Page 23 - Landscape-Issue153

IRRIGATION FEATURE

SMART LANDSCAPES: FARMING AND

THE FUTURE OF GREEN SPACES

The technologies transforming African agriculture are not confined to distant fields

and vast farmlands. They are equally relevant to the places many of us call home:
landscaped estates, golf courses and urban green belts where water, soil, and plant
health demand constant care. In an era of climate volatility and rising resource
pressure, the same systems that help farmers secure resilient harvests can help our
estates maintain vibrant, sustainable landscapes.

cross Africa, engineers and land
managers are reimagining how
Awe interact with the oldest human
industry – and some of the most advanced
tools available are now shaping how
we care for everything from crops to
community gardens. The goal is not only
abundance, but resilience: to build systems
that withstand uncertainty while keeping
our green spaces thriving.
From soil to signal
The global smart agriculture industry is
projected to be worth $22.5 billion by
2025, with South Africa recording a 44%
rise in AgriTech investment over the past
five years. Behind these figures lies a shared • Controlled-environment farming: Hydro- whether in a maize field or a golf course
reality: the need for survival. ponics has obvious benefits for food fairway.
South Africa loses nearly a third of its security, but the principles – precise
food every year due to inefficiencies in nutrient delivery, water re-circulation, The engineer’s new role
harvesting, storage, and logistics. More than and pesticide reduction – can inspire Engineering is no longer just about
95% of farms still rely on rainfall, despite its more sustainable estate nurseries and machines. It is about data, design, and
growing unpredictability. By 2050, Africa’s ornamental plant care. ethics. Who owns the information gathered
population is expected to double to 2.5 These innovations are not gimmicks. from sensors? How should algorithms
billion, driving food demand up by 60%. They represent a new way of thinking: balance with human expertise? These
These challenges may seem distant from landscapes as living systems that respond questions are as relevant to estate boards
landscaped estates, yet the principle is the best when managed with precision and and greenkeepers as they are to farmers.
same: we must learn to do more with less, foresight. A data-driven system can guide decisions,
to make every drop of water, every patch of but local knowledge and intuition remain
soil, and every unit of energy count. Engineering for local realities essential.
Africa’s agricultural challenges –
Tools that think and adapt fragmented infrastructure, unpredictable The system we built
On farms, these technologies are already rainfall, and diverse micro-climates – have The choices being made now in agriculture
in motion. However, the same tools can forced innovation that is remarkably – about sustainability, ownership, and
also be adapted for estates and golf adaptable. Estate managers face a parallel resilience – are equally crucial for our
courses, where plant health, irrigation, and challenge: balancing lush, inviting spaces shared green spaces. Smart farming is not
sustainability are key considerations in with scarce resources. only about food production; it is also about
design and maintenance. • Solar-powered IoT systems offer low- how we adapt to scarcity while maintaining
• Drones and aerial imaging: Mapping energy monitoring for irrigation pumps healthy and vibrant environments.
hundreds of hectares in an hour, drones or lighting in common areas. For South Africa’s estates, golf courses,
can detect early signs of stress in crops – • Mobile-first platforms pioneered for and landscaped communities, the lesson is
or turf and trees – long before the human smallholders show how resource-sharing simple: the tools already reshaping farming
eye. models could work in estates – for can also be used to maintain the spaces
• IoT soil sensors: Once reserved for example, pooling specialist equipment where we live, walk, and play. Farming 4.0
agriculture, these probes now allow for garden maintenance or water is more than an agricultural story. It is a
estates to monitor soil moisture and management. blueprint for how to care for the landscapes
nutrient levels in real time, adjusting • Micro-climate forecasting developed for that give us beauty, shade, and balance in a
irrigation to avoid waste. farmers can help predict rainfall at estate changing world.
• AI and predictive analytics: Systems that scale, guiding irrigation and water-saving
recommend planting windows for farmers strategies. This article was previously published in
can also optimise watering schedules for The message is clear: technology engineerIT and was written by editor Justin
large-scale lawns and gardens. succeeds when it meets local realities, Render. n

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