The ICAERUS project will host its final event, “The United Event,” on 12 May 2026 at the Agricultural University of Athens, bringing together researchers, policymakers, industry stakeholders, and end-users to present the results of four years of work on drone applications in agriculture, forestry, and rural communities.
The event marks a key milestone for the Horizon Europe-funded project, which has explored how drones can be deployed as multi-purpose tools to support sustainable, efficient, and safe operations across Europe’s rural landscape.
Demonstrating innovation across five real-world use cases
At the core of the event is the presentation of ICAERUS’ five use cases, covering crop monitoring, precision drone spraying, livestock monitoring, forestry and biodiversity monitoring, and rural logistics. These use cases have been implemented across different European contexts to reflect the complexity of rural environments, demonstrating how drone technologies can address multiple operational challenges while creating added value for farmers, foresters, and rural communities.
The morning programme will introduce the project’s objectives and key achievements, followed by an interactive presentation of the ICAERUS platform, which brings together datasets, algorithms, and tools developed throughout the project. This will be complemented by a comprehensive overview of the use cases, offering insights into how drone-based solutions have been designed, tested, and refined in real-world conditions.
From research to real-world application
A central feature of the event will be the live demonstrations, where participants will observe operational drone systems in action. These demonstrations will showcase drone mapping and 3D reconstruction, in-field spraying operations and spray drift assessment, and flight planning and execution for drone-based delivery logistics.
Advancing knowledge, tools, and innovation ecosystems
In the afternoon, the programme will focus on advanced results emerging from the project. These include developments in drone-based animal detection and counting systems, as well as forest health monitoring and wildlife detection using hyperspectral imaging. The event will also feature selected projects from ICAERUS Open Calls that worked on drone-based rodent detection and non-invasive pest control, and early crop diseases detection using UAV-based hyperspectral monitoring. The SPADE project will also present insights into the agri-forest drone ecosystem for governance and environmental observation.
A roundtable discussion will bring together experts from research, industry, and policy to explore how drone-based services can move from pilot testing to large-scale adoption. This discussion will address key challenges related to regulation, market uptake, and operational integration, reflecting ICAERUS’ commitment to supporting practical deployment pathways.
Supporting Europe’s green and digital transition
ICAERUS contributes to the European Union’s ambitions for sustainable agriculture, digitalisation, and climate resilience by enabling better-informed decision-making, improving resource efficiency, and supporting new service models in rural areas. Through its multi-actor approach, the project has combined technological innovation with stakeholder engagement, policy insights, and capacity building to create a robust and scalable environment for drone services.
Looking ahead
The event will conclude with reflections on key outcomes and future directions, including exploitation pathways and opportunities for continued collaboration. Participants will also have the opportunity to connect with experts across the drone, agriculture, and research communities, reinforcing the networks established throughout the project.
Useful Links
Register for the event: https://shorturl.at/aU3AZ
Download the invitation: https://shorturl.at/esSEs
View the agenda: https://shorturl.at/EQg4p
Note to editors:
At a glance – Key facts and figures
- Instrument: Horizon Europe- Financial support to third parties
- Total costs: € 5,914,703.00
- Duration: 4 years, 2022-2026
- Consortium: A total of 13 partners from 8 European countries
Project Coordinator | Prof. Spyros Fountas Agricultural University of Athens 75 Iera Odos Str. 11855, Athens, Greece sfountas@aua.gr |
Project Communication | Mackenzie Baert reframe.food L.Sofou 20, 57001 Thermi, Thessaloniki, Greece mbaert@reframe.food |
Disclaimer
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or Research Executive Agency. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
