OPEN INNOVATION PLATFORM FOR SMART AGRICULTURE

The paper presented the importance of innovation platforms and especially those intended for the agriculture domain. The structure and architecture of digital tools for an online platform such as "OPEN INNOVATION ECOSYSTEM" or "OPEN INNOVATION 2.0" for trading the demand and supply of research-development-innovation in agriculture and related fields will be detailed. The concept of the innovation platform was used in the field of agriculture to allow research, learning and interactions between stakeholders and to jointly exploit opportunities and address solutions that lead to promoting innovation in agriculture, from idea to production and capitalization of good

INNOVATIVE AND CROSS-SECTORAL CLUSTERS AS FACILITATORS OF VALUE ADDED CHAINS IN AGRICULTURE - SMART AGRO CLUSTERS IN ROMANIA

Clusters play an important role in driving competitiveness, innovation and jobs creation in the EU. Romania currently has successful clusters in various economic sectors and services, including 7 clusters in agro-food. Agriculture has been and remains the support of the human existence, which is an important pillar of the Romanian rural economy. The agro-food sector had oscillating evolutions in the post-accession period, mainly generated by the need to get in line with the EU requirements. Stimulating smart technology assimilation across all economic sectors including agro-food value chains, promoting enterprise growth and clusters 4.0 is critical to many EU Member States. Partnerships between countries, regions, cities and clusters are essential in the next industrial modernization process, based on innovation. Clusters 4.0 calls for development of a generation of advanced cluster policies to respond to these new industrial challenges by facilitating cross-sectoral value chains, fostering internationalization, stimulating inter-regional investment and accelerating entrepreneurship and skills in digital production, environmental production, circular economy, service innovation and creative economy. In order to be ready for the future, clusters must be geared towards creating a smart value chains, international cooperation and cross-sectoral partnerships. This research paper proposes a model  as a tool for agro-clusters to become “smart”, also this proposal providing information on the most important steps in the creation and development of smart agro-clusters. The used research methodology was based on analysis and synthesis of the information on the economic and social aspects of the development of the agro-food sector and of clusters in Romania. In conclusion, the authors of this paper wanted to emphasize the necessity of the development of smart agro-clusters for the future smart specialization of the regions

SUPPLEMENTS TO THE PROBLEM OF ENERGY CONSUMPTION IN REDUCING LIGNOCELLULOSES BIOMASS SIZE TO PRODUCE ENERGY

This article presents complementary results on experimental data on the process of reducing the size of plant biomass by mechanical cutting. According to the source of the experimental data, the problem of statistical modelling of the main parameters describing the process of biomass reduction was approached. A more comprehensive formulation of the list of main system parameters was also attempted, which should be considered in a minimal mathematical model. The results of this article are starting points for a systemic approach to this biomass processing process. A first systematization is fixing 13 parameters that are included in the model of the biomass size reduction phenomenon. The 13 model parameters are divided into three categories: input parameters (5), adjustment parameters (4) and output parameters (4). The performances of the interpolation formulas are evaluated using the global error and the maximum error, varying between 1% and 0.1% for the prior and 3.8% and 0.34% for the latter. Some mathematical models suggest the existence of optimal operating points. Their exploitation can only come as a result of new high-resolution experimental research, at least in terms of rotation speed

STUDY ON THE DEVELOPMENT, PRODUCTIVITY AND PROFITABILITY OF ARIZONA AND BELLAROSA POTATO VARIETIES

The potato (Solanum tuberosum) is a herbaceous plant that belongs to the nightshade family. They are edible, rich in starch so they are used in human nutrition in various forms, serve as animal feed, but can also be used as a raw material in various industries (Toader and Roman, 2014). Originally from South America, more precisely from the Andes Mountains region, potatoes are the 4th largest source of food energy after corn, rice and wheat (https://ro.wikipedia.org/wiki/Istoria_cartofului_%C3%AEn_imperiul_inca%C8%99). At maturity, the tubers have a dry matter composed of 70% starch, 2-4% cellulose, 2.5% pectins, 0.5-2% reducing carbohydrates and 0.5-1% sugars (Berindei, 1984). The objective was represented by the study of two potato varieties, namely Arizona (white potato) and Bellarosa (red potato) grown on two different plots analyzing both their productivity and profitability, both being two early varieties. The crops were studied during the entire vegetation period, also following the economic analysis and implicitly the profit of each variety. The first determination was related to planting density, respectively to the number of nests per hectare. All the technological works that were undertaken within the studied plots were noted, the vegetation phases from the moment of execution of each work with the help of the BBCH scale, the consumption of materials, time and fuel that each intervention involved. In the end, we also found out the costs of the works performed in order to be able to establish the profit obtained from the sale of each variety in order to be able to establish which of the two is more profitable. Prior to harvesting, two sets of samples representing 10 potato nests were extracted from the two plots in order to analyze the productivity of each variety. These determinations were performed under laboratory conditions and involved the following: number of tubers / nest, weight of tubers / nest (g), stem height (cm), largest tuber / nest (g), smallest tuber / nest (g), their diameter in section (cm)

Supplements to the problem of energy consumption in reducing lignocelluloses biomass size to produce energy

This article presents complementary results on experimental data on the process of reducing the size of plant biomass by mechanical cutting. According to the source of the experimental data, the problem of statistical modelling of the main parameters describing the process of biomass reduction was approached. A more comprehensive formulation of the list of main system parameters was also attempted, which should be considered in a minimal mathematical model. The results of this article are starting points for a systemic approach to this biomass processing process. A first systematization is fixing 13 parameters that are included in the model of the biomass size reduction phenomenon. The 13 model parameters are divided into three categories: input parameters (5), adjustment parameters (4) and output parameters (4). The performances of the interpolation formulas are evaluated using the global error and the maximum error, varying between 1% and 0.1% for the prior and 3.8% and 0.34% for the latter. Some mathematical models suggest the existence of optimal operating points. Their exploitation can only come as a result of new high-resolution experimental research, at least in terms of rotation speed

Mathematical modelling and numerical simulation of linear electro-hydraulic servomechanism with stepper motor

The paper presents the results of research on the performance of linear electro-hydraulic servomechanisms with stepper motor, evaluated by mathematical modelling and numerical simulation with the AMESIM software package. These servomechanisms have a great potential for application, including for agricultural technical equipment. Servomechanisms of various types are used for the rapid and high precision operation of the various systems. In practice, electro-hydraulic servomechanisms have been required in the case of the systems requiring high forces or moments. These equipment are automatic hydraulic tracking systems and can be analysed with methods specific to automatic systems. The paper contains a structural description of an electro-mechanical servomechanism with stepper motor, its operation, mathematical model and its performances obtained by numerical simulation. The mathematical modelling of the electro-hydraulic servomechanism is based on the relations between the input sizes and output sizes of the equipment in its structure as well as the connection relations between these equipment. Based on the obtained results it is demonstrated that the analysis and synthesis of electro-hydraulic servomechanisms with stepper motor can be determined by numerical simulation using the AMESIM simulation software

Considerations on the importance of the main chemical properties of the soil in agrochemical studies

Information on soil nutrition level or soil pollution level can lead to the establishment of some recommendations or a strategic decision-making program for the reference area development. The specific soil analysis is essential both from an economic point of view and from an environmental point of view. To achieve an adequate management of the nutrients into an agricultural field, it is necessary to conduct an agrochemical study at an interval of 3–5 years, in which, the relevant agrochemical indicators for the evaluation of the nutrient supply state must be analysed, to determine fertilizer doses and/or recommended amendments for the expected crops. The agrochemical study must contain the analysis bulletin that provides the following information: pH value, humus and total nitrogen content, phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) content, C/N ratio (carbon / nitrogen), nitrogen index (NI), as well as the main microelements

Innovative and cross-sectoral clusters as facilitators of value added chains in agriculture – smart agro clusters in Romania

Clusters play an important role in driving competitiveness, innovation and jobs creation in the EU. Romania currently has successful clusters in various economic sectors and services, including 7 clusters in agro-food. Agriculture has been and remains the support of the human existence, which is an important pillar of the Romanian rural economy.The agro-food sector had oscillating evolutions in the post-accession period, mainly generated by the need to get in line with the EU requirements. Stimulating smart technology assimilation across all economic sectors including agro-food value chains, promoting enterprise growth and clusters 4.0 is critical to many EU Member States. Partnerships between countries, regions, cities and clusters are essential in the next industrial modernization process, based on innovation. Clusters 4.0 calls for development of a generation of advanced cluster policies to respond to these new industrial challenges by facilitating cross-sectoral value chains, fostering internationalization, stimulating inter-regional investment and accelerating entrepreneurship and skills in digital production, environmental production, circular economy, service innovation and creative economy. In order to be ready for the future, clusters must be geared towards creating a smart value chains, international cooperation and cross-sectoral partnerships. This research paper proposes a model as a tool for agro-clusters to become “smart”, also this proposal providing information on the most important steps in the creation and development of smart agro-clusters. The used research methodology was based on analysis and synthesis of the information on the economic and social aspects of the development of the agro-food sector and of clusters in Romania. In conclusion, the authors of this paper wanted to emphasize the necessity of the development of smart agro-clusters for the future smart specialization of the regions