Sustainability: the LIFE Apollo project moves into full operation

At Fieragricola Maschio Gaspardo took stock of the progress of the LIFE Apollo project, for which the Campodarsego-based company (Padua) acts as coordinator. The project, co-funded by the European Union under the LIFE Programme, aims to reduce the use of plant protection products in apple and olive orchards by more than 50%, in line with the objectives of the EU Farm to Fork strategy.

The goal of LIFE Apollo is to develop an autonomous agricultural rover powered by a diesel-electric system, capable of carrying out timely and selective interventions on plants. The robot uses UV-C light to prevent the onset of certain fungal and bacterial diseases, supported by predictive algorithms that identify the optimal timing for intervention based on weather and crop parameters, thereby reducing the use of chemical inputs.

Testing activities also include field demonstrations in olive groves and apple orchards across several Italian regions, with the aim of bringing the technology to TRL 8 (Technology Readiness Level 8) — a stage preceding industrial-scale production and subsequent commercialization.

In addition to Maschio Gaspardo, the LIFE APOLLO partnership includes Free Green Nature, the University of Trento, the Edmund Mach Foundation, AIPO (Interregional Association of Olive Growers), and the Laimburg Research Centre. The project, launched in June 2025, is scheduled for completion in November 2027.