The Farmers Mart Feb-Mar 2019 - Issue 61 | Page 18

18 FARM NEWS
FEB/MAR 2019 • farmers-mart.co.uk
Increase in Agritech Adoption Required to
Drive UK Farming Efficiency and Growth
WITH the global population
forecast to hit nearly 10 billion
people by 2050[2], ever increasing
food production must be weighed
against growing demands on
land, water and labour. With a
70% increase in food production
required from now until 2050[3],
the agricultural industry will need
to place agritech at the forefront
of their strategy to drive to growth
in yields while helping to meet
increasingly stringent environ-
mental obligations. No more is this
challenge more pronounced than
in the UK. Agfunder, an online
venture capital plat-
form dedicated
to technology
in agriculture reported that the
UK agritech sector is worth more
than £14 billion and employs over
500,000 people and the govern-
ment has invested a further £90
million at the end of 2018.
The recently published ‘Future
of Profitable Farming‘white-
paper, commissioned by
Enterprise Ireland, high-
lights the importance
of improving yield,
efficiency and profita-
bility whilst protecting
the environment. A high
demand for innovative
and technological agricul-
tural solutions has resulted in
a significant number of Irish busi-
nesses working with UK farmers
to achieve their growth and food
production ambitions.
One such company, Abbey Ma-
chinery, have developed a unique
slurry management system that
focuses on slurry preparation,
application and minimising com-
paction enabling farmers to raise
farm profitability. Abbey’s slurry
tankers have been developed to
enable flow control for precise
application and is supported by
an array of applicators that to
pace the slurry to optimum effect.
Abbey’s system also supports
environmental considerations
via the inclusion of monitoring
technologies.
Irish agritech is also pioneering
advanced techniques in Artificial
Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things
(IoT), robotics and sensor net-
works. For example, Irish compa-
ny Moocall’s award winning prod-
ucts include IoT calving sensors,
herd management software, and
heat monitoring collars. Moocall’s
calving sensor is currently mon-
itoring cows, heifers and unborn
calves in 40 countries across the
globe, helping to significantly
reduce mortality.
In the area of GPS and mapping,
AgriSpread has developed its
fertiliser application equipment,
the Section Control system, which
ensures the uniform application of
exact target amounts of product.
This results in a reduction of input
costs, increased yields, as well
as minimising crop damage and
environmental impact.
According to Frost and Sulli-
van research, about 70% to 80%
of new farming equipment sold
today is equipped with some form
of precision farming component [
while an increase in agritech fund-
ing and innovation demonstrates
the sector’s growth potential.
Agritech is ultimately aimed at
improving yield, efficiency and
profitability. It has the potential
to enhance traditional farming
practices while also dealing with
the challenges that are facing the
agricultural industry today.
www.irishadvantage.com/white-
paper/agritech-the-future-of-
profitable-farming/
The Hidden Danger: Leading farming charity advises
farmers to ‘mind your head’ over the coming weeks
LIVING well is the key to farming well
and leading farm safety charity, the Farm
Safety Foundation is highlighting the
importance of farmers looking after their
mental health in the second Mind Your
Head week which takes place from 11-15
February.
There are several mental health risk fac-
tors associated with agriculture. Farmers
work long hours, often in isolation. They
can be under significant financial pres-
sure, often required to take on significant
debt just to purchase the land and equip-
ment required to operate. And in most
cases, a farmer’s place of business is also
his or her home, meaning there is no easy
way to get away from the workload.
In addition, farmers are constantly
vulnerable to unusual events and cir-
cumstances that can impact their bottom
line and stress levels - from weather and
natural disasters to major uncertainties
like Brexit
This week, leading farming charity Farm
Safety Foundation is asking the farming
community to Mind Your Head with a
campaign to raise awareness and tackle
the stigma of this growing issue in farming.
Recent research by the charity reveals
that 81% of farmers under 40 believe that
mental health is the biggest hidden prob-
lem facing farmers today and 92% believe
that promoting good mental health is
crucial if lives are to be saved and farmers
kept safe.
Throughout the week, the Farm Safety
Foundation will be reminding farmers and
farming families that Valentine’s week;
when we are supposed to celebrate love
and togetherness, can sometimes high-
light how different, alone, or low we feel
and if that is the case, help is available.
The Foundation will bring together key
people, organisations and other charities
to raise awareness of this mounting issue
in the industry and build a community of
support for those affected.
The Foundation’s website www.yellow-
wellies.org and social media channels will
share stories, advice and key messages
and a new hero film “A Quiet Night Inn”
will be released today on Twitter, Face-
book and YouTube.
www.yellowwellies.org