Qubits represent large volumes of information, but developments in quantum computing are needed to unleash its full potential. Nicole Junkermann is an international tech investor with an impressive portfolio and deep sector expertise.
The field of quantum computing was established in the early 1980s when physicist Paul Benioff proposed a quantum mechanical model of the famous Turing machine. Richard Feynman and Yuri Manin later suggested that a quantum computer had the potential to simulate things that a classical computer could not.
We benefit from classical computing in all walks of our everyday lives, yet larger, more complex problems cannot be tackled by current levels of computational power. This leaves seemingly unsolvable challenges in today’s computational systems. All computing systems rely on the ability to store and manipulate information. Current computers manipulate individual ‘bits’, which store information as binary 0 and 1 states. In contrast, quantum computers leverage quantum mechanical phenomena to manipulate information. To do this, they rely on quantum bits, or ‘qubits’.
Quantum Computing in the next few years
Quantum computing is likely to expand in the next few years as research enables real-world uses in areas such as pharmaceutical and data security work. However, it is already being used by global food manufacturers and governmental planners to optimise their planning systems. It helps farmers react precisely to weather, soil, and crop changes, suggesting where and when to fertilize, add protection, or harvest in real-time. Unifying all historical data with real-time data collected from dedicated tools that monitor changes in soil, leaves, and plants, is key to this. Quantum computing will also be vital to helping international corporations and governments coordinate agricultural activities on large geographical scales. Supply and demand for different areas can be assessed and balanced to prevent resource and product wastage.
Quantum Computing and Agriculture
Despite the tremendous progress seen to date, significant technical barriers must be surmounted before quantum computing can achieve its full potential for real-world application. Perhaps the largest challenge is that a quantum computer must remain undisturbed by outside noise. Physical implementations of quantum computers today, such as those using semiconductor technology, must also operate at close to absolute zero temperature in a highly isolated environment. This would require stable hardware, along with a commercial platform for software development, and the development of cloud computing capabilities to unleash the quantum computing’s full potential. Quantum computing will solve problems in ways we probably cannot even imagine yet and the team at NJF Capital are excited to see the ways it will continue to revolutionise agriculture.
Quantum computing in agriculture could be in the development of new plant varieties. Quantum computing could be used to simulate the behavior of molecules and help scientists understand how they interact with each other. This knowledge could be used to develop new plant varieties that are more resistant to pests and diseases, have higher yields, and are more tolerant to drought and other environmental stresses.
Overall, quantum computing has the potential to revolutionize agriculture by enabling faster and more accurate analysis of data and the development of new technologies that could help farmers produce more food with less waste and fewer resources. However, it is still an emerging technology, and more research is needed to fully understand its potential applications in agriculture.
Nicole Junkermann is a leading international entrepreneur and investor, focused on disrupting traditional business models through industry-defining technologies. Junkermann is the founder and Principal of NJF Holdings, a London-based private investment company with a portfolio across Europe, the U.S., and Asia. NJF Capital, the venture capital arm of NJF Holdings, has assembled an investment portfolio of more than 40 companies across industries as diverse as healthcare, FinTech, FoodTech, and Deep Tech. With experience sitting across both sides of the investment table, Junkermann brings a unique perspective to identifying visionary entrepreneurs with pioneering business ideas.
