Stellenbosch, 19 February 2025: Telkom, in collaboration with South Africa Wine and key industry leaders, has launched the groundbreaking Smart Agritech initiative. This pioneering project is set to revolutionise South Africa’s agricultural landscape, with a strong focus on the wine industry.
Officially unveiled on 18 February 2025 at Lanzerac Wine Estate in Stellenbosch, this initiative harnesses cutting-edge technology to drive sustainability, efficiency, and resilience in farming. By integrating Telkom’s 5G connectivity, Aizatron’s expertise in AI and IoT, Stellenbosch University’s advanced agricultural research, and South Africa Wine’s expert industry knowledge and leadership, the project aims to set a new benchmark for smart, data-driven viticulture and broader agricultural innovation.
Key objectives of the Telkom Smart Agritech initiative include:
- Real-time monitoring of vineyard health and resource usage.
- Improved farming efficiency and sustainable practices.
- Data-driven insights for optimising crop production and resource management.
“Telkom has always been a pioneer in leveraging technology to drive innovation. With the Smart Agritech initiative, we are taking a bold step in transforming agriculture and showcasing how connectivity can unlock endless possibilities,” shared Lunga Siyo, Chief Executive Officer at Telkom CSB.
According to Ansu Sooful, Aizatron CEO, “At the core of the Smart AgriTech Sandbox, our TOPS platform accelerates AI and digital solution deployment with unmatched speed and efficiency. It’s more than infrastructure—it’s an ecosystem that unites academia, industry, and the private sector to rapidly develop, test, and commercialise innovative solutions at lower costs through its modular building blocks and open standards support.”
“This platform is set to advance innovation by providing a sandbox environment to enhance data integration from different sources and stakeholders. Our flagship vineyard research projects at Welgevallen, supported by South Africa Wine and the Water Research Commission, provide the ideal testing and ground-truthing environment, and we believe the initiative will enhance our already strong focus on emerging and novel technologies in these projects” – Albert Strever, SU.
“The Telkom Smart Agritech initiative is set to enhance the productivity of South Africa’s agricultural sector while offering a global model for sustainable, tech-driven farming practices. By harnessing the power of 5G connectivity, AI, and IoT, we are empowering farmers to make data-driven decisions that enhance productivity while conserving vital resources. This project exemplifies the potential of collaboration and innovation to address real-world challenges and create lasting impact,” Siyo concluded.
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