“The life depends on the soil. We walk every day about him, but people forget that.” Drew Hemment leads the Grow project Observatory, a platform that connects local farmers to improve the use of the land and to raise awareness about the conditions of a soil that is under a pressure that does not cease to increase. Thanks 6,400 sensors in 24 european communities -Spain, Portugal, Ireland, Scotland, Austria, Greece and Hungary-the team has created a map of the state of soil moisture and complete the data from the satellite Copernicus, which covers 250 square miles. “It is critical that we change the relationship we have with the earth and improve the global knowledge”, reiterates the expert.
A sensor in the soil of the Canary islands (Spain). Grow Observatory
To continue with this goal, all information collected from the crops is found in the mobile app where users point to journal their observations and results. In addition, to develop the knowledge of the people about agriculture is changing, they have set up a calendar of sowing and planting available online to know when is the best time to cultivate such food or such other.
on the other hand, the sensors monitor the soil moisture to keep it controlled and not resort to unnecessary quantities and little green water. Users can follow a schedule of watering to be able to manage your crop by minimizing its impact on the environment. Michal Mos is a biologist specialized in the molecular system of the plants and ensures that the moisture of the soil is essential to control the ecosystem and be aware of the impact of climate change on agriculture. It has come to the island of El Hierro (Canary islands) just two years ago and now is a farmer. The past month of June, to see the devastating effects of climate change on the island that is, according to account, “a pure paradise”, decided to join the Grow project Observatory to protect it.
The lover of the vegetation has been managed to reduce their water consumption of 30% getting the same results, and even better, in your crop of bananas and pineapples. “It is true that arriving so late I was afraid of not getting to map all my space. In addition, it was difficult to collaborate with the local governments without control the language very well, but it has worked and I am very happy,” says with excitement. A total of 400 sensors to collect data across the island and offer recommendations to the farmers, who are, or are not, involved in the platform. “Our aim is that measures are available to all town and follow a lot more time with the project to get an effect on a larger scale,” says the biologist.
Drew Hemment, the leader of the project. Grow Observatory
Pavlos Georgiadis leads in the project since its inception and produces olive oil in Alexandrúpoli, a Greek city on the edge of the sea and near the border with Turkey. The last two years has had several near misses and lost 80% of his crop. The temperatures were too high, the month of September seemed like the month of August and the crop ended up shattered. “But now things have changed, I can do a follow-up to the state of my floor [7,000 square feet] thanks to 38 sensors which I have put up, and the history of measurement accessible from my phone,” he says. Georgiadis ensures that the platform Grow, Observatory, is a new window of knowledge about agriculture. “It is enriching and necessary. You enter in all the corners and up to the most marginalized areas of Europe”, he stresses.
For Hemment is very important to mobilize citizens directly and they are what act as soon as possible, but to do this, you have to know how. “We have to change things ourselves, we can’t wait to politicians. The collective intelligence and actions of the people have more of an effect on society than the scientific observation. People can check and see directly the changes and the impacts. It is essential to develop the knowledge,” says the expert.
The past two years, Pavlos has had several near misses and lost 80% of his crop. The temperatures were too high and the crop ended up mangled
The Grow project Observatory is to connect people across Europe to address the environmental challenges through the use of the Internet in harmony with the sustainable development goals of the United Nations Organization. Despite this, Hemment recognizes that its system remains unknown and perhaps complex. With the intention of improving the communication, the team uses artists to make the scientific content more enjoyable and accessible to all. “Our artists take the concept and make it tangible, create a way of communicating more exciting”, explains the researcher. “They introduce us to the future, stimulate ideas and suggest innovations,” he concludes.
