Iran’s Vice Presidential Office for Science and Technology has signed an agreement with a knowledge-based company to implement a plan for incorporating modern technologies in agriculture.
Vice President Sorena Sattari and Fariborz Nejaddadgar, the head of Future Wave Ultratech Company, recently signed a deal, based on which the vice presidential office will support FWUTech in introducing an integrated smart agricultural system, YJC reported.
The company’s project is aimed at managing water consumption, automating irrigation, reducing waste and boosting productivity. The deal is expected to prepare the ground for the maximum employment of local tech potentials in the farming sector.
Nejaddadgar says the project has been selected out of the best IoT projects introduced during the sixth edition of the national internet of things exhibition Iotex2021 that was held on Feb. 15-16 in Tehran. He is hopeful that with state support, a large step will be taken to enhance the domestic farming sector.
“Soon, the internet of things will alter our life, from advanced industries to public transportation and smart cities,” he added, noting that IoT can make big changes in agriculture.
“The world’s population is expected to exceed 9.6 billion in 2050, so food production would pose a serious challenge if farmers do not adopt new technologies. Furthermore, agriculture is a key sector in Iran’s economy, therefore extra attention should be paid to incorporate IoT in the field.”
Earlier Efforts
In late January, the Islamic Azad University and Martyrs and Veterans Affairs Foundation jointly launched a startup accelerator to support startups active in agricultural technologies and expand Iran’s startup ecosystem.
The two sides signed a deal to implement joint research projects on food safety and establish a research and innovation fund.
Mohammad Javad Sadri, the head of commercialization affairs at IAU’s tech park, said the deal is expected to help introduce new technologies into agricultural industries and commercialize innovative ideas developed by tech teams.
“We will hire mentors and soon start startup acceleration process. By using the state’s financial resources, we plan to support tech teams active in the sector. Hopefully, we will be able to extend support to at least 30 startups by the end of the current Iranian year [March 20],” he added.
The official said the university owns 17 hectares of greenhouses in its 235 branches across the country, which area is planned to expand to 50 hectares for use as laboratories by startups.
“Agritech and food safety are strongly intertwined. Involving the technology ecosystem in the farming sector can help develop both sectors and create added-value,” he said.
Sadri noted that universities have a lot of empty seats in agriculture majors, adding that the lack of human resources in the sector has overshadowed water shortage problems, threatening the productivity of the domestic food industry.
“By using the potentials of tech units, we could make more people interested in the field,” Sadri said.
Successful Samples
The public and private sectors’ support for technology ecosystem has increased the use of technology in farming.
Last year, a private knowledge-based company announced the indigenization of drones for assisting farmers.
“Sabokbal Helia Aseman Company designs and manufactures agricultural drones used in farms,” the company’s managing director, Mohsen Siadatnejad, said.
“Buying drones from other countries is costly while domestic knowledge-based firms manufacture small aircraft at lower costs,” he added.
Speaking about the high potential for exporting drones, Siadatnejad said, “We are in talks with neighboring states but have not yet reached the export stage.”
An agricultural drone is an unmanned aerial vehicle used by farmers to help increase crop production and monitor crop growth. Sensors and digital imaging capabilities give farmers a clearer picture of their fields. The information can also be useful in improving crop yield and farm efficiency.
Agricultural drones let farmers see their fields from the sky. The bird's eye view can reveal many issues such as irrigation problems, soil variation and pest and fungal infestations.
Multispectral images show a near-infrared view as well as a visual spectrum view. They show differences between healthy and unhealthy plants, a difference not always clearly visible to the naked eye, which can help assess crop growth and production.
Data provided to farmers can also help cut the use of pesticides and water consumption.
The other successful startup, now growing into a powerful business, is Keshmoon, which was established in 2017 and provides customers with an opportunity to directly purchase quality organic crops from experienced growers.
Based in South Khorasan Province, Keshmoon intends to provide a reliable source of income for farmers, according to the firm's directors.
The startup’s directors believe that the current distribution network does not do justice to conscientious farmers, with consumers at the mercy of profiteering brokers.
“Keshmoon is aimed at providing customers with good quality products at a lower price and increasing the farmers' profit margin over time,” Mohammad Qaempanah, one of the company’s partners, said.
Qaempanah added that farmers need to avoid using chemical fertilizers and follow water-saving policies in Keshmoon.
