The UK agricultural industry should harness the power of data to ensure future success, according to data experts, who also say 90 percent of data collected is wasted.
There are now hundreds of companies offering everything from farm management and precision tools to bots and drones, all using the power of big data.
Farmers harness the data to use sensors for soil sampling and mobile apps, cameras and drones to monitor pests and diseases, for example.
And according to data analysts Proagrica, data is going to impact agriculture more than anything else in the 21st century.
It says farmers will use their data to apply the right products, at the right rates and at the right time, distributors will use data to buy inputs and to position them properly, and manufacturers will use data to improve the way they manufacturer and recommend the use of their products.
But progress in big data for the industry has been slow due to a lack of trust and the lack of standards around data management.
And as an industry, agriculture collects huge quantities of data, but 90% of it is wasted, according to Proagrica.
This means that 90% of the collected data is not used to impact the decision-making on the farm, or higher up in the supply chain.
“Trust is a big issue for the industry when it comes to data – particularly given recent events in the news outside of agriculture,” said Graeme McCracken, Managing Director of Proagrica.
However, he said he believes that farmers, agronomists and everyone else in the supply chain should own and control the data they collect.
“But to really gain value from their data they will need to leverage each other’s strengths on how to interpret the data to, for example, make cropping plans and to execute those plans,” he added.
Empower farmers
Mr McCracken explained how data will make specifications more specific and empower farmers to meet them by providing the insight to measure and manage the process.
For example, consistently producing into a tighter specification will increase margin across the whole supply chain.
Farmers will earn more because a higher percentage of output is meeting the correct spec and processors will gain because the spec is tighter, so they are able to deliver more end-product.
Mr McCracken said an adaption of data-driven supply chains will make the UK more competitive – vital given the uncertainty surrounding the UK's post Brexit environment.
“The Brexit vote and the re-evaluation of the support system can prove a stimulus for adopting cutting-edge technology and supporting investment to create an actively dynamic sector, encouraging innovation and attracting new talent,” he added.
Research has found that the adaption of big data and smart farming can be embraced in order to support the growing human population.
The report says global production of food, feed and fibre will need to increase by 70 percent by 2050, to meet the demands of a growing population.
This means that to optimise crop yields and reduce waste, the agriculture and farming industries will need to rely heavily on new technologies moving forward.
GPS services, sensors and big data will all become essential farming tools in the coming years and are clearly set to revolutionise agriculture, the research says.
