Phoenix Contact is contributing to a more livable and sustainable future through its expertise in electrification, networking, and automation. Its Cairo-based branch, Phoenix Contact LLC, has successfully implemented a groundbreaking sustainability project in Egypt as part of the company’s 100th anniversary celebrations.
In partnership with local software firm HITS Solutions, which specializes in smart agriculture by integrating IoT and bioinformatics, Phoenix Contact launched a pioneering “Precision Agriculture” prototype to revolutionize hydroponic farming in Egypt. This initiative supports Egypt’s Vision 2030 goals by addressing two urgent challenges: water scarcity and future food shortages.
The project automates irrigation and fertilization using real-time sensor data, enabling efficient resource management. HITS Solutions also established a “Center of Excellence” with two greenhouses—one traditional and one hydroponic—and developed a cloud-based platform incorporating metagenomics to assess microbial activity, plant health, nutrient cycles, and disease risk. These biological insights, combined with IoT inputs, guide data-driven decisions for crop management.
Phoenix Contact’s EDGE devices monitor and regulate the greenhouses, integrating seamlessly with HITS’ software. The results are striking: water usage for 1,200 plants dropped by 86.67%, from 24,000 to just 3,200 liters. The vertical farming design requires only 9.5 m²—17 times less space than conventional farming methods. HITS Solutions’ advanced water metagenomics further ensures optimal water quality.
Ahmed ElShibini, Country Manager of Phoenix Contact Egypt, emphasized the broader impact: “We are confident that Phoenix Contact can play a key role in helping humanity fight hunger.”
As global concerns over freshwater shortages and food insecurity grow, this collaboration between Phoenix Contact and HITS Solutions offers a powerful example of how innovation can shape the future of sustainable agriculture.
(Source: verticalfarmdaily.com)
