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Chief Scientist discusses collaboration with UAE in innovation and technology

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

Chief Scientist for Research, Innovation, and Technology Demetris Skourides attended a meeting at the Dubai Chamber recently, where the foundations were laid for collaboration, particularly in the areas of innovation and technology.

Skourides met with Hans Larsen from the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy and George Partasides, Commercial Counsellor of the Cyprus Trade Centre in the UAE.

The meeting laid the foundations for exciting collaborations, particularly in the areas of innovation and technology, according to a post on the Cyprus Trade Centre in Dubai’s LinkedIn page. “We discussed the upcoming participation of leading Cypriot companies at GITEX GLOBAL 2024 (October 14-18) in Dubai, where they will showcase their cutting-edge solutions, digital services and IT applications at Cyprus national pavilion,” it added.

“Together, we are opening new doors for Cypriot businesses to expand into the UAE and vice versa since Cyprus has a high-level success to European Funds.”

Cyprus is positioning itself as a gateway for research and innovation, which in turn provides UAE companies with seamless access to Europe’s dynamic digital ecosystem. “Through initiatives like the Cyprus Innovation Initiative, we aim to create mutual value by connecting our vibrant ecosystems, strengthening Cyprus’ presence on the global digital map,” the post said.

Following the success of this meeting and the fruitful exchange of ideas, the aim is to arrange further engagements, including a meeting with a high level UAE delegation and the Cyprus delegation during Expand North Star/GITEX in October.

“Looking forward to continuing this journey of deeper collaboration between our countries, where Cyprus can serve as a crucial link for the UAE to Europe,” the post concluded.

Only 1% Of Cyprus Farms Use Precision Farming Technologies

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

Cyprus remains one of the European Union’s least digitised agricultural economies, with just 1% of farms using precision farming technologies in 2023, according to Eurostat.

The findings come as the EU continues to encourage the adoption of digital tools aimed at improving agricultural productivity, efficiency and sustainability.

Internet Access Expands, But Digital Uptake Lags

Internet access has improved across the bloc, although adoption remains uneven. Eurostat found that 43% of EU farms had internet access in 2023, with northern and central European countries leading the way.

Denmark, Germany, Slovakia, Latvia, the Czech Republic and Austria all reported internet access rates above 90%.

Greater connectivity, however, has not translated into widespread digital adoption. Farm management information systems, which help farmers manage day-to-day operations, were used by only about 11% of EU farms. France was a notable exception, with around 60% of farms using the technology.

Precision Farming Concentrated In Larger Operations

Robotics adoption also remained relatively limited, with only about 7% of EU farms using robotic technologies. Overall, around 18% of farms with utilised agricultural area employed at least one precision farming technology or practice in 2023.

These included robotics for plant protection, band spraying, variable-rate application, precision crop monitoring and soil analysis. Despite representing fewer than one in five farms, these holdings accounted for around 44% of the EU’s utilised agricultural area.

The figures suggest that precision farming remains concentrated among larger agricultural businesses, where investment in digital technologies is typically easier to support.

Cyprus Lags Behind EU Leaders

Luxembourg, Finland and Estonia recorded the highest shares of utilised agricultural area managed by farms using precision farming technologies, each exceeding 75%.

At the other end of the ranking, Cyprus recorded just 1%, while Greece and Romania reported between 10% and 15%. The results indicate that Cyprus remains at an early stage of digital adoption in agriculture, even as precision farming becomes more widespread across parts of the European Union.

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