Pershore College wants entrepreneurs to turn their space-connected ideas into commercial enterprises

Pershore College is inviting businesses in Worcestershire to discover how the latest technology from space can help make agriculture more productive.

A three-part webinar beginning on Wednesday, May 12 will explore how the use of data obtained from satellites has the potential to revolutionise the way farmers grow our food by making production more efficient.

The sessions are free to attend and delivered as part of the college’s GrowAgri Worcestershire project which aims to support innovation and enterprise in the agri-tech sector through the provision of targeted and specialist business support and advice.

The event is being delivered by Malvern-based software solutions company Borwell, and will look at how the space data can be analysed and presented using geographic information systems that can improve the software tools currently available within the farming and horticultural sector.

Data gained from observing planet Earth from space is rapidly playing a part in launching a range of innovative businesses from rural education to international transport. Globally, the food and agritech sector is a growing £4+ trillion industry and provides a huge opportunity for entrepreneurship in the space technology sector.

Frequent and comprehensive satellite data is empowering farmers and growers to make more informed decisions, improve yields and lower outputs. Real-time imagery can be integrated with sensors and modelling to provide guidance for immediate and future decisions, such as which fields to water and when to plant a crop.

Business Development Manager, GrowAgri Project, Denis Harrison, said: “We are delighted that Borwell have agreed to apply their in-depth technical knowledge to this webinar programme. They have an enviable reputation within their industry and specific insights into the ever-expanding use of big-data and visualisation in the horticultural sector.

“This is a fantastic opportunity to bring together the latest in IT and horticulture at Pershore College and will allow individuals and companies to look at current market applications and solutions to underpin future development projects.

“Equally, these technologies cut across multiple industries who may find that they use comparable tools that with further innovation, can be useful in a rural context.”

The Space, GIS & Cyber: applications in agri-tech webinar series runs on three consecutive mornings on May 12, 19 and 26 and delegates will cover a range of topics including a comprehensive look at the various data sets obtained from satellite technology, how to mitigate the threat from cybersecurity, how to develop a service around consumer needs.

Systems architect for Borwell, Marcus Ambler said: “The potential of using data and digital technology to revolutionise the way we grow our food is immense. This seminar is a ‘must attend’ if you work in the digital technology sphere and want to know how to better exploit space, cyber and geographic information system data in support of Worcestershire’s growing agri-tech sector.”