On 3 March 2026, representatives of research institutions, technology providers and local farmers gathered in Klatovy (Czech Republic) for a joint event aimed at bridging the gap between innovation and everyday agricultural practice. The meeting, hosted by Úhlava, o.p.s., brought together key stakeholders to discuss how digital tools, education and advisory systems can better support farmers in the region.
While several innovative solutions were presented, the central theme of the event was the creation of a Czech-Bavarian Agricultural Innovation Hub in Klatovy, developed within the framework of the PoliRuralPlus initiative.
From research to real impact
The event opened with a reflection on the specific needs of the Klatovy and Šumava region. Speakers emphasized that rural areas require tailored solutions - especially in the face of climate change, economic pressures and the challenges faced by small and medium-sized farms.
Digital tools, sensor-based systems and data platforms were introduced as important components of modern agriculture. However, the overarching message was clear: technology only delivers value when it is understandable, accessible and directly applicable to farmers’ daily decision-making.
This is precisely where the Innovation Hub concept comes in.
The vision: A Czech-Bavarian Innovation Hub
The proposed Czech-Bavarian Innovation Hub in Klatovy aims to become a central platform for modernising agriculture and food systems in the cross-border region.
Rather than being just a physical location, the Hub is envisioned as a living ecosystem that:
- translates research results into clear, practical guidance,
- provides advisory services in precision and smart farming,
- supports farmers in navigating complex subsidy schemes,
- facilitates knowledge exchange across the Czech-Bavarian border,
- and strengthens cooperation between farmers, researchers and public institutions.
The Hub is designed to respond directly to real needs identified by local farmers - not to impose top-down solutions.
JackDaw: AI-supported decision-making in practice
A key component of the Hub will be JackDaw, the GeoAI assistant developed within the PoliRuralPlus project.
JackDaw connects large language models with geospatial and satellite data, enabling farmers and regional stakeholders to interact with complex datasets in plain language. Instead of navigating multiple GIS platforms, users can simply ask questions and receive context-specific answers based on spatial data, land use information, climate indicators and other relevant sources.
Within the Innovation Hub framework, JackDaw could:
- help interpret land-use and environmental data,
- support crop rotation and soil management decisions,
- assist in understanding subsidy requirements by analysing official guidelines,
- provide tailored insights for specific parcels or territories.
In doing so, JackDaw helps bridge the gap between advanced data systems and practical farm-level decision-making - a core ambition of PoliRuralPlus.
What farmers expect from the hub
The most valuable part of the event was the open discussion with attending farmers. Their feedback provided a clear roadmap for the next steps.
Farmers expressed strong interest in the Hub - provided that it delivers concrete, practical benefits. Specifically, they highlighted that the Hub would be valuable if it:
- uses AI tools to analyse subsidy manuals and “translate” complex administrative language into clear guidance,
- enables the sharing of expensive technologies such as drones or advanced sensors,
- provides reliable, data-driven recommendations on fertilisation and input optimisation,
- supports diversification opportunities, including agri-tourism and short supply chains.
This discussion confirmed that innovation must be service-oriented, practical and economically relevant.
A Living platform for rural transformation
The meeting in Klatovy demonstrated that the region has strong potential to become a model for cross-border rural innovation. The planned Innovation Hub will not simply be an infrastructure project - it will function as a collaborative platform that connects digital tools, advisory services, education and real-world farming practice.
By embedding JackDaw and other PoliRuralPlus outputs into this regional ecosystem, the Hub represents a tangible step towards smarter, more resilient rural areas in Central Europe.
Further development will focus on refining services, strengthening partnerships and ensuring long-term sustainability, so that farmers in the border region can access the same technological opportunities as larger agricultural enterprises, while preserving their unique relationship with the landscape.
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