element14 lays down high-tech farm challenge

To help participants develop these micro plots, element14 has teamed up with Raspberry Pi to provide 20 applicants with a challenge kit featuring a Raspberry Pi 4 2GB single board computer along with multiple Pi accessories to help with environmental monitoring and building in a confined space, including the Pimoroni PIM487 Automation Hat, PIM486 Enviro Hat, and the Pico HAT Hacker PC.

“At a time when many people are looking for ways to have a role in sustainable agriculture, this challenge allows community members to create their own mini modern farms in just one square meter of land,” said Dianne Kibbey, Global Head of Community and Social Media for the element14 Community. “We’re looking forward to seeing our community show off their green thumbs and think outside the traditional greenhouse for what can be done when farming in a small space.”

Participants are invited to use the challenge kit to create a high-tech farming system within one square meter. Potential projects could include:

• Zero gravity enclosure
• Edible algae growing system
• Electronic planting and picking operation
• High growth density mini-farm
• Entirely self-contained farming system
• Robotic pest management system

The ‘One Meter of Pi’ Challenge is open now until November 23, with winners announced at the end of November.

The grand prize winner of the Design Challenge will win a 13-inch Macbook Air, Pimoroni 8-inch Retro Arcade Kit and a $200 Carbon Offset.

The runner up winners will receive an iPad10, 32GB, Pimoroni 8-inch Retro Arcade Kit and $100 Carbon Offset.

All other participants who blog about the build process and outcome of the challenge will receive a USB Solar Bank and a Reusable Metal Straw and Cutlery Set.

Posts that include rich visual imagery such as photos, videos and code samples will be viewed favourably in the judging process.

Challenge kits are available to 20 participants who apply online now until September 7. Challenge kit recipients will be announced on September 14.

Design Challenge participants who receive the kits must use all elements of the kit in their projects and post their progress and final project in at least one blog post.