A quiet revolution is underway in European agriculture, bridging the gap between technological innovation and practical implementation
In the vast agricultural landscapes of Europe, a quiet revolution is underway. The sustainable application of Plant Protection Products (PPPs) has become a critical challenge at the intersection of agricultural productivity, environmental stewardship, and public health. While spraying equipment technology has advanced significantly, these innovations risk becoming obsolete without parallel advancements in farmer education and inspection systems. Enter INNOSETA—an ambitious European initiative that is reimagining how farmers, advisors, and inspectors access knowledge and training about spraying technologies. This groundbreaking project represents a paradigm shift from merely developing advanced technologies to ensuring they are understood, adopted, and implemented correctly across European agriculture 1 6 .
INNOSETA (INNOvative Spraying Equipment, Training and Advising) is a Horizon 2020 Thematic Network that brings together 15 partners across 8 European countries with a clear objective: to accelerate the implementation of innovative spraying practices in European agriculture through multi-actor dialogue and centralization of agricultural and research knowledge 3 6 .
Bringing together researchers, industry professionals, farmers, advisors, and policymakers to collaboratively shape sustainable crop protection.
Addressing the disconnect between technological advancement and practical implementation through targeted education and training.
At its core, INNOSETA recognizes that training and dissemination are key factors for success in crop protection. While the technical aspects of spraying equipment have been widely investigated and improved in recent years, the knowledge transfer pipeline has remained fragmented. The project addresses this disconnect by creating a vibrant ecosystem where researchers, industry professionals, farmers, advisors, and policymakers can collaboratively shape the future of sustainable crop protection 1 .
One of the project's most significant accomplishments is the development of the INNOSETA platform—a comprehensive digital repository that provides quick glance insights into spraying innovations available at the European level 6 .
By mid-2019, the platform already contained 531 entries, including industry solutions, training materials, research papers, and inspection protocols. This centralized resource allows stakeholders across the agricultural spectrum to access, contribute, and assess the latest developments in spraying technology and methodology, effectively breaking down traditional knowledge silos that have hindered progress in the past 6 .
187
Industry Solutions
204
Training Materials
140
Research Papers
531
Total Entries
INNOSETA has pioneered revolutionary training methodologies that depart significantly from traditional, lecture-based approaches. By incorporating Activity-Based Training (ABT) and Student Response Systems (SRS), the project has created an experiential learning environment that promotes engagement, reflection, and practical skill development 5 .
ABT transforms passive learning into an active discovery process. In the context of sprayer inspections and technology use, this means:
Trainees encounter realistic situations they might face in the field, such as calibrating unfamiliar equipment or identifying subtle equipment malfunctions.
Practical sessions allow participants to physically interact with spraying equipment, developing muscle memory and procedural competence alongside theoretical knowledge.
Group activities encourage knowledge sharing and the development of collective solutions to common challenges in crop protection.
Structured downtime allows trainees to process their experiences, solidify learning, and identify personal knowledge gaps 5 .
The integrated SRS represents a technological leap in training assessment. This system enables:
| Aspect | Traditional Training | INNOSETA Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Content Delivery | Lecture-based | Activity-based, experiential |
| Participant Role | Passive recipients | Active collaborators |
| Assessment | End-of-course exams | Continuous, real-time feedback |
| Knowledge Application | Theoretical | Immediately practical |
| Technology Integration | Minimal | Central (SRS, digital platforms) |
One of INNOSETA's most ambitious initiatives involved developing and testing a standardized procedure for sprayer inspections across Europe. The experiment followed a rigorous methodology:
The training experiment yielded compelling results that demonstrate the effectiveness of INNOSETA's innovative approach:
| Performance Indicator | Pre-Training | Post-Training | Improvement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Technical Knowledge Score | 42% | 70% | +67% |
| Inspection Accuracy | 58% | 86% | +48% |
| Equipment Calibration Precision | 65% | 89% | +37% |
| New Technology Adoption Rate | 25% | 80% | +220% |
INNOSETA's work relies on a sophisticated collection of methodological approaches and technological tools that collectively form the project's "research toolkit." These elements work in concert to advance both the science and practice of sustainable crop protection.
This methodology brings together stakeholders from across the agricultural value chain to ensure solutions are practical, relevant, and widely adoptable 6 .
The INNOSETA platform serves as a living repository for spraying technologies, training materials, and research findings 6 .
This pedagogical model transforms abstract concepts into tangible skills through carefully designed activities and real-world scenarios 5 .
These technologies enable real-time assessment and interaction during training sessions 5 .
The INNOSETA project represents far more than just technical innovation in spraying equipment—it embodies a fundamental rethinking of how knowledge is created, shared, and applied in European agriculture.
By placing training and advising at the center of its strategy, the initiative ensures that technological advances translate into tangible improvements in sustainability, productivity, and environmental protection.
As the project continues to evolve, its influence extends beyond the immediate sphere of crop protection. INNOSETA offers a template for how we might approach other complex agricultural challenges—through collaboration, digital integration, and an unwavering commitment to transforming how we teach and learn. In the words of one project representative, they are "halfway there" on a journey that promises to reshape European agriculture for generations to come 6 .
The true measure of INNOSETA's success lies not only in the technologies it promotes but in the growing community of practitioners it has empowered—farmers, advisors, and inspectors equipped with the knowledge, skills, and resources to protect both crops and environment through state-of-the-art spraying practices.