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Cyprus’ Digital Future: A Vision Of Innovation And Collaboration

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

July 11, 2024

In a recent visit to Cyprus, Deemah AlYahya, Secretary-General of the Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO), expressed strong optimism about Cyprus’ potential in the digital economy. Her meetings with key government figures, including President Nikos Christodoulides, underscored the island nation’s commitment to harnessing digital transformation for economic growth.

The DCO, an intergovernmental body with 16 member states, aims to accelerate digital economies through cooperation. Cyprus’ membership as the first European country highlights its forward-thinking approach. AlYahya emphasized the importance of shared practices and collaboration to achieve rapid, sustainable growth in the digital age. By working together, member states can overcome challenges and leverage collective expertise.

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A critical aspect of the DCO’s mission is promoting greater female participation in the tech sector. AlYahya, an advocate for women in technology, highlighted initiatives like WE-Elevate, which supports women-owned businesses in transitioning online. This programme offers comprehensive training, enabling women to expand their reach and create job opportunities.

Furthermore, the DCO’s Unified Framework for Empowering Women in ICT aims to develop female leaders in technology. AlYahya’s NGO, Women Spark, complements these efforts by mentoring women developers, tech founders, and angel investors. The initiative has trained over 27,000 women and invested in more than 40 ventures, showcasing the potential of female empowerment in the tech industry.

During her visit, AlYahya reaffirmed the DCO’s commitment to Cyprus’ digital agenda. Discussions with President Christodoulides and other officials focused on assessing progress and planning future initiatives. Meetings with Invest Cyprus paved the way for action-oriented projects designed to drive tangible progress.

AlYahya’s vision for Cyprus’ digital economy is bright. She advocates for a regulatory environment that fosters innovation, viewing regulations not as obstacles but as enablers. By bridging the gap between innovators and the public sector, Cyprus can create a thriving digital ecosystem.

In conclusion, AlYahya’s optimism and strategic vision for Cyprus underline the nation’s potential to become a digital leader. Through collaboration, innovation, and inclusive growth, Cyprus is poised to achieve significant advancements in the digital economy, benefiting its citizens and setting an example for others.

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Only 1% Of Cyprus Farms Use Precision Farming Technologies

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.

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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.