Free open day to spotlight agricultural sector wireless connectivity opportunities

Free open day to spotlight agricultural sector wireless connectivity opportunities

A free open day explaining how wireless technologies can enhance a range of operations in the agricultural sector is to be held at Hartpury University, supported by the River Severn Partnership Advanced Wireless Innovation Region (RSPAWIR).

The event is designed for agricultural businesses, wireless connectivity solution suppliers, and technology experts to discuss the transformative potential of advanced wireless technologies.

The information day links to the opportunities and objectives of the RSPAWIR which is set to revolutionise farming by improving efficiency, supporting sustainability, and setting new standards in modern agriculture by embracing the opportunities afforded by advanced wireless technologies.

Advanced wireless technologies, such as the latest generation of cellular mobile networks, LoRaWAN, Satellite and narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT), can enable rural industries to monitor and manage various aspects of their operations, such as soil quality, energy consumption, drone imagery, security and surveillance.

These technologies can help rural businesses to increase their productivity, efficiency, sustainability and resilience, as well as to respond to the challenges of climate change and nature conservation. However, the adoption of these technologies is hindered by several factors, such as the lack of reliable network coverage, the market readiness of devices, and, most notably, a knowledge gap among potential users.

Hartpury University and College is one of the RSPAWIR's 'use case' studies and has been awarded £500,000 to develop the Rural Connectivity Roadshow, that will take a mobile demonstration facility to major agricultural shows across the River Severn catchment area, where visitors will be able to experience and test various solutions and improvements to a range of farming and rural business practices.

The Rural Connectivity Roadshow aims to address this challenge by providing an opportunity for rural industries to see, touch and learn about the wireless technologies that are relevant and applicable to their needs. The mobile demonstration facility will replicate farm environments in microcosm and will allow visitors to interact with wireless sensors and management software, supported by different network options.

Click here to reserve a place at the event, which will be held at the university's Agri-Tech Centre from 1.30pm to 4pm on Wednesday July 31.

About the River Severn Partnership Advanced Wireless Innovation Region: The River Severn Partnership Advanced Wireless Innovation Region is a £3.75m initiative, wholly funded by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and managed by Shropshire Council on behalf of the River Severn Partnership.

It is focused on accelerating the adoption of advanced wireless enabled technologies across three sectors which have particularly strong roots in the River Severn catchment area:

- Water Management

- Agri-Tech

- Public Sector

About the River Severn Partnership: The River Severn Partnership involves Shropshire, Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Monmouthshire, Powys, Telford & Wrekin, Warwickshire and Worcestershire unitary and county councils.

The RSP area covers 6,000 square miles in England and Wales has 2.6 million people.

With the River Severn at its heart, the Partnership has a shared plan supporting people, businesses, and the environment to be resilient to the impacts of climate change and, in so doing, stimulate sustainable economic growth.