Planting innovative technology in agriculture
HAS technology’s firm march forward overtaken farmers? From sticks and ploughs to data and innovation, it seems we are ahead in terms of having the ability to collect data, but a little behind in understanding how to use that data to make better decisions.
At the recent Internet of Things (“IoT”) and Agtech summit, emphasis was placed on how tools have now transformed to become more technology based, which has fundamentally changed the landscape of the agricultural industry and brought with it colossal disruptions to the way we should be doing things.
How often have you heard these phrases?
“Eat or be eaten”
"There is no standing still because time is moving forward”
"Time waits for no man”
If this sounds familiar it’s time to take a step back and look at “the way we do things” in comparison to “the way the industry is heading”.
Are we taking advantage of digital technologies to make better on-farm decisions and improve productivity?
Adopting innovative technology in the agriculture industry stems not only from the need to create new efficiencies, but the need to have a firm handle on the impact of climate change, growing demand for food, inequality of access to suitable land resources, reducing mass food wastage, increasing value chain integration as well as achieving globalised trade.
Early adopters
There is a need for early adopters of disruptive innovation. The right technology which is fit for purpose depends on the environment and specific crop or yield that an organisation wishes to make the focal point of its production.
New advances in IoT will enable farmers to harness data and analytics, access real-time information about the environment and crops as well as provide a superior “farm-to-customer” supply chain experience.
A key example stemming from the summit related to an agricultural technology start-up whose first application was to help oyster farmers avoid unnecessary closures.
Oysters can accumulate impurities from run-off in rainy weather conditions, which makes them unsafe to eat and they can’t be harvested again until the water is clean, which results in financial loss for farmers.
The technology application measures in-estuary salinity, water temperature and water depth at 10-minute intervals so as to give oyster farmers better information in real time to guide their decision making.
Other technologies on the market include drones which perform “crop scouting” for soil properties and moisture analysis, satellite imaging, irrigation technology, big data, analysis of weather patterns and the ability for farmers to connect – leading to the creation of an “agricultural ecosystem” with the aid of technological innovation.
Together with a business, IT and organisational strategy, organisations should consider components of digital enablement.
With these various strategies aligned with one another, we will have the tools to pave the way forward.
Like sands through the hour glass and with change being the only constant, we need to drive a collaborative effort in creating a tailor-made roadmap which will enable us to grow and survive in the age of digital disruption.
Purshotam is an analyst within KPMG’s Technology Advisory business unit in Durban. He can be contacted at Manesh. Purshotam@kpmg.co.za