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Cyprus and Greece sign Framework of Understanding for electrical interconnection

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

A Framework of Understanding has been signed between Cyprus and Greece to promote the Cyprus-Crete electrical interconnection.

The framework was signed by the Minister of Energy, Commerce and Industry of the Republic of Cyprus, George Papanastasiou and the Minister of Environment and Energy of Greece, Theodoros Skylakakis on 20 September.

Based on this framework and following the relevant decisions of the Regulatory Authorities of the two countries provided therein, the project is expected to restart in the coming days, a joint press release from the two Ministries stated.

The signing follows the decisions made during the recent meeting in Athens between the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides, and the Prime Minister of Greece, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, the press release added.

The Framework of Understanding notes that the Electrical Interconnection of Cyprus–Crete will help eliminate the energy isolation of Cyprus by connecting the national electricity transmission system of Cyprus with the corresponding trans-European systems.

This is a project of strategic importance for Cyprus, Greece, and the entire EU, as it will not only connect Cyprus to the European electricity system, facilitating its energy transition but will also promote Greece’s goal of becoming a corridor for the transfer of clean energy, the press release added.

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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