The American Farm Faculty (AFS) in Thessaloniki, Greece, is spearheading a transformative venture geared toward revolutionizing agricultural schooling and practices by 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 in opposition to pests, ailments, and excessive climate. This method conserves very important sources like water, makes use of renewable power to cut 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 know-how into its agricultural schooling program. As well as, the Greek Ministry of Agricultural Improvement 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 Improvement 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 constructive 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 Know-how Committee of the Parliament, confused 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 decreased 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, knowledge pushed, Sensible Greenhouse resolution at AFS. This initiative contains high-bandwidth wi-fi transmission methods, 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 Government at Cisco Hellas, highlighted the set up of those applied sciences and their function in attaining extra sustainable crop administration, rising manufacturing, and decreasing power and water prices.
A Instructing and Inspirational Mannequin
Agriculture is a cornerstone of Greece’s financial system, tradition, and heritage. In line with the European Fee’s Frequent Agricultural Coverage (CAP) Strategic Plan for Greece, round 400,000 individuals are employed in agriculture, accounting for about 10% of complete employment. Though this share has decreased over time, agriculture stays very important to Greece’s financial 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 illustration website for native farmers. AFS President Dr. Jeff Landsdale said, “The good and digital greenhouse just isn’t solely a technological innovation but additionally an academic software that can assist the varsity’s college students achieve useful information and expertise for the long run.”
IoT That Evokes
As Europe continues its digital transformation journey, initiatives 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 Government at Cisco Greece
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