Safety and Security (r)evolution in agriculture
The Crops&Care AgroHealth project brings together experts from diverse fields (engineering, biomedical sciences, agronomy, clinical health, ergonomics) to address health risks in agriculture. Using advanced clothing systems and innovative biomarkers, our goal is to identify and analyze risks, improve decision-making, and make significant contributions, both nationally and internationally, to improving the health and safety of agricultural workers.
Organizational and Politics
The project research findings, can lead to recommendations and interventions that enhance workers healthy and safety measures, reducing the risk of accidents and injuries among agricultural workers.
Scientific Outcomes
By gathering a large dataset of agricultural workers, scientific evidence on the causal links between human exposure to agricultural routinely hazards, chemicals and negative health outcomes could be generated.
Societal Contribution
Healthy workplaces that promote workers’ health, safety and wellbeing are more likely to have a thriving workforce and benefit from increased productivity and economic gains.
About us
Interdisciplinarity team, with experience and know-how in relevant areas – engineering; biomedical; agronomy; psychophysiology; clinical health; occupational health; ergonomics.
Besides the project partners, this project also counts with two key stakeholders: the National Authority for Working Conditions (ACT) and Wisecrop company.
Health monitoring
Investigate fatigue, stress, hydration, and heat stress using biomarkers (HR, HRV, respiration, etc.).
Exposure assessment
Assess exposure to airborne hazards like respirable particles and hazardous VOCs (pesticides).
Ergonomics
Use physiological indicators to assess posture, movement, and work-related physical strain.
Technology adoption
Evaluate workers’ perceptions of technology and promote policies to improve health and safety in agriculture.
Data integration
Analyze multimodal data to uncover correlations between worker health and working conditions.
Policies and practices
Promote the creation and adoption of occupational health policies and best practices
Latest news
Some of the most recent news related with the project
Meet the Consortium
INESC TEC
INESC TEC is a research and development institute based in Porto that promotes technological innovation and collaboration between academia, industry, and the public sector in various areas, including health. It is part of the Center for Biomedical Engineering (C-BER), dedicated to the development of technologies at the interface between engineering and medicine, with a focus on prevention, diagnosis, monitoring, and rehabilitation, organizing its research in areas such as bioinstrumentation, biomedical imaging, and neuroengineering.
As part of these activities, C-BER also conducts research in quantified occupational health, creating solutions based on wearable sensors and artificial intelligence to monitor the psychophysiological responses of professionals and improve safety and working conditions.
INESC TEC is the leader of the Crops&Care project and its main component is the analysis of psychophysiological data and the multimodal analysis of the various data that will be obtained during the project.
INEGI
INEGI – Institute of Science and Innovation in Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Engineering is a Technology and Innovation Center (CTI) created in 1986, dedicated to conducting technology-based research and innovation activities, technology transfer, consulting, and technological services aimed at developing industry and the economy in general. It is a private, non-profit public utility institution.
Throughout its 40 years of activity, the Institute has developed and consolidated its position as a technological partner to industry, particularly in the main sectors with which it collaborates: industry, capital goods, automotive and transport, aeronautics, space and defense, marine economy, infrastructure, health and sports, and renewable energies.
INEGI’s main role in the project is to conduct a qualitative and quantitative assessment of the risk of exposure to chemical agents among agricultural workers, with a particular focus on particles and volatile organic compounds, including pesticides, in real working conditions, through field monitoring and laboratory analysis of environmental samples. Based on the results obtained, it will identify the determining factors of exposure and support the definition of risk mitigation measures for the health of workers in the sector, supported by the evidence collected.
Faculdade de Ciência da UP
The Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto (FCUP) is a higher education institution of excellence in the fields of exact, natural, computer, and agri-food sciences, as well as their technological applications. It promotes a multidisciplinary approach based on academic rigor and technological pragmatism, developing R&D&I activities geared towards excellence in teaching and the advancement of science and technology, enhanced by the diversity of its scientific community and cooperation in international networks.
FCUP’s main role in the Crop&Care project involves implementing field trials to collect comprehensive data on the occupational health of agricultural workers, enabling the identification of relevant biomarkers. This data will be analyzed to assess the impact and benefits of implementing an occupational health platform within a One Health approach, supporting evidence-based decision-making and optimizing the application of technology in agricultural contexts.
ADVID – Cluster da Vinha e do Vinho e CoLAB VINES&WINES
A non-profit institution that has been working to improve viticulture in Portugal since 1982. With a mission focused on the sustainable development of national viticulture, it plays an important role in transferring knowledge and technology to the sector, contributing to increased competitiveness and quality of wines in different markets.
It has been recognized by the National Innovation Agency for its suitability for conducting research and development activities in the technical-scientific fields of water and environment, as well as agri-food. Its work is based on applied research, field experimentation, and close proximity to vineyards, ensuring practical and innovative solutions to the challenges of the sector. With an approach grounded in scientific rigor, innovation, and a strong connection to the territory, ADVID has established itself as a technical reference in vineyards and wine in Portugal.
ULS São João
São João Local Health Unit (ULSSJ), which is belong to São João University Hospital (HUSJ) provides hospital care with a focus on quality, efficiency, and humanization.
It has 1,100 beds and a wide range of medical specialties, accounting for 20% of public hospital care in northern Portugal. Within the European Reference Networks (ERN), HUSJ has been recognized by national authorities as a national reference center in 15 areas related to complex and challenging conditions or procedures, and is part of 7 ERNs as a healthcare provider.
HUSJ remains active in clinical and translational research, both as a host institution and as a partner to external entities.
Virtually all clinical information has been recorded electronically for many years, constituting an extensive historical wealth of information used for learning and research purposes.
Project Concept
Leverage on a technological platform of wearable health devices to monitor workers health and activity combined with a reference methodology for the analysis of environmental exposure and health risk assessment will enable to research occupational health information on the agricultural sector, and develop an innovative knowledge transfer concept on behalf of agricultural workforce.
Previous involvement in a recent project (AgWearCare) confirm the significant vulnerability of this population and we will benefit from this experience with a better understanding of these workers’ requirements and quantification of novel occupational metrics
Our team
Susana Rodrigues
INESC TEC
PhD, Researcher and Human Resources coordiantor
Duarte Dias
INESC TEC
Research and C-BER Assistant coordinator
Francisca Gomes
INESC TEC
Researcher
Lucas Souza
INESC TEC
Researcher
Marta Gabriel
INEGI
PhD, Coordinator Researcher
Fátima Felgueiras
INEGI
PhD, Researcher
Gabriela Ventura
INEGI
PhD, Researcher at LQAI
Mário Cunha
FCUP
Associate Professor,
with Habilitation
Leandro Rodrigues
FCUP
PhD Student and invited
Teaching Assistant
Renan Tosin
FCUP
Post-doc and Invited Assistant Professor
Luís Marcos
ADVID
general Director
António Pinto
ADVID
Project Officer
Pedro Norton
ULS São João
Diretor do Serviço de Saúde Ocupacional
Jacinta Brasil
ULS Sâo João
Técnico Superior de Diagnóstico e Terapêutica
Contact us
Susana Rodrigues (INESC TEC) – Project Principal Investigator