It can be a difficult thing to apply the most cutting-edge technologies to the practice of growing fruits and vegetables, an activity almost as old as humanity.
But AI, IOT, and other advanced applications aren’t going away, and the possibility of cost savings and improvement on ROI should be enough to tempt nearly everyone into the modern era.
From new robotic harvesting machinery and innovative packaging tools that save money and reduce waste, to sensors that monitor the quality of produce when still in the ground and miniature machines that dispense pest control solutions 24 hours a day, the future for growers is definitely one of high-tech tools.
As Vonnie Estes, vice president of technology for the Produce Marketing Association, BB #:153708 points out, “Smart farming will be beneficial for both conventional, large farming operations and smaller operations using more limited techniques. Integrating these tools will lead to more efficient usage and optimization of inputs.”
While many think of agriculture as an extremely basic way of doing business, often untouched by time or technology, Nathan Dorn is the CEO of Food Origins, explains why growers should realize data is king.
“How many ways are there to grow a head of lettuce or a batch of strawberries? When you consider different varieties, soil, weather conditions, methods of harvesting, and every other variable, there are literally trillions,” he said.
Science, Dorn said, can answer the vexing questions that affect all businesses.
How the data is packaged, disseminated, and used can make the difference between making money or losing it.
“If you’re in the business of buying seeds for a dollar and selling them for a dollar and ten cents, the right data can change the nature of a company.”
This is an excerpt from the most recent Produce Blueprints quarterly journal. Click here to read the full version.
