Phoenix Contact marks centenary with eco-friendly projects, introduces a prototype for "Accurate Farming" to revolutionize hydroponic cultivation in Egypt.
Phoenix Contact's Precision Agriculture Solution Transforms Hydroponic Farming in Egypt
In a bid to address future food shortages and reduce freshwater use, Phoenix Contact, a global leader in industrial automation and connectivity, has partnered with HITS Solutions, a local system integrator and software company, to develop a Precision Agriculture solution prototype. This innovative technology is set to revolutionise hydroponic farming in Egypt, potentially providing a sustainable solution to the country's water scarcity and food security challenges.
The Precision Agriculture solution, showcased in a case study, automates irrigation and fertigation based on real-time sensor inputs. By doing so, it significantly reduces water consumption, with the system reducing water usage by 86.67% for 1,200 plants when implemented. Moreover, the vertical farming setup, using the Precision Agriculture solution, requires only 9.5 m², 17 times less space than conventional methods.
The collaboration between Phoenix Contact and HITS Solutions has produced a cloud-based platform to manage the system. This platform integrates metagenomics to analyse microbial communities in the soil and environment, providing valuable biological insights to inform irrigation, fertilization, and crop management decisions.
Phoenix Contact's EDGE boxes monitor and control the greenhouses, linking to the HITS software platform. This end-to-end system optimises resource use, promoting sustainable agriculture while improving crop yields. The Precision Agriculture solution supports sustainable agriculture by precisely managing resources and reducing environmental impact.
This project is a significant step towards Phoenix Contact's 100th anniversary sustainability initiatives. The case study demonstrates the potential of advanced automation and intelligent software in transforming farming for a sustainable future. The Precision Agriculture solution aligns with global trends in sustainable and climate-smart farming, contributing positively to Egypt’s efforts to balance agricultural productivity with environmental conservation.
In conclusion, Phoenix Contact's Precision Agriculture solution in Egypt:
- Reduces water consumption by automating irrigation and fertigation informed by real-time environmental sensors.
- Helps mitigate food shortages by enabling higher crop yields in controlled environments like hydroponic farms.
- Promotes sustainable agriculture through precise resource management and reduced environmental impact.
- Targets transformation of Egyptian agriculture, particularly through technology-enabled hydroponic farming.
[1] Phoenix Contact's Precision Agriculture Solution in Egypt: A Case Study. (2022). [online] Available at: https://www.phoenixcontact.com/global/en/news/press-releases/2022/03/precision-agriculture-solution-in-egypt
[2] Sustainable Agriculture: The Future of Farming in Egypt. (2022). [online] Available at: https://www.hits-solutions.com/case-studies/precision-agriculture-in-egypt
- The Precision Agriculture solution developed by Phoenix Contact and HITS Solutions utilizes cloud technology to manage a system that optimizes resource use and promotes sustainable agriculture.
- This innovative technology, demonstrated in a case study, significantly reduces water consumption and contributes positively to Egypt's efforts in balancing agricultural productivity with environmental conservation.
- By integrating metagenomics to analyze microbial communities, the Precision Agriculture solution provides valuable biological insights that inform irrigation, fertilization, and crop management decisions.
- The collaboration between Phoenix Contact and HITS Solutions aligns with global trends in sustainable and climate-smart farming, making a significant contribution to the future of farming in Egypt.
- The Precision Agriculture solution, which supports environmental-science and education-and-self-development, is a promising financial investment for the industry and the business sector, as it fosters growth and innovation in technology.
