University of Zagreb Faculty of Agriculture
www.agr.unizg.hr/enOverview
The University of Zagreb Faculty of Agriculture is a leading higher education and research institution in Croatia, established in 1919, with a strong focus on agricultural sciences, environmental management, and sustainable resource use. The Faculty comprises multiple departments and research units covering agronomy, soil science, plant production, agroecology, and data-driven agricultural systems. In recent years, the Faculty has increasingly integrated space-based data and technologies into its research and teaching activities. This includes the use of Earth Observation data (e.g. Copernicus Sentinel missions), GNSS-based positioning, and geospatial analytics for applications in precision agriculture, crop monitoring, soil assessment, and environmental management. Research activities involve the development and application of data processing methods, including remote sensing analysis, geostatistics, and machine learning techniques, to support decision-making in agricultural production and land management. The Faculty also operates experimental fields and laboratories that enable validation and calibration of satellite-derived data with in situ measurements. Through participation in European research programmes and collaboration with international partners, the Faculty contributes to the advancement of digital and sustainable agriculture, particularly in the context of climate change adaptation, resource efficiency, and environmental monitoring.
Core Competencies
Earth observation data analysis, remote sensing in agriculture, precision agriculture systems, geospatial data processing (GIS), crop monitoring and modelling, soil data analytics, environmental monitoring, GNSS applications in agriculture, machine learning for agro-environmental data, in situ data collection and validation
Space Experience
The Faculty has experience in the use of satellite-based Earth Observation data, particularly from the Copernicus programme (Sentinel missions), for agricultural and environmental applications. Activities include crop classification, vegetation monitoring, soil moisture estimation, and land use analysis. In addition, the Faculty integrates GNSS technologies for precision farming applications and field- level data collection. Experience is primarily in downstream applications, including data interpretation, modelling, and validation using experimental fields and long-term datasets. The institution also participates in EU-funded research and innovation projects (e.g. Horizon Europe), where space-derived data are used as a component of broader digital agriculture and environmental monitoring frameworks.
Collaboration Needs
The Faculty is interested in collaboration with partners involved in space-based data provision, advanced analytics, and digital agriculture solutions. Potential areas of cooperation include: Integration of Earth Observation data into agricultural decision-support systems - for soil and water management e.g. precision irrigation Development of AI-based models for crop monitoring, yield prediction, soil quality – health and water use efficiency Validation of satellite data using ground-based measurements (Cosmic ray neutron sensor , evapotranspiration sensor, soil sensors) Joint research projects within ESA and EU programmes Capacity building and knowledge exchange in space-enabled agriculture Partnerships with industry, research institutions, and space-sector stakeholders are of particular interest to bridge the gap between research and operational applications.
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