Smart Farming

Digitalisation has already set new standards in many industries – and agriculture is also at a turning point. Since 2021, we have been researching together with HUAWEI as part of our project Smart Farming regarding how modern technologies can make agricultural processes more efficient, precise, and sustainable. Especially in an area where physical labour, scarce resources, and changing environmental conditions play a large role, intelligent automation opens up enormous opportunities.

At the heart of the project are drones equipped with multispectral sensors and a powerful 5G module. They fly over vineyards and asparagus fields, capturing high-resolution data on plant vitality and soil condition. Any changes in chlorophyll content, moisture, or nutrient profile become visible – in near real-time. Thanks to 5G's high transmission rates and low latency, the data is immediately available for evaluation, where algorithms analyse it and derive recommendations for action.

This precise information fundamentally changes everyday farming. Instead of treating large areas uniformly, interventions can be applied precisely where they are needed. As soon as a deficit is detected, another drone automatically launches and applies fertiliser, water, crop protection agents, or even seeds exactly at the marked spot. This creates tailored interventions that both improve crop quality and significantly reduce resource consumption. Our field trials to date have already shown measurable yield increases and a reduction in chemical use – a clear indication of the potential of data-driven agriculture.

Smart farming is therefore more than a technological experiment. It is a step towards agriculture that is more precise, ecological, and resilient. Farmers and businesses receive tools that help them react faster to climate influences, understand their land better, and operate more sustainably in the long term. At the same time, the project shows how modern connectivity and automation can interlock to open up new paths, even in traditional industries.

Together with HUAWEI, we are shaping the future of agriculture with intelligent systems that better care for plants, use resources more efficiently, and preserve the soil for future generations. Smart Farming shows how technology makes a difference where it's most urgently needed: right in the fields, directly with the people who produce our food.