AI & Data Analytics for Climate-Resilient Farming

Duration: August 2025 - February 2026 (1 year) | Status: Funding application | Erasmus+ Programme

Climate change presents unprecedented challenges to European agriculture. With temperatures rising faster in Europe than globally, farmers face increasing drought, extreme weather, and soil degradation. This project bridges the gap between cutting-edge AI technology and practical farming needs through cross-border collaboration between Germany and Portugal.

Our Mission

We empower local communities, farmers, and organizations to assess and manage climate risks through digital tools, education, and collaboration. Our focus is on regenerative farming practices that work with nature, not against it.

Project Objectives

• Document farmer experiences with climate change and what adaptation strategies actually work
• Identify gaps in current agricultural management datasets for Portugal and Germany
• Create holistic assessment schemes for climate risk and adaptation
• Build interactive dashboards for real-time climate monitoring and risk assessment
• Develop AI-powered tools for data-driven farming decisions
• Design training programs on climate data analysis and AI applications
• Foster cross-border cooperation for knowledge exchange

Target Groups & Impact

Primary Beneficiaries

• Small-scale farmers in Portugal (290,000 active farms, 48% under 2ha, 80% family-based)
• Agricultural communities facing drought, soil degradation, and extreme weather
• Rural stakeholders including NGOs, local administrations, and policy makers

Regional Focus: Portugal

Portugal faces major environmental challenges including desertification, erosion, and forest fires. The Portuguese CAP Plan commits over €830 million for sustainable farming practices, aiming for 19% organic farming by 2030.

Key Activities

Phase 1: Assessment & Understanding (Aug-Sep 2025)

Survey Development & Farmer Engagement

• Collaborate with climate experts to create comprehensive assessment surveys
• Host networking events at Circle Permaculture farm (40ha demonstration site)
• Engage 20+ farmers in on-site workshops featuring 25 years of regenerative farming experience

Phase 2: Analysis & Research (Sep-Oct 2025)

Data Analysis & Discovery Workshops

• Analyze survey data and compile policy recommendations
• Facilitate collaboration between farmers and tech experts
• Identify pain points and research directions for Agri-Tech solutions

Phase 3: Solution Development (Oct-Dec 2025)

Design & Prototyping

• Assess user experience of existing agricultural software
• Develop mockups and prototypes for climate adaptation tools
• Create requirements for dashboards aligned with farmer needs

Phase 4: Validation & Training (Jan-Feb 2026)

Toolkit Development & Implementation

• Develop guides, videos, and open-source software for climate adaptation
• Conduct training sessions and pilot testing
• Refine tools based on farmer feedback

Partnership Excellence

Climate+Tech (Germany) - Coordinating Organisation

15 years of experience in software development, process management, UX design, and sustainability consulting. Our Berlin-based think tank specializes in bridging the gap between climate data and practical applications.

African Way (Portugal) - Partner Organisation

Led by biodiversity scientist Heide Baden and permaculture expert Joshua Konkankoh (co-founder of Bafut Ecovillage), with Christin Lidzba managing local stakeholder relationships in Portugal.

Circle Permaculture (Portugal) - Host Partner

40-hectare demonstration farm with 25 years of regenerative farming experience, featuring permaculture principles, greywater systems, solar panels, and comprehensive training facilities.

Innovation & Technology

AI-Driven Solutions

• Precision farming techniques using climate data analysis
• Knowledge sharing platforms powered by AI
• Climate risk modeling tailored to local conditions
• Decision support systems for crop management

Open Source Approach

All developed tools will remain open source and freely available, ensuring long-term accessibility across regions and preventing vendor lock-in.

Expected Results

• Comprehensive toolkit covering minimum 10 AI tools across 4 main agricultural areas
• Documented needs assessment from diverse panel of 10+ stakeholders
• Policy recommendations for EU agricultural adaptation strategies
• Network of 20+ NGOs and media outlets across Germany, Portugal, and Europe
• Enhanced climate resilience for participating farmers

Join Our Network

Whether you’re a farmer facing climate challenges, a researcher developing solutions, or a policymaker seeking evidence-based strategies, we invite you to be part of this transformative initiative.

Together, we can build agriculture that works with nature, not against it.