Artificial intelligence looms large in farmers future
“I think the biggest change coming is, without any doubt, technology and the ability to use that technology."
AI, AI, AI - it’s a pretty direct message an agriculture leader has dished up to Southland farmers as they position themselves for the future.
Speaking at the Murihiku Regeneration Energy, Innovation and Opportunities Expo in Invercargill on Wednesday, Balfour farmer and former MP Jeff Grant suggested farmers should have their sights firmly on technology.
“For Southland, the broad part of the economy - in terms of agriculture - will continue over the next several decades. So, we are not going to see dramatic change from the products that we produce and export.
“And remember what Southland produces we export 96% of it, so we have to look outward to the market in terms of what we do,” Grant said.
“I think the biggest change coming is, without any doubt, technology and the ability to use that technology.
“Whether it is robotics, digital mapping, or analytical tools to do the analysis of productivity, that is going to be the biggest driver of change for the southern province.
“It’s a bit like a real estate agent saying location, location, location - I say AI, AI, AI. You have to understand what artificial intelligence is going to do because it is without doubt going to be the biggest driver,” Grant said.
He said there were already examples of how AI can and is helping in the industry.
“You can get a drone that will effectively drive 24/7 across your property and remove every thistle out of that property without you doing anything.”
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Grant has held many different jobs attached to agriculture over the years. It includes his current role as chairman for Thriving Southland, who he was representing at the expo.
He has seen the technology advancement firsthand on his Northern Southland farm where Dutch companies grow tulips and lilies.
“This year we trialed the first of the robotics. So, we had two machines that went 24/7 up and down the rows and each robotic machine was removing every viral plant and that machine was doing the equivalent of 12 people doing the same over an eight-hour period.
“At the same time, it was collecting all of the data about the yield of the tulips and sending it to Holland and resending it back again in the morning giving the analysis of where the production was so the irrigation modules could be worked out to keep the water levels at the right levels.
“All of that was done by AI, and the capacity and quality of that information was fantastic.”
Grant was optimistic about what innovation will bring to the agriculture sector, although was pessimistic about “bureaucracy”.
“Get rid of a portion of the bureaucracy so we can get innovation, that would be really great.
“I’m involved in a start-up in agri-tourism business where you spent more time getting consents than you do actually getting the business up and running.”