Farming Monthly National June 2018 | Page 43

| Education Hadlow College looks to the future with its Vision50 concept o commemorate its 50th anniversary, the College has created the ‘Vision50’ concept – a vision of what rural education will be like in 50 years’ time. As part of this, they are working with Studio Evans Lane, who have developed, and will be building, an ‘agri-rural simulation environment’ – a unique, interactive, immersive system designed to manage farming on a large-scale. A 1:17 scale model of this innovative concept was unveiled last year and Hadlow anticipates being able to unveil the Vision50 prototype at this year’s Kent County Show, where visitors will be able to learn more about this exciting learning tool for the future. Vision50 seeks to explore some of the technology needed within the sector, and examines some of the skills that the next generation of farmers and growers will need to work with. Based on computer gaming software and advances in agricultural technology, the simulator will include real-life robotics and simulations. Students will be able to work interactively and collaboratively with the tool to learn a range of techniques. Graduates are crucial to drive innovation in this progressively high-tech sector and the advent of precision technology such as remote sensing, robotics and GPS mapping, agriculture and production horticulture offer increasingly modern, exciting and challenging T www.farmingmonthly.co.uk There are many challenges facing today's farmers, such as climate change, market volatility and reliance on subsidies. By 2050 the planet will be home to approximately 9 billion people and food production will need to increase by around 70% to meet the demand. Crop wastage will need to reduce and efficiencies will need to increase. Technology, and increased data usage will be fundamental to the sector in meeting these challenges. This has prompted Hadlow College to ask the question: what does the next half-century hold for land-based education? careers: crop technicians, agronomists, soil scientists, plant geneticists and nutritionists. Hadlow College creating people’s futures - and Vision50 will ensure their undergraduates are at the forefront of this digital revolution in the rural industries they serve. Visit www.vision50.hadlow.ac.uk or www.hadlow.ac.uk June 2018 | Farming Monthly | 43