Due to minimal traveling caused by Covid-19, the Nordic Testbed Network used less of its 2020 budget than planned. We therefore invited all of our testbeds to provide ideas for relevant activities in line with the core of the network, which the network could fund.
We are happy to announce that AgroTech and Alovivum have been granted funding for their respective initiatives.
Digital tests for optimised spraying with minimal overlap
The Danish Technological Institute’s initiative lies within the area of precision agriculture – a key element in the digital transformation of the bioeconomy. The use of pesticides can be optimised by using GPS systems, drones, and camera technologies. However, also the precision of the field sprayers can be optimised using digital solutions, by new add-on technologies and computer control.
The aim of this project is to demonstrate the quality of agricultural sprayers by measuring of the boom movements with/without a technology controlling the yaw movements.
– I think there are good possibilities for ensuring a more sustainable plant production, by using digital solutions both implemented on new sprayers and the farmers existing equipment. However the producers of digital solutions are often start-ups ag-tech and SME companies and the cost for proving the effect for the farmers can be relatively costly and difficult to finance. The funding from the Nordic Testbed Network gives the possibility to measure the estimated positive benefit for a more accurate spraying, says Birgitte Feld Mikkelsen, Danish Technological Institute.
An outreach for co-creation, data sharing and demonstration
Alovivum’s initiative involves an outreach of the testbed for co-creation, data sharing and demonstration to the local bioeconomy and food community, in order to interact with farmers to co-develop indoor farming applications, retrofit farm buildings and select plant species for local supply chains. The interaction may eventually be extended to consumers, retail and other stakeholders.
– We chose to apply for this project since we believe that sharing data and results from our testbed and pilot site for hydroculture cultivation and farming will help us and others to make this innovative way of indoor farming and its benefits and KPIs more visible and subject for further development, comparison and benchmarking, as well as mutual sharing of progress among the Nordic testbeds and other stakeholders, says Henrik Hedlund at Alovivum.
Contact: Henrik Hedlund, Alovivum
