Authors: Rosa María Heredia Hortigüela (University of Almería) and Irene Del Águila (Coexphal)
On October 9, 2025, the Chair from the University of Almería and COEXPHAL organised a cross visit to the demonstration farm of its Agroecology Living Lab in Almería (Spain), part of the European CODECS project on digitalisation in agriculture. The event brought together around 30 participants, including industry professionals, students, and international visitors.
During the visit, participants observed how data interoperability works in greenhouse horticulture to connect stations and sensors (climate, soil, irrigation) through a common platform and a user-friendly app. This approach ensures data flows in a standardised and reusable way between tools, supporting daily decisions on irrigation and climate management. This ensures scattered data is transformed into actionable information inside the greenhouse.
The team demonstrated the full data flow: from sensors (weather station, soil or substrate moisture/EC probes, meters and flow meters, climate sensors in the greenhouse, energy meters) to gateways and edge control using open protocols and data platform where information is standardised. These data streams are then transformed into useful indicators and alerts for daily management.
Based on this framework, attendees saw how these signals feed decision rules and greenhouse actuators (including valves and irrigation/fertigation pumps, ventilation, screens, and other climate elements), hence completing the data to decision to action cycle. Practical demonstrations included irrigation programming based on substrate moisture, historical data queries, and data export for traceability and campaign analysis, as well as visualisation by user profiles (producers, technicians, cooperatives).
The event generated strong interest among participants, who actively asked questions about costs, maintenance, and scalability. Many understood the interesting challenge of innovation on the farm, and being able to work with interoperable tools sensors, platform, and app working as a single system. Thus, digitalisation becomes tangible and accessible for everyday life in Almería’s greenhouses, helping to make better and faster decisions.
Want to know more about this Living Lab? Visit the page of our Spanish Living Lab.
