There is still a huge “gap” between the portfolio of digital technologies offered at the market and the actual uptake and use by farmers in the EU. Studies show that among key uptake barriers hindering the farmers to make use of digital technologies are:
a) a lack of knowledge about those tools in general, as well as their costs and benefits;
b) a lack of overview of the strengths and weaknesses of certain tools in the huge portfolio offered on markets and the suitability to address farm-specific needs;
c) a lack of believe in the added value of digital technologies for the management of a farm. Also, it is presented the effort needed to become familiar with new tools. Also cultural aspects play a role in the perception of digital technologies.

Proposals should cover all of the following aspects:

• Demonstration of the costs and benefits for farmers/farms of the use of digital technologies for individual production steps as well as for following a “whole-farm approach” which is applied, e.g. in the use of some Farm Management Systems under real testing conditions and with quantitative and qualitative assessments.
• Analyses and developed assessment approaches representative for the EU under consideration of the various biogeographical conditions, and several types of farms and farmers under consideration of different business models.
• Provision of innovative decision-making support on the selection and use of digital technologies.
• Recommendations, under which conditions/ in which way digital technologies deliver best results for a farmer and on business models for financing/ for financing their use.
• Generation of innovative tools making the results of the projects easily accessible and usable for the different target groups (at least farmers and advisors).
• Exploration of the potential of digital technologies use in agriculture as means for independent monitoring.
• Recommendations under which conditions/ in which way digital technologies deliver best sustainability performance.
• Facilitated qualitative and quantitative assessment of the environmental effects of the use of digital technologies in agriculture. etc. 

If involving machinery companies, selected projects should build their work on digital technologies and machinery from at least three companies and brands.