Interview with the 'DEMETRA' team, winner of the pitch competition in the Spoke 6 entrepreneurship pathway. Prof. Marco Carnevale, coordinator of the research team behind the academic Proof of Concept (POC) DEMETRA and winner of the pitch competition at the first edition of the NODES Academy: Agroindustria Primaria, shares the latest project developments and upcoming steps.
NB: What is the DEMETRA project about?
MC: DEMETRA develops a virtual reality (VR) training environment for agricultural operators. The proof of concept focuses on hazelnut pruning, but the system can be extended to other agricultural tasks and machinery use, allowing training without seasonal constraints or the need for a physical field.
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NB: What are the main advantages of virtual reality training?
MC: The first is overcoming seasonal limitations—pruning and similar activities can be learned anytime, reducing costs and improving the availability of skilled workers. VR also ensures standardized training, with performance monitoring and evaluation. Additionally, interactive avatars facilitate learning for users with different languages and backgrounds. Digitization in agriculture can also attract younger workers, reinforcing the sector’s image as technologically advanced.
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NB: What disciplines are involved?
MC: The project integrates digital modeling, human-machine interaction, and advanced simulation. Our industrial robotics team developed haptic interfaces that simulate the tactile sensation of cutting branches. Initially, we created a sensorized glove with tactile feedback, later replaced with the integration of real tools, such as the Pellenc pruning shears, to enhance realism.
The DICAR Laboratory (DAda-LAB) contributed by designing virtual environments and parametric digital prototypes of plants using LIDAR scans and photogrammetry. Data from the experimental field at Università Cattolica di Milano provided accurate digital modeling. The project also integrates Italy’s first Infinadeck omnidirectional treadmill, allowing users to move freely in the virtual scenario, overcoming traditional VR limitations.
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NB: How has the collaboration with NODES and ComoNExT benefited the project?
MC: The NODES grant pushed us to develop both the technology and a business model. Through the Academy and ComoNExT facilitators, we gained market analysis skills, identified competitors, and refined our competitive advantages. We realized our system is valuable not only for agricultural businesses but also for agrarian schools and vocational training centers. This experience helped us transform research into an industrially viable solution.
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NB: What are the next steps?
MC: We have won 20 additional hours of incubation support, which we are using to deepen market analysis and validate the product. We are strengthening our partnership with Pellenc, integrating their commercial tool into our platform to fully replace the haptic glove and enhance realism. We are also launching collaborations with agrarian institutes and businesses to test the system in real-world conditions. The I.I.S. Galileo Ferraris Technical Agrarian Institute in Vercelli has already expressed interest in participating in validation, which will help refine educational content and adapt the system to users' needs. Additionally, we are co-designing training modules with industry experts. While the platform currently focuses on hazelnut pruning, we aim to expand it to include agronomic knowledge and enhance operators’ decision-making skills. Finally, we are seeking funding to scale the project, making it accessible to schools, agricultural businesses, and training centers. Our goal is to establish DEMETRA as a reference platform for digital agricultural training, improving workforce skills and driving sector innovation.
