The American Farm Faculty (AFS) in Thessaloniki, Greece, is spearheading a transformative mission aimed toward revolutionizing agricultural training and practices by way of the implementation of a data-driven, sensible greenhouse. In collaboration with Cisco, Dataways S.A., and Inexperienced Challenge S.A., this initiative integrates cutting-edge Web of Issues (IoT) applied sciences, offering college students with hands-on expertise in sensible farming whereas demonstrating the technological advantages to native farmers.
The Want for Innovation
Greenhouse farming performs a vital function in fashionable agriculture by addressing meals safety, useful resource conservation, and sustainability. It facilitates year-round manufacturing whereas safeguarding crops in opposition to pests, illnesses, and excessive climate. This method conserves important assets like water, makes use of renewable vitality to cut back greenhouse fuel emissions, and minimizes chemical utilization.
Nevertheless, many farms throughout Greece, nonetheless depend on conventional practices that restrict effectivity and productiveness. To beat these challenges, AFS is partnering with Cisco to modernize its curriculum and incorporate data-driven greenhouse know-how into its agricultural training program. As well as, the Greek Ministry of Agricultural Improvement and Meals has a plan to assist and assist Greek farmers construct new and sensible greenhouses.
Just lately unveiled at a particular occasion on AFS’ campus, the “sensible and digital greenhouse” drew notable attendees, together with Kostas Tsiaras, the Minister of Agricultural Improvement and Meals. Tsiaras emphasised the importance of greenhouse cultivation applications for enhancing Greece’s main sector and export capabilities, and highlighted Greece’s shift from a deficit to a constructive agricultural steadiness, noting the rise in meals and vegetable exports since 2023. He additionally famous that in Greece there are roughly 50,000 acres (20,000 hectares) of greenhouse cultivation, whereas within the Netherlands, whose space is twice that of the Greek area of Thessaly, the corresponding space reaches 120,000 acres (48,000 hectares).
Stratos Simopoulos, Chairman of the Analysis and Expertise Committee of the Parliament, pressured the significance of recent know-how in creating sustainability and resilience in agriculture. He remarked, “Greenhouse cultivation is evolving right into a cutting-edge sector, contributing to lowered water and pesticide use whereas concurrently growing manufacturing.”
Cisco’s Good Resolution
As a part of Cisco’s Nation Digital Acceleration program, and in partnership with Dataways S.A. and Inexperienced Initiatives S.A., Cisco applied a state-of-the-art, knowledge pushed, Good Greenhouse resolution at AFS. This initiative consists of high-bandwidth wi-fi transmission techniques, environmental sensors, automated controls, surveillance cameras, and knowledge accessibility instruments. These applied sciences allow real-time monitoring and optimization of greenhouse situations, demonstrating the transformative energy of IoT in agriculture. Nikos Lambrogeorgos, Public Sector Shopper Govt at Cisco Hellas, highlighted the set up of those applied sciences and their function in reaching extra sustainable crop administration, growing manufacturing, and decreasing vitality and water prices.
A Instructing and Inspirational Mannequin
Agriculture is a cornerstone of Greece’s economic system, tradition, and heritage. In accordance with the European Fee’s Frequent Agricultural Coverage (CAP) Strategic Plan for Greece, round 400,000 persons are employed in agriculture, accounting for about 10% of whole employment. Though this share has decreased through the years, agriculture stays important to Greece’s economic system, contributing considerably to exports and rural employment.
The Good Greenhouse at AFS serves as a pioneering mannequin for agricultural development in Greece, providing college students sensible expertise in sensible farming methods and performing as an illustration web site for native farmers. AFS President Dr. Jeff Landsdale acknowledged, “The sensible and digital greenhouse will not be solely a technological innovation but additionally an academic instrument that may assist the varsity’s college students achieve precious data and abilities for the long run.”
IoT That Conjures up
As Europe continues its digital transformation journey, tasks just like the Good Greenhouse in Greece exemplify IoT’s potential to revolutionize conventional industries. By delivering the Good Greenhouse mission, Cisco has strengthened its management in IoT options tailor-made to the agricultural sector. This initiative underscores Cisco’s dedication to driving digital transformation in training and agriculture, illustrating with its companions {that a} extra vitality environment friendly and technologically superior future is inside attain.
This publish was co-authored by Nikolaos Lambrogeorgos,
Shopper Govt at Cisco Greece
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