At the same time, the method contributes to the reduction of the environmental footprint of the crop, while it is part of the implementation of the Good Agricultural Practices of Sustainable production (field mapping with UAVs).

The application of the innovative crop management decision support service will increase the producer’s profit, through the early recognition of the most profitable way to manage each field individually. Additionally, through the implementation of the proposed Good Agricultural Practices, a reduction in production costs will be achieved. Emphasis will be given to the education and training of farmers by organizing field schools in innovative decision-making systems.

The aforementioned will contribute to the limitation of irrigation and nitrogen fertilization and will contribute to the preparation of the agricultural sector for the upcoming adaptation to climate change. These practical positive results will be evaluated through appropriate quantitative indicators (indicative: reduction rate of nitrogen fertilization, increase in profitability per hectare, reduction rate of irrigation water consumption).

The Operational Plan includes the following innovations that are applied for the first time in Greece to grain crops and are even an international original:

• Using an innovative model to predict grain biomass through spatial estimates using images obtained from unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) carrying specialized sensors, but also from very high resolution satellite data.
• Valid and timely prediction of production and possibility to change the way of exploitation of the grain crop during the growing season.
• Farmer advisory services through field schools.