The STELLA consortium gathered in Colmar, France, on 24-25 June 2026 for its second in-person meeting. Hosted by the Institut Français de la Vigne et du Vin (IFV), the two-day event brought together 33 representatives from our 14 partners from across Europe and New Zealand to assess progress and co-design the next steps of this Horizon Europe-funded initiative.
STELLA Coordinator, Dimitrios Tsitsigiannis from the Agricultural University of Athens (AUA) opened the meeting and set the tone for reflection and further collaboration. Day one featured contributions from partners on data collection, processing and modelling, the STELLA platform, the Use Case Pilots (UCPs), the development of policy recommendations, and the Cost–Benefit Analysis. The day concluded with a consortium dinner, offering partners an informal opportunity to strengthen collaboration.
The second day focused on project management as well as technical discussions on weather data, traps and monitoring in the Use Case Pilots. A key highlight was the dedicated Cost-Benefit Analysis workshop, introduced by Green & Digital (GD).The session brought together contributions from the Joint Research Centre (JRC), AUA, Use Case Pilot leaders and technology experts, combining EU policy perspectives with practical discussions on methodology, technology costs, and expected benefits. The meeting ended with a wrap-up session and final remarks, summarising the main outcomes and next steps for the consortium.
Highlights from the field visit
Following the meeting sessions, partners took part in a field visit to the UCP1 vineyard in the Alsace region, where partners explored the traps and IoT devices used for the early detection and monitoring of Grapevine Leafroll Disease and Bois noir. The visit also featured presentations on host plant management, insect-trapping methods and the identification of Hyalesthes obsoletus, one of the root-feeding Fulgores primarily responsible for transmitting the bacterium that causes Bois Noir in France.
About STELLA
STELLA is a Horizon Europe-funded project developing digital solutions for the early detection, monitoring and management of priority plant pests and diseases. By combining IoT sensors, drones, satellite data and digital technologies, the project supports more sustainable crop protection and evidence-based decision-making. Its solutions are being demonstrated through six real-life Use Case Pilots in Greece, Italy, Lithuania, France and New Zealand.
At a glance – Key facts and figures | |
Instrument | Horizon Europe |
EC Funding | € 4,998,037.50 |
Duration | 4 years, 2024-2027 |
Consortium | 14 partners from 7 countries |
Project Coordinator | Prof. Dimitrios Tsitsigiannis Agricultural University of Athens | Iera Odos 75, 11875, Greece |
Project Communication | Emmanouela Aftzi reframe.food | L.Sofou 20, 57001 Thermi, Thessaloniki, Greece |
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.
