A project developing low-cost sensors using satellite and mobile connections has won funding from a new £16 million Space Agency grant
A project to develop affordable satellite-run sensors to help farmers invest in precision agriculture is to receive a share of £16 million in new funding from the UK Space Agency.
Run by farming connectivity firm Farmer Charlie, the Gardens, Allotments and Urban Farming Facilitator (GAUFF) project has been awarded £199,000 for its satellite-enabled sensors.
The sensors, described as low-cost and easy to use, use a combination of satellite and mobile connectivity to provide growers with real-time data on land and crops.
They are designed to work in rural areas with poor or no internet coverage, helping to bring precision agriculture to more growers.
“This investment shows the true breadth of UK space innovation and how innovations in the UK’s satellite sector can improve lives, with better connectivity delivering internet access for more train journeys, and smarter farming,” said space minister, Liz Lloyd.
CEO of Farmer Charlie, Betty Bonnardel, said: “We are delighted to receive the support of the UK Space Agency, through the European Agency, as it helps Farmer Charlie bring the benefits of precision agriculture to farmers across the UK.
“By combining affordable sensors with satellite connectivity, we are making it easier for growers to make informed decisions, improve productivity and farm more sustainably anywhere in the UK.”
The 16 projects will be delivered as part of the European Space Agency’s Advanced Research in Telecommunication Systems (ARTES) programme, backed by £13 mn in UK government funding.
