Author: Julie Menadi (ACTA)
Digitalisation is reshaping the future of agriculture, but maximising its potential requires concrete evidence and hands-on learning. The final version of CODECS Handbook of Demonstration of Digital Technologies has been released, providing practical guidelines for CODECS Living Labs activities.
Developed by the ACTA – Les Instituts Techniques Agricoles, this report is a logbook and map to ensure that every piece of digital technology introduced in the field is not just shown, but thoroughly tested, documented, and analysed, allowing the entire Living Lab to share discoveries and ensure the fastest, most effective route to sustainable agricultural digitalisation.
Guiding the Digitalisation Movement
WHO is involved? The Handbook targets a broad audience, including farmers, advisors, researchers and academics, public authorities, and policymakers, who need robust data on agricultural digitalisation. The core work is executed by the CODECS 20 Living Labs. A Living Lab is a network of farmers, advisors, and stakeholders organised around an emerging problem. These LLs coordinate demonstrations in designated Demo Farms, which provide “concrete evidence to believe” by showcasing digital technology in real farming environments.
WHAT are the demonstrations? CODECS Demonstration activities have a dual objective. First, they showcase digital technologies used in the LL network. Second, they are crucial for gathering empirical feedback on the Costs and Benefits of adopting these technologies. This feedback feeds into the deeper analysis of Digital Ecosystems and Farmers readiness and the quantitative assessment of Costs and Benefits (Work Package 4).
WHEN are these events taking place? The demo events started in January 2024 and will be completed by March 2026. This concentrated period ensures that a total of 40 On-farm Demos (two per Living Lab) and 20 Virtual Demos (one per Living Lab) are conducted, documented, and reported.
WHERE do they occur? Demonstrations take place either On-farm, involving face-to-face meetings at a physical Demo Farm, or Virtually, carried out remotely via online platforms.
WHY are the guidelines so important? The Handbook ensures that all demonstrations follow a structured procedure to deliver successful events and collect high-quality data. Tools like the Demo Assessment Grid (used during the event for collective reflection) and the Post Demo Event Online Survey (used afterward to gather quantitative, scientific, and empirical feedback) ensure robust evaluation of cost and benefit perception and technology readiness.
Farminars and virtual tours: CODECS’ new toolbox
This report represents the final version of the Handbook and includes new methodological and organisational elements. The most significant update is the introduction of detailed methodologies for running Virtual Demonstrations. These remote events are specifically structured as either a farminar or a virtual tour.
A farminar is a webinar format where participants are introduced to farm innovations using images, video, and presentations. The guidelines provide a dedicated “Farminar road map” and tips on preparation, structure, and content.
Similarly, the methodologies for developing virtual tours are also detailed, serving as a new alternative to the farminar format. Five Living Labs specifically chose to co-develop these virtual tours. This involved the creation of a storyboard –a new planning tool used by the Living Lab coordinator to organise visual ideas and map out the planned ‘path’ of the tour – before researchers developed the virtual tours using footage like 360° photos and videos.
These new virtual formats are essential for overcoming geographic barriers. Virtual Demos are designed to reach a target group that is extensive and diverse across a wide geographical area, offering content that is accessible 24/7 and reducing travel costs.
For example, Living Labs are leveraging these tools to showcase innovations like automation of orchard management in Czechia and grassland management using drone technology in Estonia and Latvia. By providing clear, detailed guidelines for both on-site and remote activities, the handbook ensures that CODECS remains at the forefront of driving practical, data-backed digitalisation across Europe’s diverse rural landscape.
