Smart Farming Technologies for Sustainable Agriculture: A Case Study of a Mediterranean Aromatic Farm
Consumer interest in medicinal and aromatic herbs is on the rise, with buyers increasingly concerned about the microbiological quality of nutraceutical and aromatic plants. The use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and sensor technology allows for high-resolution crop monitoring, particularly in th...
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MDPI AG
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Agriculture |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/15/8/810 |
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| author | Carlo Greco Raimondo Gaglio Luca Settanni Lino Sciurba Salvatore Ciulla Santo Orlando Michele Massimo Mammano |
| author_facet | Carlo Greco Raimondo Gaglio Luca Settanni Lino Sciurba Salvatore Ciulla Santo Orlando Michele Massimo Mammano |
| author_sort | Carlo Greco |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Consumer interest in medicinal and aromatic herbs is on the rise, with buyers increasingly concerned about the microbiological quality of nutraceutical and aromatic plants. The use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and sensor technology allows for high-resolution crop monitoring, particularly in the production of rosemary and sage in Grotte (Italy), Agrigento District. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of UAV-based time series remote sensing data and multimodal data fusion using RGB and multispectral sensors in rosemary and sage harvesting time individuation and the microbiological quality of these nutraceutical and aromatic plants before and after an innovative and sustainable drying process. The multispectral data were acquired with a DJI multispectral camera mounted on a Phantom 4 UAV. The use of drones in the aromatic plant crops can lead to improved efficiency, productivity, and profitability for farmers and businesses. Italian producers follow strict hygiene regulations to reduce bacterial contamination, particularly during the crucial drying process. A rapid drying method at low temperature using a dryer powered by a photovoltaic renewable energy source (RES) helps preserve the quality of the plants. Real-time monitoring of the drying process is enabled through a system based on wireless sensor networks (WSN), providing valuable data on moisture content, drying rates, and microbial stability. Overall, the innovative use of drones, sensor technology, and renewable energy sources in the production of aromatic herbs like rosemary and sage holds great potential for enhancing crop quality, shelf life, and overall sustainability in the chain food industry. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-51a672ee90f141718d9eb64a604af7d2 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2077-0472 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Agriculture |
| spelling | doaj-art-51a672ee90f141718d9eb64a604af7d22025-08-20T03:14:20ZengMDPI AGAgriculture2077-04722025-04-0115881010.3390/agriculture15080810Smart Farming Technologies for Sustainable Agriculture: A Case Study of a Mediterranean Aromatic FarmCarlo Greco0Raimondo Gaglio1Luca Settanni2Lino Sciurba3Salvatore Ciulla4Santo Orlando5Michele Massimo Mammano6Department of Agricultural, Food and Forest Sciences (SAAF), University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, Buildingss 4–5, 90128 Palermo, ItalyDepartment of Agricultural, Food and Forest Sciences (SAAF), University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, Buildingss 4–5, 90128 Palermo, ItalyDepartment of Agricultural, Food and Forest Sciences (SAAF), University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, Buildingss 4–5, 90128 Palermo, ItalyDepartment of Agricultural, Food and Forest Sciences (SAAF), University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, Buildingss 4–5, 90128 Palermo, ItalyAssociation of Producers SiciliaBio, Via Vittorio Emanuele 100, Favara 92026, ItalyDepartment of Agricultural, Food and Forest Sciences (SAAF), University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, Buildingss 4–5, 90128 Palermo, ItalyCREA—Research Centre for Plant Protection and Certification, Council for Agricultural Research and Analysis of the Agricultural Economy, 90133 Palermo, ItalyConsumer interest in medicinal and aromatic herbs is on the rise, with buyers increasingly concerned about the microbiological quality of nutraceutical and aromatic plants. The use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and sensor technology allows for high-resolution crop monitoring, particularly in the production of rosemary and sage in Grotte (Italy), Agrigento District. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of UAV-based time series remote sensing data and multimodal data fusion using RGB and multispectral sensors in rosemary and sage harvesting time individuation and the microbiological quality of these nutraceutical and aromatic plants before and after an innovative and sustainable drying process. The multispectral data were acquired with a DJI multispectral camera mounted on a Phantom 4 UAV. The use of drones in the aromatic plant crops can lead to improved efficiency, productivity, and profitability for farmers and businesses. Italian producers follow strict hygiene regulations to reduce bacterial contamination, particularly during the crucial drying process. A rapid drying method at low temperature using a dryer powered by a photovoltaic renewable energy source (RES) helps preserve the quality of the plants. Real-time monitoring of the drying process is enabled through a system based on wireless sensor networks (WSN), providing valuable data on moisture content, drying rates, and microbial stability. Overall, the innovative use of drones, sensor technology, and renewable energy sources in the production of aromatic herbs like rosemary and sage holds great potential for enhancing crop quality, shelf life, and overall sustainability in the chain food industry.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/15/8/810smart farmingprecision agriculturedronesrenewable energy source (RES)<i>Salvia rosmarinus</i><i>Salvia officinalis</i> |
| spellingShingle | Carlo Greco Raimondo Gaglio Luca Settanni Lino Sciurba Salvatore Ciulla Santo Orlando Michele Massimo Mammano Smart Farming Technologies for Sustainable Agriculture: A Case Study of a Mediterranean Aromatic Farm Agriculture smart farming precision agriculture drones renewable energy source (RES) <i>Salvia rosmarinus</i> <i>Salvia officinalis</i> |
| title | Smart Farming Technologies for Sustainable Agriculture: A Case Study of a Mediterranean Aromatic Farm |
| title_full | Smart Farming Technologies for Sustainable Agriculture: A Case Study of a Mediterranean Aromatic Farm |
| title_fullStr | Smart Farming Technologies for Sustainable Agriculture: A Case Study of a Mediterranean Aromatic Farm |
| title_full_unstemmed | Smart Farming Technologies for Sustainable Agriculture: A Case Study of a Mediterranean Aromatic Farm |
| title_short | Smart Farming Technologies for Sustainable Agriculture: A Case Study of a Mediterranean Aromatic Farm |
| title_sort | smart farming technologies for sustainable agriculture a case study of a mediterranean aromatic farm |
| topic | smart farming precision agriculture drones renewable energy source (RES) <i>Salvia rosmarinus</i> <i>Salvia officinalis</i> |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/15/8/810 |
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