The importance of data collection and data management in Agri-Tech

Last 29th October we attended the second edition of the Agri-Tech Cornwall Business Forum, organised by Agri-Tech Cornwall.

The main focus of the event was around data collection and data management in the Agri-Tech sector and it provided excellent networking opportunities with innovative companies.

After openings from Mike King and Caroline Hanlan, from Cornwall Development Company, David Griffiths - Director of FoAM - explained the different types of research he had been carrying out, including collection of data with ‘sonic kayaks’ on estuaries and research on wasps confirming that they are great pollinators indeed. He then introduced the ‘Crap App’, a smartphone app that helps farmers report back about the nutrients in their fields. 

Anna Woodley, from Agrimetrics, regretted the lack of use of business data from farmers, as this is an industry with a huge potential for data production. She also observed the monopolistic use of data by some key players in the agricultural value chain. Then Glas Data’s director, Colin Phillipson, presented on their agnostic data management tool which allows farmers to access data from any means possible.

The final presentation of the day was conducted by Rob Cartwright, from Ver Facil, and it revolved around low-power long-range (LoRa) sensors for agri-data collection. These sensors can have a multitude of applications, including sensors placed in water storage cylinders like the ones used in the Royal Agricultural Society site, which helped them save thousands of pounds in lost water.

Photo by Joshua Sortino