"With the wave of new technology and knowledge consistently coming to market, it is important for growers and managers to keep polishing their skills, and to learn about new possibilities", Saber Miresmailli, CEO with Ecoation believes, which is why the company organised a professional development and retraining workshop at Kingsville Horticulture Technology Center and Academy Horteca. 35 participants took place and dove into new technologies.
The event covered topics regarding digital IPM and in particular the Ecoation industrial-grade robot built for greenhouses that is used for digital scouting, IPM and Yield Forecasting, which is why the workshop, that was open to all Ecoation customers from around the region, mostly attracted scouts, and IPM managers, with a few growers joining as well. "We also did a short refresher course on proper scouting techniques and procedures, as well as covered topics on the correct use of bio-agents and pesticides. Our partner BioBest was there to provide in-depth practical knowledge and training and the day was organised with our partners at Plant Products", adds Zaki Usman with Ecoation.
According to Saber, new technologies and robotics are becoming more cost-friendly and readily available. "With these new services, more and more growers are implementing state-of-the-art technology into their greenhouses. The more high-tech greenhouses get, the more important training and education become for your team. With the concept of robotics-as-a-service, growers are not directly purchasing the technology. Instead, service providers will lease out the necessary equipment, and will take care of the upkeep and maintenance."
"Therefore, with these services, you’re also signing up for the developments that will come alongside the existing technology, as providers will update the equipment when advancements are made. This ultimately means growers implementing new technology must be prepared to re-learn how to use their equipment every time a hardware update is released. Because technology is constantly evolving, you need to be keeping your knowledge and skills up to date. Whenever hardware gets updated, you and your team will need to be trained on how to keep things running smoothly. You never know when there may be an update to the technology you’re using, so staying at the cutting edge of new tech is crucial."
"Every professional who aspires to be on top of their game needs to keep up with the latest and greatest technology and knowledge that is available in their field. This is why doctors and teachers go to conferences, pilots test drive new jets, and technicians get annual training certificates", Saber concludes. "Our industry is no exception."
For more information:
Ecoation
www.ecoation.com
info@ecoation.com