SWAMED demonstrated an integrated smart agriculture system combining IoT sensors, drones, and field data to improve water efficiency in rice cultivation under growing climate pressures.
From May 8th to 10th, Thessaloniki (Greece) hosted the 9th Environmental Conference of Macedonia. The Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, an active partner within the SWAMED project consortium, successfully participated in the event, showcasing cutting-edge scientific contributions aligned with the project’s core mission.
During the conference, the university presented an abstract and a dedicated technical poster titled: “Sustainable Water Management in Rice Cultivation Using Smart Agriculture”.
Abstract
“Rice cultivation is one of the most important crops in the world, requiring large amounts of water. However, the lack of water is one of the most important challenges for agriculture in the Mediterranean countries, especially for rice cultivation. Addressing this challenge requires the adoption of innovative and sustainable water resource management tools. The aim of the study was to co-design a water monitoring and management system for rice cultivation. The system incorporated smart farming technologies, such as field sensors and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), combined with on-site measurements. The results showed optimization of water use, maintaining productivity and reducing environmental impact, contributing to sustainable rice production and greater resilience to climate change.
Acknowledgment: This work was funded by the project “Sustainable WAter management for smart agriculture in the MEDiterranean regions – A_T_2.3_0561 SWAMED” of Interreg VI-B NEXT Mediterranean Sea Basin (NEXT MED) Programme”
Authors: F.S.A. Alexandrou, Ε. Deligiannis, P. Papakaloudis, Α. Michalitsis, G. Manessis, Z. Basdagi-anni, I. Bossis, C. Dordas | School of Agriculture, Faculty of Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Environment, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki | Greece
Last Update
20/05/2026
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