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Newly signed Memorandum of Understanding will initially explore new technologies aimed at creating a sustainable digital agriculture sector
E-Space is committed to enhance Botswana’s efforts toward the use of NewSpace platforms; the Company is focused on bringing new technology to all of Botswana
The Republic of Botswana has been deeply focused on its long-term National Vision2036 initiative — a purpose-built, transformational agenda that defines the country’s aspirations and goals. It aims to transform the country by 2036, using a compelling vision that includes adopting disruptive Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technologies with a view to improve the country. One area critically important to Vision2036 is that of food security and sustainable food practices.
“We are committed to scale up technical innovations and our adoption of 4IR technologies to aid Botswana in its Vision2036 transition, and the implementation of the Reset Agenda,” said Dr. Nelson Torto, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Communications, Knowledge and Technology of Botswana. “We believe there are opportunities to leverage NewSpace and artificial intelligence (AI) — specifically in farming — to maximize our agricultural resources. This is especially important in times of recurring drought, which can have a major impact on our ability to produce food locally, yielding unsustainable food practices.”
To meet its Vision2036 commitments and build a sustainable, technology-driven community, the Republic of Botswana, led by the Ministry of Communications, Knowledge and Technology, has focused on pursuing new technologies that can aid in economic growth and job creation.
To advance this mandate, the Ministry and E-Space signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) Nov. 28 to explore how NewSpace, and forward-looking AI technologies, can drive local development of domestic applications and use cases for a sustainable future. The MoU will facilitate strategic discussions, enabling the Ministry to engage in various space activities with E-Space initially concentrated on digital agriculture — with other sectors to follow.
Dr. Torto continued: “As a developing nation with a focused vision, we believe that adopting 4IR models and embracing new technologies in space and AI can have a significant impact across the vast regions of Botswana. By signing a MoU with E-Space, we are constructively engaging in conversations to learn how their NewSpace and 4IR technologies can help address our immediate digital farming needs, while aiding in the local development of new, useful applications to strengthen our local economy.”
E-Space constellation
E-Space is developing a next-generation NewSpace constellation at low Earth orbit (LEO) with complementary AI-based technologies to enable real-time, “use anywhere” connectivity for Smart-IoT applications. Smart-IoT is a new Internet of Things (IoT) advancement that combines AI and machine learning (ML) technologies with IoT infrastructure. With access to E-Space’s advanced satellite system for Smart-IoT, nations like Botswana will be able to gain significant advantages from the system’s real-time space-based actionable intelligence.
Greg Wyler, E-Space founder, chairman and CEO said: “We thank the Ministry, as the MoU signing is a key milestone in creating a foundational platform for collaboration. We believe space — and in particular what we’re doing at LEO with Smart-IoT — can bring a wave of innovation to spur economic and social growth across the diverse communities of Botswana. We are committed to developing and bringing NewSpace and 4IR technologies to all of Botswana to enable real-time monitoring, application optimization and greater efficiency in business processes across multiple industries.”
He continued: “Our goal is to make space accessible and affordable, then optimize it with AI to enable people within local communities to rethink what’s possible. Envisioning how space-based Smart-IoT can be leveraged will excite new ideas, use cases and applications, which in turn will create new jobs, bring in new skillsets, drive digital equality and enable the community to develop more sustainable long-term practices.”
Patrick Kariningufu, the new CEO of E-Space Africa added: “We look forward to working with the Ministry and the people of Botswana in exploring how our technologies can aid in digital farming — from monitoring and control of crop-management systems to simultaneously raising economic growth and advancing innovation and education in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) activities.”
The newly formed Ministry is responsible for driving the 4IR technology adoption and optimization in Botswana.
