Digital Jersey and agricultural science research centre Rothamsted Research have signed an agreement to create a pilot virtual model of Jersey to advance global understanding of sustainable agriculture.
The memorandum of understanding (MoU) signals the start of work on a 'digital twin’ of two farmed catchments on the island, which will include layers of data and simulations that can be used by policymakers to find long-term solutions to the world’s growing concerns about the future of agriculture.
Digital Jersey highlights global consensus that digital technology is set to transform agriculture over the next five to 10 years. The question is what that change will look like and how Jersey will preserve its agricultural heritage, while gaining market advantage through innovation.
Creating a comprehensive virtual version of Jersey means these questions and a range of solutions can be tested safely in an online world, with effective stakeholder engagement, before any theories are put into practice.
Professor John Crawford at Rothamsted Research said: "The world’s food systems host problems that have the potential to affect every person on the planet. By digitally testing a range of theories in a controlled environment, supported by detailed data and Digital Jersey’s excellent relationships with industry and government, we hope to fast track our work."
A range of stakeholders, including representatives of Digital Jersey, Rothamsted Research, University College London, the Jersey Royal Company, Jersey Dairy, Jersey Water, Albert Bartlett, the Cooperative Society, Virtex and a number of government departments, will form a project management team to oversee the work, which is due to begin this month.