Workshop 2: Are future farmers flying farmers?
Last Thursday 17th November, we hosted the second online thematic workshop of Global Foodture: “Are future farmers flying farmers?” With 91 participants from Europe, Asia and even Latin America and the United States.
We had a look at how agriculture in many countries is changing dramatically these years. It is being transformed into a high-tech enterprise that most 20th century farmers may have hard time to recognize robots, drones, satellites, able to automatically survey and treat crops. Maybe the commonplace on farms in the future.
The ultimate purpose of the use of drones and satellites is to optimize from an economic and environmental standpoint, and in some countries also due to the lack of skill of workforce. We pointed out and showcase different solutions that are on the market and ready to be used by farmers worldwide.
Thank you Henrik Skov Anhøj (The Maersk Mc-Kinney Moller Institute, Syddansk Universitet – University of Southern Denmark); Andreas Siggaard (Hecto Drone); Bjarke Jorgensen (Newtec Engineering); Eddie Bolding (FarmDroid); Panagiotis Ilias (ILVO Living Lab Agrifood Technology); Manika Sachdev (ListenField); Ervin Csőke (World from Space); and Alessandro Saetta (Terroir from Space) for sharing your experience and insights in the field of robots, drones and satellites in agriculture.
First, Professor Henrik Skov talked about their experience with the collection and use of data
for precision agriculture with the Sqare Meter Farming project, supported by the Danish green demonstration and development program. It’s focus is on how to gather data about the farm on a square meter level (such as the fungus infections from fields) from different sources like satellites, drones and field robots.
Then, Andreas Siggaard, CEO of Hecto Drone (Danish manufacturer of drones for data collection with different type of sensors and different tools on it) focused on drones to tell us about precision weed control using drones. He showed the different types of current drone solutions and their patented solution for agriculture.
Afterwards,
Bjarke Jorgensen, head of research in Newtec Engineering, talked about hyperspectral imaging for food science across multiple scales and focused on
two different types of principles for recording hyperspectral imaging: push
broom and snapshot imaging. Newtec Engineering has more than 25 years of
experience in Optical Graders (since 1997)!
Next, Eddie
Bolding, head of sales and marketing at FarmDroid introduced the world’s first
fully automatic for both sowing and weeding control. It is solar powered, uses
RTK GPS, enables a 24/7 operation and chemical free farming, and provides
control and information directly to the farmer’ smartphone. Eddie finished his
presentation showing the great grow of the company despite its young age
(launched in 2019).
On the
second part of the workshop, we took off from the ground to the space.
Panagiotis Ilias, senior IT business analyst of the Food & Technology
department in ILVO, presented ILVO’s activities and best practices of using
satellite data in agriculture.
Then Manika Sachdev, Operations Project Manager in ListenField, an agri-tech company based in Japan and Thailand, told us how they are using the satellite data to help farmers in Thailand. Today, ListenField is a growing multicultural team of 20 people, with operations in 6 countries, and more than 20.000 farmers using their technology! Register in our community platform to know more 😉
Next, Ervin Csöke, Business Development Manager of Dynacrop, explained that they are satellite data experts with the aim of helping other companies using this data to increase production while reducing their impact in the environment. Did you know that the use of satellite monitoring in 2021 in agriculture was 15%, but it is expected to grow up to 85% in 2025?
Last but not least, Alessandro Saetta, CEO of Terroir from Space, showed how the team is helping wine producers by adapting strategies against climate change, viticulture planning through data intensive approaches, and safeguarding traditional wine regions while supporting flourishing hubs in non-traditional regions. All this using AI and EO-based.
The online workshop was closed by Susanne Baden (Food&Bio Cluster) with the announcement of the International Training Program starting today 30th November for Thailand, next workshop on 08th December: “Biomass valorisation technologies and commercialization pathways to create value from agri-food side streams within the circular economy”. Are you interested in international innovation collaboration with Asian partners in the field of robots, drones and satellites? Please visit the website for more information and register for the online thematic workshops or online matchmaking.
Discover all the details in the full webinar below.
