It is more important than ever to uncover game-changing ideas and approaches.

Overcoming the barriers to agri-tech innovation

Acknowledging these challenges, Crop Health and Protection (CHAP) was established in 2016 following the then UK Government’s industrial strategy. A not-for-profit organisation, CHAP has developed and evolved to meet the changing needs of the agriculture sector. As a result of historic capital investment, CHAP now boasts 15 facilities in 10 centres of excellence across the UK with ongoing expansion efforts.

It has never been so important or the need so urgent to explore game-changing ideas and approaches to the ways in which we produce food, manage land and protect environments. Innovation requires that conventional wisdoms are challenged, novel technologies and digital tools are effectively deployed, and intelligent solutions to the most challenging aspects of agri-tech are developed.

All sectors of the agri-tech industry must come together to share ideas, foster collaboration and break-down the walls of silo thinking. In addition, we are now witnessing numerous stakeholders outside of the traditional agricultural, horticultural and food sectors contributing ideas, new innovations and forward-thinking approaches to help the industry tackle upcoming and persistent challenges. These may be companies with digital solutions, re-imagined processes for materials or technologies that may be repurposed for new applications.

CHAP’s key areas of focus, which has led to their success since 2016.

“A significant level of success”

In 2022-23 the order book for CHAP exceeded £1.8 million, with over £6 million for the sector overall. This equated to 57 projects at the peak of business activities, funded both through government and commercial organisations.

These projects generally involve project consortia made up of SMEs, academic and corporate organisations as well as R&D institutes. Projects tend to fall into one of five key areas of focus; soil and crop health systems, crop and protein diversification, advancing intelligent agronomy, innovative crop health strategies and controlled environment agriculture.

Linsey Cresswell, commercial director for CHAP said: “Given the extreme turbulence in the industry over the past year, it was very impressive to achieve such a significant level of success. I believe that this was a result of having an extremely high level of motivation by everyone across the agri-tech network with staff, members, partners and the industry as a whole ready to tackle some of the complex challenges that we face today”.

She added “We now have a very resilient model on which to work for the future to capitalise on the current successes and to build a high functioning agri-tech sector”.

CHAP has reached its goals through following four key pillars of activity.

CHAP’s four key pillars

CHAP’s success since 2016 is attributable to a flexible and pragmatic approach to industry challenges and to be focused on the needs of the sector, members and partners, it has done this via four key pillars of activity:

• Networking – CHAP has am impressive and active membership of agri-tech specialists who collaborate and interact to work on either new or existing projects and business ideas. This helps to drive new and existing networks and enhances project consortia and business development.
• Access to funding – The CHAP team provides expert advice and guidance to inform businesses and organisations about funding opportunities, guide them through the bidding process and help manage the project once funded.
• Capabilities – It is often challenging for SMEs to fund the equipment or lab space needed to test out new ideas or products, this was why the UK Government supported CHAP and its partners with capital investment at an early stage to develop new capabilities. These centres of excellence are distributed across the UK and can be utilised to support businesses depending on requirements.
• Dissemination – Good ideas and agri-tech solutions need to be in the public domain to gain traction, as such, it is vital that the outcome of funded projects results in products, solutions or processes being communicated to and embraced by the industry. Dissemination and knowledge transfer across the CHAP network via social and hard media, through sponsored events and at stakeholder meetings ensures that feedback is achieved for as wide an audience as possible.

CHAP’s ongoing focus remains the transformation of agri-tech ideas into practical solutions, aiming to provide solutions which will transform UK and global farming systems sustainably.

For more information about CHAP projects, contact enquiries@chap-solutions.co.uk.

The results of recent cucumber trials at the Natural Light Growing Centre.

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Inside the Pod will cover all topics related to the growing of pulse crops, featuring PGRO staff as well as guests from across the industry.

The podcast is PGRO’s latest endeavour in supporting growers of pulses and vegetable legumes. It signals PGRO’s first foray into the podcast communications channel.

In PGRO’s own words

“We carry out a huge amount of important research, but it means nothing if it doesn’t reach those who can use the information,” says PGRO CEO Roger Vickers.

“We need to use a variety of channels to put across our messages. Having a podcast allows for farmers to digest new information from our work while they go about their day.”

The first episode, which is now live, covers PGRO’s vining pea open day that was held in Lincolnshire in late June. The episode features Senior Technical Officer Dr Chris Judge speaking about the Descriptive List trials.

How can you listen to Inside the Pod?

Inside the Pod is available on all major podcast services, including Spotify, Amazon Music, and Apple Podcasts.

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Society faces the dichotomy of needing safe, wholesome and affordable food whilst at the same time having to reduce green-house gas emissions, protect and increase biodiversity and regenerate agricultural cropping systems.

Whether you are an innovator, agri-tech SME or company, entrepreneur, university, institute or academic, transforming your new idea or innovation into a tangible reality can often be challenging. There can be regulatory barriers, negativity because your idea does not fit with the perceived wisdom or quite simply, you lack the time or the funds. Recognising these challenges, in 2016 Crop Health and Protection (CHAP) was established as a direct response to the then UK Government’s industrial strategy.

CHAP brings together leading scientists, farmers, advisors, innovators and businesses to understand industry challenges, drive research and innovation and develop and trial solutions that transform crop systems. It works with partners to translate and promote these solutions for market adoption and improved crop productivity. The company’s mandate is to increase crop productivity for future generations through the uptake of new technologies. A not-for-profit organisation which, since its inception, has grown and evolved to meet the changing needs of the agriculture sector. As a result of historic capital investment, CHAP now boasts 15 facilities in 10 centres of excellence across the UK, with ongoing expansion efforts.

Glasshouse trials at CHAP’s Advanced Glasshouse Facility, located at Stockbridge Technology Centre (STC)

Game-changing ideas and approaches to the ways in which we produce food, manage land and protect environments have never been so important or the need so urgent. Innovation requires that conventional wisdoms are challenged, novel technologies and digital tools are effectively deployed, and intelligent solutions to the most challenging aspects of agri-tech are developed. It is crucial that all sectors of the agri-tech industry come together to share ideas, foster collaboration and break down the walls of silo thinking. In addition, CHAP are now seeing numerous stakeholders outside of the traditional agricultural, horticultural and food sectors who are capable of providing significant value by contributing ideas, new innovations and forward-thinking approaches to help the industry tackle upcoming challenges. These may be companies with digital solutions, novel processes for materials or technologies that may be repurposed for new applications.

A great deal has changed since 2016 such that in 2022-23 the order book for CHAP exceeded £1.8 million, with over £6 million for the sector overall. This equated to 57 projects at the peak of business activities, funded both through government and commercial organisations with more recent successes on top. These projects generally involve project consortia made up of SMEs, academic and corporate organisations as well as R&D institutes. Projects tend to fall into one of five key areas of focus; soil and crop health systems, crop and protein diversification, advancing intelligent agronomy, innovative crop health strategies and controlled environment agriculture.

Slugbot robot out in the field

Linsey Cresswell, commercial director for CHAP said: “Given the extreme turbulence in the industry over the past year, it was very impressive to achieve such a significant level of success. I believe that this was a result of having an extremely high level of motivation by everyone across the agri-tech network with staff, members, partners and the industry as whole ready to tackle some of the complex challenges that we face today”. She added “we now have a very resilient model on which to work for the future to capitalise on the current successes and to build a high functioning agri-tech sector”.

CHAP’s key areas of focus

CHAP’s success since 2016 is attributable to a flexible and pragmatic approach to industry challenges and to be focused on the needs of the sector, members and partners, it has done this via four key pillars of activity:

• Networking – CHAP has a large and active membership of agri-tech specialists who collaborate and interact to work on either new or existing projects and business ideas. This helps to drive new and existing networks and enhances project consortia and business development.
• Access to funding – The CHAP team can provide expert advice and support to inform businesses and organisations about funding opportunities, guide them through the bidding process and help manage the project once funded.
• Capabilities – it is not always easy for SMEs to either fund equipment or lab space needed to test out new ideas or products, this was why the UK Government supported CHAP and its partners with capital investment at an early stage to develop new capabilities. These centres of excellence are distributed across the UK and can be utilised to support businesses depending on requirements.
• Dissemination – good ideas and agri-tech solutions need to be in the public domain to gain traction, as such, it is vital that the outcome of funded projects results in products, solutions or processes that are communicated and taken up within the industry. Dissemination and knowledge transfer across the CHAP network via social and hard media, through sponsored events and at stakeholder meetings ensures that feedback is achieved for as wide an audience as possible.

CHAP’s ongoing focus remains the transformation of agri-tech ideas into practical solutions, aiming to provide solutions which will transform UK and Global farming systems sustainably.

For more information about CHAP’s projects, contact enquiries@chap-solutions.co.uk.

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Mel Squires, director of NFU South West

The opportunity of agri-tech for the future was a key theme of the day. “Food security and supply are key global issues, as is climate change, and this is where the development and use of agri-tech is crucial,” said Mel Squires, director of NFU South West, in the opening keynote speech. “It can help us to meet the demand for clean growth and sustainable, good quality food production to feed the increasing global population, alongside protecting our natural resources, biodiversity and landscapes.”

Collaboration was also an important theme. “There’s so much uncertainty, so it’s really important that we all work together to make a far bigger impact,” she added.

Panel sessions took place to discuss some of the big challenges facing farming and how agri-tech will be a driving force for change.

And there is agri-tech funding available to help deliver on these future ambitions. “In 2023, we have the farming innovation programme, which is £270m of research and development funding,” said Chris Lyons, innovation lead in agriculture and food at Innovate UK.

“But we must make sure that the money is being used to drive productivity and meet the challenges we have to deal with. So, one of the key aims is looking at partnerships, and what we can do to drive collaboration,” he added.

There is huge potential in the agri-tech sector. “In agri-tech, we see a lot of technology coming across from other sectors, whether it’s big data, robotics, chemicals or engineering – predictions of growth for that area are particularly significant,” said Dr Elizabeth Warham, agri-tech team lead at the Department of Business and Trade.

But what works on one farm might not work on another. “All farm businesses are different. Even if you have two dairy farms, the type of business they’re running will be different, as will the type of individual running it, so finding one solution to fit every single problem across the world won’t be possible,” said Sarah Carr at the Royal Agricultural University and Gloucestershire Agri Tech Partnership. “Farmers are the most important component for success – so don’t forget that.”

One key technology that is already making waves in the agricultural sector is Bennamann’s innovative slurry lagoon cover, which collects methane released from the manure for use as fuel in tractors and other vehicles. “We were introduced to New Holland in 2016, it was then, in secret, developing the world’s first methane-powered tractor for production,” said Dr Chris Mann, chief executive officer at Bennamann. “At the same time we were working capturing methane from farms, so for the past five years we’ve been working together on the complete solution, from raw slurry through to tractor fuel.”

A number of key technological advances were showcased at the event.

Bennamann also found success in the event’s unique Market Place, which allowed for networking and business development. “It has been a great opportunity to meet new companies that are non-competitive but have similar goals around sustainability,” said Grant Crawford, technical sales lead at Bennamann.

John Martin, dairy farmer at Nunton Farm near Salisbury, was drawn towards the practical solutions like Bennamann and Herd Vision. “But it’s also fascinating listening to how companies are trying to support the different innovations,” he said. “There’s a lot to offer, but it comes back to bringing farmers and companies together, and getting the government on-side, too.”

Joanna Rufus, Chair, South West AgriTech, said: “We were extremely pleased with the number of attendees at our very first showcase. This would not have been possible without the sponsorship from both partners and sponsors; and we thank them again for their support, which has been invaluable in raising the profile of this key sector within the South West. The feedback we have received from both the programme of the day and Market Place has been very rewarding; so much so we are now thinking of holding another showcase next year.”

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Farmers, landowners, agri-businesses and industry stakeholders will be in for a comprehensive day of innovation, discussion, and partnership at the South West AgriTech Showcase on 20th April 2023, held at Exeter Racecourse in Devon.

Recent events have shown just how vulnerable the nation’s food supply chain is, says Russell Frith, inward investment lead at flagship event sponsor, Wiltshire Council. “Climate change is only going to continue to put pressure on agriculture and food security. Farmers are being asked to be more efficient, produce more for less, and reduce food production’s impact on the environment, including improvements to farmland and wider biodiversity.

“Agri-tech and innovation are vital components in helping farmers meet these objectives, as well as in building resilient and profitable businesses,” he adds. “We’re confident that this conference will give attendees the information, tools, and networks they need to progress to net zero, build sustainable businesses, and enhance food security.”

With collaboration recognised as a means to progression, Kevin Brooks will be sharing how a One Health Business Cluster offers great opportunities for farm businesses and developing agrifood sector SMEs.

“The aim of a One Health Business Cluster is to unlock and accelerate innovative development,” says Mr Brooks, director at bid writing company Brooks Kebbey – a main sponsor of the showcase – and facilitator for the Dorset LEP One Health Programme. “So in the session we’ll talk through the development of a cluster to support innovation from businesses with an emphasis on farming, food security, and environmental sciences,” he explains.

Mr Brooks will also be on hand to offer his expertise in bid writing for farm grants and SME funding solutions.

Fellow event sponsor, Andrew Farmer, founder at MyOxygen, will be holding a session on how software can improve the way we farm and live. “Data-powered digital technology will help farmers and food producers drive efficiency, grow profits and minimise risk,” he says.

But sometimes that is not communicated in a meaningful way, and his session will help unravel the use of digital technology in producing data for meaningful impact.

Taking it back to the farm, Katy Jo Stanton, senior farming adviser at the Soil Association, will be showcasing farmer innovation in action; tackling soil restoration and preservation. “We’ll be sharing some of our own farmer-led research and innovation projects which are fundamental in developing farm level solutions. And, of course, we’re really keen to speak with farmers and growers from the region.”

Ms Stanton says having open conversations is key in developing solutions that benefit both the farm business and the farmed environment.”

Hutchinsons’ head of soils, Ian Robertson, will be shedding light on why it is important to stay invested in the soils; better understanding leads to improved management and nutrient use efficiency.

“One of the key themes for my session is opening a conversation with farmers to bring awareness to how soil functions, and what impact different cultivation techniques, and the inputs used, have on soils,” he says. “Having these discussions can help find better ways of producing cereal or grass crops without compromising the business or environment.”

Bringing together farmers, landowners, agri-businesses and industry stakeholders will create a powerful room, says Joanna Rufus, chair at South West AgriTech.

“We especially need farmers to communicate what is happening at the coalface. Agri-tech is a critical component in helping farmers achieve the priorities like net zero as well as developing a more robust food supply chain. But if farmers aren’t in the room, innovation risks losing traction.”

For more information visit our Events calendar.

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Mel Squires, South West director at the NFU, will be a keynote speaker at the event, to be held on 20th April. “I will be reflecting on how critical agri-tech is to our farming and food supply chains, from farmgate to marketplace,” she says.

“Given the significance of farming to this region, both economically and environmentally, it is crucial that we continue to collaborate. We must work with researchers, practitioners and other stakeholders to enable the sector to be sustainable, productive, profitable and resilient. This is for the benefit of our communities, consumers, business owners and workers, and to help us achieve our ambitions for the environment and reaching net zero,” she adds.

“This event will shine a bright light on all the fantastic effort and work taking place in this part of the world, and beyond. It will inform, connect, inspire and, I hope, encourage people to learn more and see how agri-tech can help their own businesses, which will invite further interest and investment.”

Other topics covered at the South West AgriTech Showcase will include the future of regenerative food and farming, with speaker Dr Robin Jackson, director at Agri-tech Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly Project. Also, there will be a national agri-tech funding update from Innovate UK, and ‘Agri tech – Addressing the Perception’, from the Gloucestershire Agri tech Partnership – delivered by Ben Thompson at Hartpury and Sarah Carr at the Royal Agricultural University.

Sustainability is a hot topic in both the food and agriculture sectors, and will be discussed on the day. And, the event will serve as a chance to bring people together to see the latest advances in agri-tech. “It’s a great opportunity for people involved in the agriculture sector and agri-tech to come together and see some of the technology that’s commercially available in the region as well as the research and development that’s being undertaken,” says councillor Rufus Gilbert, Devon county council cabinet member for economic recovery and skills.

To book a free ticket for the event click here.

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The region is an agri-tech powerhouse, with over 10 universities offering a wide variety of research specialisms and collaborating with industry professionals to develop spin-off companies.

“Following the G7 summit in Cornwall there has been a lot of discussion around the wealth of talent we have in the area,” explains Joanna Rufus, chair of South West Agri-tech. “We have over 200 small to medium sized agri-tech companies and 64 business support organisations – including centres of excellence – which generate a turnover of more than £371m a year.

“Together with major employers including Arla Foods UK, Mole Valley Farmers, Thatchers Cider, ABP and Yeo Valley, agricultural companies in the South West contribute more than £3bn in gross value added to the UK economy.”

To showcase some of the exciting research, development and commercially available technology in the region, South West Agri-tech is holding a conference at Exeter Racecourse on the 20th April 2023. Highlights will include a range of outdoor robotic and drone demonstrations, as well as an indoor marketplace with dedicated networking time, and high profile speakers.

“The event will be free to attend and there are several sponsorship packages available,” says Mrs Rufus. “We want the whole farming, horticulture and agri-tech community to attend, and learn how such exciting developments have a genuine and practical role to play within agricultural businesses.”

Key technologies that are penetrating the global agriculture sector include data analytics, artificial intelligence, internet-of-things, and automation systems, along with production and uses of biofuel as an alternative source of energy. Satellite technologies are increasingly enabling the next generation of agri-tech by providing positioning information; delivering frequent, wide-scale observation, and providing reliable, affordable and ubiquitous connectivity.

“As the country’s most rural region, we are leading the way in agri-tech research and innovation, helping to support our rich farming and food sectors,” explains Karl Tucker, interim chair of the Great South West Partnership. “We are delighted to support this event, to showcase our region’s world-leading technologies and the pivotal role they play in the UK’s economy and food security.”

Simply put, agri-tech is needed to help the world to sustainably meet its demand for good quality, safe food, explains Mrs Rufus. “In the South West, we are perfectly placed to help deliver that, with a range of specialities spanning the entire food supply chain. We are fortunate to have unparalleled support for agri-tech businesses to develop and grow, with business growth hubs, incubators and accelerators, as well as bespoke business expertise, tax incentives and access to funding. We now have the largest and fastest growing network of high growth SMEs in the UK agri-tech sector, and the time is right to really demonstrate what they can do for food producers in the region.”

Katherine Bennett CBE, chair of the Western Gateway Partnership, agrees. “Across the region we have many innovative businesses, high tech clusters and greater educational institutions working at the leading edge in their field. We are home to the Royal Agricultural University, whose plans for an Innovation Village promise to ensure the UK leads the way in developing methods to produce food sustainably in the future.

“It is great to see businesses coming together to demonstrate the leading work they are doing in this sector. I encourage everyone to come along to this event to see why our area is at the forefront of making a future with sustainable food a reality.”

For more information visit www.southwestagritech.org.uk

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Herdwatch is designed for cattle farmers but at the click of a button you can switch to Flockwatch, which caters for sheep farmers’ needs.

There is also a section for mapping your farm and creating paddock records, which are shared across both sides of the app – along with a smart shared medicine cabinet.

Multiple users can access the app and if you are in an area with poor mobile coverage, it works offline. Best of all, if you ever have an accident with your phone, your farm records are safely saved to the cloud.

Herdwatch – Simple Medicine Recording, Simple Calf Registration, Full Breeding Management & more…

The Herdwatch app has become a necessity for many farmers, with them using it daily to maximise farm performance.

Lorna & Jim Burdge have been using Herdwatch on their farms since 2019 and haven’t looked back since with Lorna emphasising the impact the app has had on their lives.

“It has made a massive difference to us. I can switch off better in the evenings cause I am doing everything in seconds as I go along about my day.”

The couple run two dairy farms in Devon and milk each twice a day. They have two herds of cows on two tenanted holdings, one is 160 acres consisting of crossbred and Jersey cows while the other is approximately 90 acres employing 100 medium Holstein Friesians and crossbred cows.

With all her records up to date in Herdwatch, Lorna has no worries when it comes to inspection time. “Red Tractor and milk buyer auditors have all been very impressed at me for having all the required records available at the touch of a button. Farm inspections have become much easier and farm inspection time has significantly decreased because I have access to all the information they could ask for in seconds.”

Operating both Spring and Autumn calving herds, Lorna used to find herself losing a lot of precious time registering animals, with Herdwatch she now registers all her calves out on the farm as she works, as well as inputting any other key information such as medicines as it happens.

“When we start calving, I will be literally tagging the new born calf and at the same time quickly registering the calf in Herdwatch and sending it off straight away.”

Herdwatch has been a tool that Lorna uses daily to maximise farm performance. “I record heats, serves and scans on Herdwatch. I also download breeding reports to print off and make notes on which helps me get a better understanding which I will then use for discussion and possibly share with my vet. I am constantly looking to improve my farm management and Herdwatch has been a massive help in doing so.”

“Previously, records were handwritten and very time consuming. Herdwatch has made records so much easier and saved me valuable time.”

Get your flock in your hand with Flockwatch…

On the other side of the Herdwatch app is Flockwatch, a dedicated app for sheep farmers to manage their flock performance more efficiently. Flockwatch is essentially Herdwatch for sheep farmers, allowing sheep farmers to track flock performance and health individually or in groups in one simple to use app. Here are some of the features the Flockwatch app has to offer today:

• Your flock in your hand.
• Record lambing and track ewe performance.
• Record batch medicines simply and quickly.
• Fast Weight recording to track average daily gains.
• Lameness Management to track repeat offenders.
• Connect an EID Reader to scan ear tags to view an animal’s history or add records easily.
• Map your farm using satellite imagery & much much more…

One of the key advantages of these apps is the ability to use them if you are in an area with poor mobile coverage, they work offline.

YouTube superstar Cammy Wilson, better known as “The Sheep Game”, has been using Flockwatch on his farm in Ayreshire, Scotland. Before Flockwatch, Cammy was taking photos of ear tags, medicine bottles or writing notes in his phone. “We had great intentions to go home that night and update it but that rarely happened! It would usually be a month down the line back tracking through photos it was just quite a farce!”

“If I see a sheep with mastitis now and I catch her out in the field and give her an injection I look at the last four digits of her ear tag, type that into the app there and then, I don’t even need my stick reader with me, brings that sheep up and I can record she’s had that jab there and then out in the field!” Operating a very busy schedule, Cammy has been extremely thankful for the Flockwatch app enabling him to save time, take better control of his farm management and make more informed decisions quickly.

“I would absolutely recommend Flockwatch to other farmers, the key thing being the simplicity of the app, you don’t have to go into some 6 week training program to master it. It almost seems super expensive and well developed because of its simplicity!”

Download the FREE Herdwatch/Flockwatch app today from the app store/play store.

The Herdwatch farm management app links with BCMS(CTS), ScotEID & APHIS  to help farmers eliminate farm paperwork and make better decisions, you can also view your Milk Recording data from CIS & NMR.

Join over 18,000 other happy farmers saving time on farm paperwork and making better decisions – to find out more information or download the Herdwatch/Flockwatch farm management app, go to www.herdwatch.com or call 0203 773 2763 today.

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Precision farming, which involves the use of technology to improve data monitoring and interpretation on farms, has the potential to bring down food costs, boost growth, and improve agricultural productivity as set out in the government’s growth plan.

Yet only 9% of government grants in England are destined for enhancing farm productivity, which the Social Market Foundation (SMF) says is insufficient for promoting large-scale investment in precision technologies. In its latest report, Moovin’ On Up, the think tank marks uncertainty around future funding as the single biggest barrier to farmers modernising their operations.

Innovative farming tools, such as smart weighing systems, electronic ID (EID) tags, monitoring collars and farm management apps could go a long way towards closing the agricultural productivity gap between the UK and other countries.

Using data from the US Department for Agriculture (USDA), the SMF’s study highlighted the sharp contrast between New Zealand and UK agriculture. Namely, farming in New Zealand has increased its productivity by nearly 70% in the last 30 years, while British farming has only shown a 10% productivity growth (see below).

International comparison of total factor farm productivity. Base (100) = three-year average to 1990. (Source: US Department of Agriculture) Image © The Social Market Foundation

SMF director James Kirkup said that, while this is by no means a criticism of the UK agriculture sector, it is an indication that it could do better. Recognising that technological adoption could be a major driver of growth, the think tank carried out research funded by MSD Animal Health UK to identify the main barriers to precision farming uptake in Britain.

Moovin’ On Up: Key findings and recommendations

Published on 18^th October, the study outlines the main pressures faced by UK farmers in the current socio-economic climate. Other than the productivity challenge, which is largest in the livestock sector, farmers are also expected to respond to environmental pressures such as improving biodiversity and moving towards net zero targets.

Other concerns relate to food production and security, animal health and welfare, and the cost-of-living crisis in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. According to the study’s co-author Aveek Bhattacharya from the SMF, precision livestock farming has the potential to address all of these challenges, alongside improving farm safety and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Despite the considerable gains precision technologies could bring to the livestock sector, the report found that current levels of uptake are “patchy at best”. Data from Defra’s Farm Practices Survey featured in the report shows that regular weighing to measure growth rates is highest in pigs and poultry (64%), while the use of estimated breeding values is most common in the dairy sector (69%).

To gain a better understanding of farmers’ attitudes towards precision technologies, the study’s authors conducted in-depth interviews with 10 livestock farmers across the country.

While rather small, the sample incorporated a range of different farming systems, types of pasture and livestock, and geographical locations to ensure the most accurate representation of the industry.

The results of the study indicate that farmers in general are open to new technologies and many are already seeing benefits, although the full potential of precision tools is yet to be grasped in the farming community. As expected, younger generations were the most optimistic about data-driven farming systems boosting productivity and growth.

Moreover, the findings also suggested that farmers are most likely to trust local, “over the fence” advice when it comes to making investment decisions. However, uncertainty about the future of farming is holding many back from spending on technology, with cost being the number one barrier to modernisation.

Aveek Bhattacharya, chief economist, SMF. Image © The Social Market Foundation

Aveek Bhattacharya, SMF chief economist and co-author of the report said: “When it comes to adoption of new, cutting-edge technologies – key to enhancing productivity – farmers are more than willing but the Government needs to meet them halfway with a better-designed subsidy system.

“Better use of technology in farming could help the Government achieve its objective of boosting economic growth, but only if farm subsidies are well-targeted and offer strong incentives to invest in tools that improve farm efficiency.”

Based on available evidence, the study’s authors formulated a number of recommendations to promote the uptake of precision farming technologies. These include:

• Improving funding incentives for farmers to invest in precision technologies
• Facilitating better knowledge exchange “from the R&D lab to the farm gate”
• Creating better data sharing infrastructure
• Using regulation to promote change, such as mandatory EID tagging
• Rejuvenating farm management by providing new entry schemes and promoting farming to younger generations

Mr Bhattacharya is confident that if these objectives are achieved, farming in Britain can be shaken up towards a more efficient and productive future.

Relevance to the industry

During a recent media briefing, Thomas Burston, director of policy research at the Food, Farming and Countryside Commission (FFCC) made some comments on the relevance of the report to the industry.

He emphasised the purpose of farming, other than food production, is to manage risks to food security and tackle nature, climate and health crises. He acknowledged the current research as part of the growing body of evidence that uniting these goals is possible.

Mr Burston also agreed that the return on technological investment has to be calculable and fair for farmers and support from policy frameworks will be required to achieve broader farming outcomes.

Ian Anderson, Allflex managing director from MSD Animal Health UK also welcomed the report’s findings and recommendations. At the briefing, he reiterated the importance of research and collecting data in terms of improving animal health and welfare and reducing the strain on the environment.

“All of those [the report’s outcomes] we welcome, because the farming community are very hard working, they are very skilled, and we want to help them to have a profitable and sustainable future. I think this report takes us along that road,” he added.

Independent livestock sustainability consultant Dr Jude L. Capper, who helped inform the analysis in the report, commented:

“It is absolutely crucial that we move the British livestock industry forwards and encourage farmers to adopt technologies that will improve productivity, business resilience and sustainability.

“This report comes at a pivotal moment for evoking change and is an essential component of the knowledge base needed to back recommendations to all food industry stakeholders.”

The SMF report Moovin’ On Up, sponsored by MSD Animal Health UK, is available to view here.

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The data and analytics company predicts climate change and population growth will lead to greater automation in farming by 2030, driven by the need to collect large amounts of data to maximise crop and livestock efficiency.

In its recent report ‘Tech in 2030 – Thematic Research’, GlobalData outlines how technologies such as smart crops will help the industry meet food demands. These automated, self-regulating crops will collect data such as soil quality, growth rate, nutritional content, and fluid intake via numerous sensors.

The data will then be uploaded onto agriculture technology platforms to be analysed by artificial intelligence in order to optimise farm operations. According to Global Data, 2030’s farms will be connected via Internet of Things (IoT) sensors, allowing crops to self-regulate and helping farmers make smarter decisions.

Rachel Foster Jones from GlobalData said technological advances are urgently needed in the farming industry to secure a sustainable future.

“Multiple issues are currently putting pressure on agriculture: climate change is threatening capacity, population growth is accelerating, the amount of available land is reducing, and labour shortages are worsening. Agriculture technology will promise a much-needed solution,” she commented.

Advances in plant breeding and machinery have already made major improvements to farm productivity in recent years. However, the key to the future lies in precision agriculture and genomic research that will boost sustainability and crop resilience to climate change.

As part of what GlobalData bills as the ‘fourth agricultural revolution’, smart greenhouses are becoming more widespread across the globe. Smart greenhouse-related jobs have more than tripled since the start of 2021 as shown on the graph below:

Graph showing an increase in smart greenhouse-related jobs since 2020 (Source: GlobalData Tech in 2030 – Thematic Research report).

In light of these developments, Ms Jones urged young farmers to start working on their technical skills to prepare for the future job market.

“Investment in smart greenhouses is only going to increase as the challenges facing the agricultural sector call for more automation. As automation increases, farmers will be hired more and more for their technical expertise and data processing skills, as well as their knowledge of the agricultural process.”

According to Global Data’s report, the agricultural drone industry has also experienced rapid expansion with a 14-fold increase in patents between 2015 and 2021, making it one of the fastest growing non-military drone sectors. Agricultural drones are unmanned aerial vehicles currently used in agriculture for yield optimisation and monitoring.

Ms Jones added: “Modular-based innovation will mean that drones will be able to undertake advanced crop spraying and terrain monitoring by 2030. The labour crisis and skills shortage will bolster agriculture drone demand, as they will be able to undertake time-consuming tasks.”

To learn more about GlobalData’s Thematic Intelligence report, visit: https://www.globaldata.com/store/report/tech-in-2030-theme-analysis/

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