WFSC leads ETH students on “Digitalization in Agriculture” excursion to Swiss startups
WFSC Executive Office member Eduardo Pérez co-led a group of ETH Bachelor students on an excursion to visit the startups of Ecorobotix, based in Yverdon-les-Bains, and Gamaya, based in Lausanne. Each startup demonstrated their innovative technologies, allowing students to see practical digital technologies in action and discourse with the entrepreneurs.
A group of ETH Bachelor students boarded the bus early in the morning of 24 March to visit two Swiss startups providing technology innovations for the agricultural sector. The day was part of a Bachelor excursion course, offered by the ETH Institute of Agricultural Sciences. The first stop was external page Ecorobotix, where the students saw the automated robot designed for “intelligent weeding.” The robot senses undesired plants in a field and can deliver a targeted application of herbicide.
The next stop was in Lausanne, at the headquarters of external page Gamaya. Here, the students learned of the use of drones to collect imaging data, processed to provide targeted recommendations of crop management.
In total, the day provided the students an opportunity to experience practical applications of aspects of their study program at ETH. They were able to see the business and social aspect of new technologies and also to learn of challenges that come with entrepreneurship.
The excursion mirrored issues at the core of the WFSC Flagship project ETH Studio AgroFood. The project aims to support ETH students in the understanding of the complex, ever-changing issues arising from digitalization and the development of solutions. To find out more about the program, visit its webpage.