On 11th and 12th of July, 2024, the prestigious Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore, India played host to a pivotal gathering under the India-EU International Centre of Cooperation & Excellence (IEI CoCE) programme. This meeting marked a significant step forward in fostering international collaboration in the realm of agricultural technology and innovation.
In the wake of the 2015 global agenda, the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have set ambitious targets to tackle some of the world’s most pressing issues by 2030. Among these, “Zero Hunger” (Goal 2) is of paramount importance, especially in countries like India, where agriculture is the backbone of the economy. With nearly 6,50,000 villages spread across the Indian landscape, modernizing agricultural practices and village infrastructure is crucial for sustainable development and enhancing the quality of life for rural communities.
In contrast, while Ireland has made significant strides in agricultural technology, there are still challenges in fully leveraging ICT and IoT for agricultural and rural development. Both countries face similar issues in improving the utilisation of these technologies to enhance agricultural productivity and rural life. The concept of transforming villages into Smart Villages aims to address these challenges by leveraging ICT and IoT technologies to improve socio-economic conditions.
To address these challenges, the India-EU International Centre of Cooperation & Excellence (IEI CoCE) has been established by founding members James Clarke (Walton Institute), Hazel Peavoy (Walton Institute) and Abhishek Sharma (IEI-COCE). This initiative is designed to foster a global collaborative Research & Development hub, focusing on leveraging ICT and IoT-driven smart technologies. The objective is to transform traditional villages into Smart Villages, facilitating socio-economic growth and improving rural life on a broad scale.
The CoCE programme aims to bridge the gap between traditional agricultural practices and cutting-edge technologies, driving the transformation of rural areas into Smart Villages. The meeting featured a series of insightful presentations and discussions led by eminent experts from India and Ireland.
The event began with opening remarks and moderation by Dr.Alan O’Riordan, Senior Research Fellow from Tyndall National Institute, UCC, Cork, Ireland, who set the stage for a comprehensive exploration of the CoCE programme. As VistaMilk’s Principal Investigator, Alan O’Riordan’s leadership in this initiative underscores VistaMilk’s critical contributions to the future of agriculture. Abhishek Sharma, MD of Beyond Evolution Tech Solution (BETS) Pvt Ltd and Principal Coordinator of CoCE, provided an overview of the programme’s concept, plans, and current status, outlining the collaborative efforts to modernize agriculture through innovative technologies.
Dr. SK Chaturvedu, Director of Research at Central Agricultural University (CAU), Jhansi, presented advancements in digital agriculture, highlighting how technology is reshaping farming practices. Prof. SG Singh from IIT Hyderabad demonstrated the latest developments in smart agri sensors and systems, offering insights into how these technologies are enhancing agricultural efficiency. Prof. LK Garnayak from CAU, Imphal, discussed tailored smart farming solutions for the North-Eastern region of India, addressing the unique challenges and opportunities in this area.
Prof. Jose Joseph from Digital University Kerala (DUK), Trivandrum, emphasized the critical need for affordable agri-sensors, stressing the importance of connecting farms to the future with cost-effective solutions. Prof. SK Rao, former Vice-Chancellor of Rajmata Vijayaraje Scindia Krishi Vishwavidyalaya (RVSKVV), Gwalior, provided a broader perspective on the development of Smart Villages, discussing the issues, challenges, and opportunities associated with this transformative initiative.
A standout segment of the meeting was dedicated to VistaMilk’s contributions, presented by Dr.Alan O’Riordan, Senior Research Fellow at the Tyndall National Institute, University College Cork and Dr. Lizy Abraham, Head of Emerging Networks Division from the Walton Institute, South East Technological University (SETU). Dr.Abraham underscored the critical role that VistaMilk plays in fostering India-Ireland agricultural collaboration. Leveraging Walton Institute’s expertise in Information and Communication Technology (ICT), the Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Data Analytics, Dr. Abraham highlighted the significant opportunities for impactful innovation within the agricultural sector. She emphasized that VistaMilk is at the forefront of advancing agricultural technology, driving meaningful progress in smart farming solutions. Dr.Alan O’Riordan, spoke about developing sensors for the Internet of Things (IoT) on-farm. He leads efforts to develop sensors that measure soil nitrate content, grass moisture, animal glucose levels, and milk heat stability. These sensors also integrate with smartphones to track cows’ grazing and resting times, providing farmers with real-time, actionable data. leads efforts to develop sensors that measure soil nitrate content, grass moisture, animal glucose levels, and milk heat stability.
The meeting highlighted the significant strides being made in agricultural technology and the collaborative efforts required to drive future advancements. VistaMilk’s involvement in this programme positions it at the forefront of agricultural innovation, contributing to the development of smart farming solutions that will benefit both Indian and Irish agricultural sectors.
The meeting concluded on 12th July with a comprehensive summary and remarks by Dr. Alan O’ Riordan and Abhishek Sharma. The final sessions were dedicated to business discussions on the CoCE programme, election of the Programme Management Council (PMC), and closure of key issues.