farmers. It facilitates the sharing of information on tenders, subsidies, local events, and even data collection during natural disasters or significant pest outbreaks.
“Novska is strongly recognized as a city of innovation through the construction of a modern Center for the gaming industry, but we are also a city with significant agricultural production. By launching our Local Advisor as a communication platform, we seek to provide access to the latest knowledge and advice for our farmers, but also to hear their plans and challenges in order to actively involve them in the development and strategies for local agriculture.” – Marija Kusmis, Mayor of the City of Novska.
This innovative initiative of Croatian municipalities demonstrates their commitment to deliver innovative solutions that encourage the development of the local community and improve the living conditions of their citizens.
The launch of the Local Advisor marks the beginning of a new era of support for their agricultural industry and highlights the role of technology in advancing traditional sectors such as agriculture.
“Djakovo is located in the largest agricultural region of Croatia, and together with our farmers, we face daily challenges. Access to essential knowledge and information at all times is extremely important for ensuring the productivity of agricultural production. Preserving local production and assisting new generations of farmers are of utmost importance to us, and we want to support this goal with our Local Advisor.” – Marin Mandaric, Mayor of the City of Djakovo.
PRODUCT SOLUTION
AGRIVI AI Engage
Local Advisor
AI communication platform designed for public sector bodies, aimed at enhancing their role in promoting and supporting farmers through digital transformation. Tailor-made to deliver high-quality agronomic knowledge and advice and foster interaction between local municipality office and farmers.
