Whether it’s building more green spaces, providing habitats for wildlife, or investing in electric vehicle infrastructure, London is making a number of changes to help the capital become greener and fight pollution.
Yet, a crucial topic that is unlikely to be discussed is the need to make our agriculture industry more sustainable. Whilst we are more famed for financial services than farming, innovation across the capital’s agricultural spaces will be key to reducing emissions and making the city more sustainable.
It may not be front of mind when you’re shopping on Oxford Street or sight-seeing in the City, but the area within the M25 plays hosts to thousands of hectares of farmland, usually concentrated in outer London boroughs such as Enfield, Hillingdon and Croydon.
And it’s a few miles south of Croydon, over in West Sussex, that we at Boldyn are exploring new ways to make farming more sustainable through improved digital connectivity. We’ve partnered with the local authority to establish the ‘Growing Sussex 5G Innovation Region’ which, with the support of £3.8 million in government funding, will empower growers with the tools and skills they need to thrive in the digital age.
From autonomous tractors, to aerial drones, to sophisticated sensors, the project will see the application of advanced technologies and new innovations which can lead to greater yields and reduced carbon emissions. Underpinning them all will be four high-bandwidth private 5G networks across two grower sites and educational institutions, installed by Boldyn Networks, a global leader in shared infrastructure.
By investing in 5G infrastructure and training, the project will also develop new qualifications in agriculture to equip future generations with essential digital skills to secure the future of sustainable food production in West Sussex, contributing to economic growth in the region. These are also skills which will stand participants in good stead whichever industry or location they end up in, as the whole world of work is rapidly reshaped by tech.
The initiative is part of a wider effort to promote the adoption of 5G technology in the UK agricultural sector. By demonstrating the benefits of this technology, the project could serve as a model for other regions across the country, not least London, where smaller farms are always on the lookout for the best ways to make the most of the space they have.
As the world faces increasing challenges around food security and climate change, innovative solutions such as the Growing Sussex 5G Innovation Region are essential. The project’s findings will be especially relevant to the capital where, as weather systems change, proximity to food production will be vital in instances where global supply chains are disrupted.
Many uncertainties lie ahead for the agricultural industry. But we can be certain that, through harnessing the power of technology, we have a massive opportunity to create a more sustainable and resilient food system for generations to come.