The American Farm College (AFS) in Thessaloniki, Greece, is spearheading a transformative venture geared toward revolutionizing agricultural schooling and practices via the implementation of a data-driven, good greenhouse. In collaboration with Cisco, Dataways S.A., and Inexperienced Undertaking S.A., this initiative integrates cutting-edge Web of Issues (IoT) applied sciences, offering college students with hands-on expertise in good farming whereas demonstrating the technological advantages to native farmers.
The Want for Innovation
Greenhouse farming performs an important function in trendy agriculture by addressing meals safety, useful resource conservation, and sustainability. It facilitates year-round manufacturing whereas safeguarding crops towards pests, illnesses, and excessive climate. This method conserves important assets like water, makes use of renewable power to scale back greenhouse fuel emissions, and minimizes chemical utilization.
Nonetheless, 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 expertise into its agricultural schooling program. As well as, the Greek Ministry of Agricultural Growth and Meals has a plan to assist and assist Greek farmers construct new and good greenhouses.
Not too long ago unveiled at a particular occasion on AFS’ campus, the “good and digital greenhouse” drew notable attendees, together with Kostas Tsiaras, the Minister of Agricultural Growth and Meals. Tsiaras emphasised the importance of greenhouse cultivation packages for enhancing Greece’s main sector and export capabilities, and highlighted Greece’s shift from a deficit to a optimistic agricultural stability, 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, careworn the significance of contemporary expertise 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 rising manufacturing.”
Cisco’s Sensible Resolution
As a part of Cisco’s Nation Digital Acceleration program, and in partnership with Dataways S.A. and Inexperienced Initiatives S.A., Cisco carried out a state-of-the-art, information pushed, Sensible Greenhouse resolution at AFS. This initiative contains high-bandwidth wi-fi transmission methods, environmental sensors, automated controls, surveillance cameras, and information accessibility instruments. These applied sciences allow real-time monitoring and optimization of greenhouse circumstances, 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, rising manufacturing, and decreasing power and water prices.
A Educating and Inspirational Mannequin
Agriculture is a cornerstone of Greece’s economic system, tradition, and heritage. In keeping with the European Fee’s Widespread Agricultural Coverage (CAP) Strategic Plan for Greece, round 400,000 individuals 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 Sensible Greenhouse at AFS serves as a pioneering mannequin for agricultural development in Greece, providing college students sensible expertise in good farming strategies and performing as an indication website for native farmers. AFS President Dr. Jeff Landsdale acknowledged, “The good and digital greenhouse is just not solely a technological innovation but additionally an academic device that can assist the varsity’s college students acquire priceless data and expertise for the longer term.”
IoT That Evokes
As Europe continues its digital transformation journey, tasks just like the Sensible Greenhouse in Greece exemplify IoT’s potential to revolutionize conventional industries. By delivering the Sensible Greenhouse venture, 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 schooling and agriculture, illustrating with its companions {that a} extra power environment friendly and technologically superior future is inside attain.
This put up was co-authored by Nikolaos Lambrogeorgos,
Shopper Govt at Cisco Greece
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