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Empowering Students in Precision Agriculture and Remote Sensing !

As part of our commitment to promoting innovation and sustainability in agriculture, a training session was organized on the use of Crop Monitoring platforms and Google Earth Engine for Precision Agriculture. The training brought together mobility students (MSc and PhD) as well as MSc students from the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences (FSA). It introduced them to the genesis of Precision Agriculture, highlighting its historical development and the major technological advances that have shaped modern farming practices. Participants explored various digital tools and platforms available to support precision agriculture, learning how these solutions can enhance decision-making and resource management in the agricultural sector. A key part of the session focused on the practical use of Google Earth Engine. Participants accessed Sentinel-2 satellite images to monitor field conditions, gaining pratical experience in retrieving and analyzing remote sensing data for agricultural purposes. In addition, they learned how to process this imagery in R, calculate vegetation indices such as NDVI, NDRE, and NDWI, and generate heatmaps that visualize variations in crop health across fields. Through this experience, the participants strengthened their theoretical knowledge and developed practical skills essential for implementing data-driven approaches in modern agriculture. By empowering the next generation of agricultural experts with digital tools and methods, we are paving the way toward smarter, more sustainable farming practices. Contente for the website/ Trainin on Drone « The Use of Drones in Agriculture » From March 2nd to 3rd, 2025, students from the Intra-Africa project took part in an engaging and hands-on training session exploring how drone technology is transforming modern agriculture. Over the course of two dynamic days, participants delved into the potential of drones to : The training struck a perfect balance between theory and practice. Learners were introduced to mission planning, drone piloting, image capturing, and data analysis, all tailored to promote smarter, tech-driven farming methods. This initiative stands as a powerful step toward innovation and sustainable agriculture—empowering future agricultural leaders with cutting-edge tools and knowledge.

News & Events

The PATH project is officially launched!

”This project is a commendable initiative that aligns perfectly with the national education policy in Benin.” With these words from Professor Philippe LALEYE, representative of the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, the PATH project (Training young African students and researchers in precision agriculture through inter-regional academic mobility for an improved, climate-smart agricultural system) was officially launched this morning in the Houdégbé amphitheater at the Université d’Abomey-Calavi. The launching ceremony started with welcoming remarks from Professor Enoch Achigan Dako, Head of the Crop Sciences Department at the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences (FSA), and Professor Bonaventure Ahohuendo, Dean of the FSA. Both expressed their pleasure in participating in this significant event. Professor Nelly Carine Kelome, Vice-Rector in charge of Interuniversity Cooperation, Partnerships, and Professional Insertion (VRCIPIP) at the University of Abomey-Calavi, endorsed the Dean of the FSA’s remarks by highlighting the timeliness of the PATH project in strengthening the training system at the university. “The lack of specialized training in precision agriculture and limited access to advanced technologies hampers our ability to respond effectively to climate challenges. The PATH project will fill these gaps,” she asserted. The European Union (EU), co-financing the project, reaffirmed its support for development through Juan Luis Barbolla Casas, Head of the Governance and Economy team. Following speeches by ministerial, rectoral, and decanal authorities, Dr Nicodème Fassinou Hotegni, Project Coordinator, presented the PATH project. He outlined the project’s objectives and partners and explained the importance of precision agriculture and its benefits for beneficiaries. The event concluded with presentations from Professor Kwame Frimpong and Professor Manyatsi Absalom, local PATH coordinators in Ghana and Eswatini, respectively, who discussed the introduction of precision agriculture in their countries. This launching ceremony marks the official start of the project’s activities and the beginning of a great adventure.

News & Events

Apply now!

The Genetics, Biotechnology and Seed Science unit (GBioS) is launching a call for applications for mobility scholarships under the PATH project (Training young African students and researchers in precision agriculture through inter-regional academic mobility for an improved, climate-smart agricultural system) to support 12 PhDs and 16 Masters students in the 2024-2025 academic year. Are you passionate about precision agriculture? Would you like to acquire cutting-edge skills in precision agriculture and help strengthen resilience and adaptation to climate change through academic mobility?  Join the first cohort of PATH beneficiaries by filling in the application form: https://gbios-uac.org/application-form-intra-africa…/ For more details on mobility and documents to be provided, download the call for applications here: https://gbios-uac.org/call-for-application_intra-africa…/ Deadline: June 20, 2024

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