On August 22, the Technical University of Moldova took a step towards the modernization and digitalization of agriculture by signing partnership agreements with 12 companies specialized in modern agriculture. The major objective of this extended partnership is the creation of the Agrotech Arena Center at the UTM Faculty of Agricultural, Forestry and Environmental Sciences.
The ceremony was opened by the rector of UTM, Prof. Viorel BOSTAN, Dr. Habil., who considers the partnership with the 12 agricultural companies a very important first step towards the resuscitation and modernization of agricultural higher education in the Republic of Moldova. This initiative aims both at the development of the educational content, aligned to the needs of the field, and at the creation of good opportunities for increasing the efficiency and sustainability of agriculture. In this context, Mr. Bostan thanked the new partners, as well as the initiators of the project – the Agency for the Development and Modernization of Agriculture and the Future Technologies Project in Moldova (FTA) – for their extraordinary enthusiasm, perceived as a natural continuation of their efforts to support the development and modernization of agriculture.
Among the most important contributions of the new partners is the implementation of digital technologies within the project through providing the University with technological equipment, as well as consultancy and training for the use of these technologies. In return, the Technical University of Moldova will make the teaching land of the Faculty of Agricultural, Forestry and Environmental Sciences available to the partners. The territory includes annual and multi-annual plantations, and the necessary facilities for the implementation of digital technologies within the Agrotech Arena Center. Thus, the mission of this partnership is to create an agricultural infrastructure for the next 100 years, and the collaboration aims to introduce these innovative technologies in the Republic of Moldova for the sustainable development of the agricultural sector.
Thus, Agricos Tech SRL (executive director: Corneliu Grigoriev), official dealer of the agricultural giant XAG and one of the world’s largest manufacturers of UAVs and industrial robots, offers XAG drones for spraying agricultural crops, XAG autopilot systems for traditional vehicles, unmanned ground transportation for various agricultural activities and plant protection systems, with the use of bacteria (microorganisms).
SRL AgroForța-M (administrator: Cătălina Matcovschi) – national leader in intelligent irrigation solutions, provides intelligent drip irrigation solutions for agricultural crops on the Agrotech Arena lands: automatic irrigation systems with sensors; irrigation systems based on artificial intelligence; underground drip irrigation; software for remote control and monitoring of irrigation systems, as well as water filtration systems.
SRL Biosfera (administrator: Ivan Toma) provides sensors and smart cameras for the optimization of technological processes in the production of agricultural crops: advanced weather station – for monitoring local weather conditions in real time; soil moisture sensors, disease and pest detection sensors; other relevant sensors to monitor plant health and soil quality. The company also offers the digital platform FieldClimate.com, which collects and analyzes data provided by sensors and other sources.
SRL Croponix Farms (administrator: Timur Muradov) gives intelligent solutions for the construction of the hydroponic greenhouse within the Agrotech Arena: sensors and IoT technology for monitoring the level of humidity, temperature, lighting; intelligent LED lighting systems, which will adjust the intensity and spectrum of light at different stages of plant growth; automatic irrigation and fertilization systems, which will provide the right amount of water and nutrients for each plant; platforms for managing and analyzing plant health and resource consumption data; robots for automating manual work in the greenhouse.
SRL Drone Assistance (founder: Vitalie Sacară) offers DJI, TTA agricultural drones supplied by Chinese companies; technology for the introduction of entomophages using drones; a drone for multispectral analysis, as well as special software.
SRL Eneers (administrator: Nicolae Prisăcaru) will implement the SCADA system within the Agrotech Arena – a complex solution that integrates IT and communication technologies for real-time monitoring, control and management of various processes and equipment. This system will be used for efficient and automated water management.
SRL EUROALUN (administrator: Alexandr Perjan) offers the iFarma ERP System that integrates data received from meteorological stations and sensors via satellite in real time, generating evaluation data and recommendations regarding the state of crops on the ground.
SRL Feudal, Soft (administrator: Sergiu Dodon) will provide access to the ERP System that delivers information regarding the land bank and the inspection of Agrotech Arena lands.
SRL Millstream Trade (administrator: Ana Pancrat) proposes innovative solutions for the automation and optimization of the livestock sector: ERP Uniform Agro – an integrated system for planning business resources adapted to livestock needs; cattle sensors; routers and networks to ensure stable communications between different equipment and digital systems within the farm; information technologies and data analysis for the processing and interpretation of information collected from animals; artificial intelligence and automation for health monitoring, resource management, etc.
SRL Organic Solutions (administrator: Ivan Guci) will provide access to the SpellBox Life ERP System that integrates data received from meteorological stations and sensors via satellite in real time, generating evaluation data and recommendations regarding the situation on the ground.
SRL Victiana (administrator: Vladislav Papanagă) offers digital technological equipment for the video security of agricultural equipment and land, and consultancy on their use – theoretical and practical training.
SRL Studioul Sistemelor Agricole (administrator: Nicolae Cotlău) provides the Digitalization Platform for agricultural companies SAS by Cropwise – an innovative solution for collecting and analyzing agricultural data, monitoring crops, planning field work, managing resources, as well as improving operational efficiency.
The Agrotech Arena will be the core of this effort, serving as an agriculture digitalization laboratory where students, teachers, farmers and digital technology providers will meet and collaborate to study and apply technologies with the aim of increasing sustainability in the field of agriculture. A wide range of digital and innovative technologies will be tested here, including agricultural sensors, agricultural robots, smart irrigation systems, etc. Also, Agrotech Arena has a greenhouse on a land of 1032 sq.m., where 7 modern technologies for growing vegetables will be implemented.
Thus, the Technical University of Moldova and its new partners are committed to the sustainable development of agriculture and the increase of the level of education and innovation in the agricultural field. This extended partnership will bring significant benefits to both students and farmers in the Republic of Moldova, contributing to the advancement of agriculture and the introduction of cutting-edge technologies in the country’s agricultural sector.
The Future Technologies project in Moldova, funded by USAID, Sweden and Great Britain, supports the development of the digital, creative and environmentally friendly economy in Moldova. The project, with a budget of $52.8M and an implementation duration of 5 years (2021-2026), promotes innovation and new technologies in the following strategic sectors for the Republic of Moldova – Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Engineering, Light Industry, Creative Industries and Digital Media – to increase their competitiveness and integration in the global market.
