The Farm Tech Challenge

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1 1 Contents Introduction 1 The Importance of Agriculture 2 2 Project Process and Timelines 3 Partners 3 The Good Growth Plan 5 An Input - Process - Output Example 8 Thinking More Broadly 9 High Tech Inspiration 11 The Judging Criteria 12 The Submission Process 13 Hints and Tips for Submissions 13 Using Social Media 14 Written Submission Template 15 Introduction The purpose of this guide is to provide information about the Challenge. It includes details of what the Challenge is about, who s organising it and some ideas to get you started. Preparing an entry will involve learning about some of the challenges facing society and also about how science and technology can help to address these. Also included are details of how to enter, judging criteria to show what the judges are looking for, and some tips on how to prepare a good entry.

2 2 The Importance of Agriculture Agriculture is crucial in every part of the world. Without agriculture, we would not have food on our plates, biofuels or natural fibres for clothing. The global population is increasing and some people in the world don t have enough to eat. Increasing agricultural productivity to feed a growing world population while protecting biodiversity, soils, and the health and safety of people on the farm is one of the biggest challenges facing humanity. Scientists and technologists will have a major role to play in meeting this challenge and today s students (yes, that s you!) will be crucial to the development of future solutions. Syngenta has developed The Good Growth Plan to work together with partners to make a measurable contribution: More food, less waste; More biodiversity, less degradation; More health, less poverty. The themes from The Good Growth Plan have been used to establish the categories for this Farm Tech Challenge. Your Challenge is to plan, deliver, evaluate and report on a project that uses digital technology to address one of the themes of The Good Growth Plan: Make crops more efficient: producing more food in a sustainable way. Rescue more farmland: protecting soil and reducing erosion. Help biodiversity flourish: looking after all wildlife in a farmed environment. Empower smallholders: finding solutions that work on a small scale in rural communities. Help people stay safe: improving the health and safety of all people on the farm. It will involve the design and development of a programmable digital system to gather data, process it and produce a useful output. This might be done with a pocket sized computer such as Raspberry Pi, Arduino or even the BBC Micro:bit; alternatively a PC, Mac or even an app might be used. Irrespective of the particular system, the focus is to devise, develop and test an innovative solution that will help farmers. By taking part in this Challenge, you will get experience in developing real-life applications of technology as well as developing the skills and innovative thinking that are relevant to a range of engineering and science careers.

3 3 Project Process and Timelines 28 September September 2015 to 23 March March 2016 April 2016 Challenge Launch Students working on project Submission of entries Judging Winners announced Prizes awarded Social and local media - join the conversations and tell your stories Form team Research Planning Programming, making Testing, evaluating Preparing submission: Written and video Written submission 3 minute video pitch Registration form Team experiences Team prizes School prizes Partners Syngenta is a leading agricultural company helping to improve global food security by enabling millions of farmers to make better use of available resources. Through world class science and innovative crop solutions, our 28,000 people in over 90 countries are working to transform how crops are grown. Temperature Drainage Pests and diseases We are committed to rescuing land from degradation, enhancing biodiversity and revitalizing rural communities. To learn more visit and Syngenta is joining together with partners from universities, industry and agriculture to introduce this Challenge. Working in partnership is one of the important underlying principles of The Good Growth Plan. It is only through working together that we will be successful in meeting these global challenges. partners are: Wind Nutrients Weeds Soil type Sunlight Institute of Agricultural Engineers (IAgrE) H The IAgrE is the professional body for engineers, scientists, technologists and 2 0 O 2 managers in agricultural and allied landbased industries, including forestry, food engineering and technology, amenity, renewable energy, horticulture and the environment. We are a registered charity working for the public benefit through bringing together academics, Plant practitioners and industry to share knowledge and promote professionalism Photosynthesis in the advance and application of technology in CO 2 the landbased sector. C 6 H 12 O 6 Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) Inputs Process Outputs The IET is one of the world s largest engineering institutions with over 163,000 members in 127 countries. It is also the most multidisciplinary to reflect the increasingly diverse nature of engineering in the 21st century. The IET is working to engineer a better world by inspiring, informing and influencing our members, engineers and technicians, and all those who are touched by, or touch, the work of engineers. Moisture detector Control circuit Water supply Inputs Process Outputs

4 4 University of Manchester As one of the largest electrical and electronic engineering schools in the UK, we are known for our theoretical and applied research. We have been educating engineers for over a century and our courses are informed by the needs of industry, influenced by the latest research and taught by knowledgeable, enthusiastic experts. Integrating sensors, electronics, control, power systems and ICT engineering into agriculture is a key enabler for delivering improved food supply and sustainable energy production. Harper Adams University With a reputation for excellence and innovation, Harper Adam s campus offers state-of-the-art facilities and rewarding courses for undergraduate, postgraduate and lifelong learners in agriculture, agribusiness, animal, engineering, food, rural and land-based studies. The National Centre for Precision Farming is based at the Agricultural Engineering Innovation Centre at the University and helps farmers and other stakeholders understand and apply precision farming methods. precision-farming.cfm Farming And Countryside Education (FACE) Farming and Countryside Education is the leading charity helping primary and secondary schools to engage with food, farming and the countryside. We equip teachers to create engaging experiences for their pupils that address such issues as health, the environment and food security, while gaining first-hand knowledge of the science and business of farming. Bright Crop Organisations from across the industry, including food manufacturers, machinery engineers and scientific researchers have come together to introduce young people to the uniquely diverse and rewarding careers on offer. Bright Crop lets you explore a wide range of job roles, see what the jobs are really like, get tips from the experts, and start to plan your route to a career in farming and food supply. The Agri-Food industry needs talented individuals with the ideas and the know-how to meet current and future challenges Our Ambassador network is made up of professionals from within the Agri- Food supply industry who volunteer their time to inspire students in schools about agricultural careers. Linking Environment And Farming (LEAF) LEAF is the leading organisation promoting sustainable agriculture, food and farming. We help farmers produce good food, with care and to high environmental standards, identified in-store by the LEAF Marque logo. We build public understanding of food and farming in a number of ways. These include Open Farm Sunday and year round farm visits to our national network of LEAF Demonstration Farms.

5 5 Developing a Focus for the Project Your project will need to address one of the themes of The Good Growth Plan. The Good Growth Plan The Good Growth Plan is Syngenta s commitment to make a measurable contribution to the planet by It sets six specific targets related to improving resource efficiency, rejuvenating ecosystems and revitalising rural communities. Empower smallholders Rescue more farmland Help people stay safe Look after every worker Make crops more efficient To feed its growing population, the world will have to grow more food in the next 50 years than it has produced in the past 10,000. And to be sustainable, this huge increase in production needs to be achieved while using resources far more efficiently. The challenge will be even greater if climate change continues to disrupt temperature and weather patterns. Rescue more farmland Every second, the world loses an area of farmland the size of a football field to soil erosion, desertification and urban expansion. Every year, it loses enough land to produce 20 million tonnes of grain. Poor farming practices expose soil to wind and rain erosion, leaving millions of hectares infertile each year. Some 40% of existing farmland is seriously degraded, and an area large enough to feed Europe is too depleted to produce food. Action is needed urgently; nature takes 500 years to replace 25mm of lost soil. Help biodiversity flourish The sustainability of agriculture depends on biodiversity for plant breeding, for pollination and for the diversity of our diet. More than a third of the world s agricultural crops depend on pollination, but pollinator populations have been falling in many countries. Changing agricultural practices have altered rural landscapes and natural habitats. Expanding the use of land for crops can reduce forests, meadows and hedgerows that provide food and shelter for flora and fauna that make a sustainable agricultural landscape. Empower smallholders Over 2.5 billion people depend on agriculture for their livelihoods. Smallholder farmers are critical to the world s food security, yet they often face high financial risks and low returns. Every day, 180,000 people leave rural communities to live in cities. Ensuring that farming is a viable and attractive occupation will help to create vibrant, productive rural communities.

6 6 Help people stay safe Agriculture is the world s second largest source of employment, often involving long hours and heavy work in challenging climates and harsh conditions. We have a responsibility to help improve occupational safety and health in agriculture. Look after every worker We recognise a responsibility to ensure that our supply chain meets internationally acceptable standards, especially in developing countries. We also recognise that, if the agricultural sector does not offer fair and attractive conditions for its workers, population drift from rural communities to cities will steadily undermine efforts to increase agricultural production. More information can be found on The Good Growth Plan website:

7 eptember 2015 allenge aunch 28 September 2015 Students Guide 23 March 2016 The Farm Students Tech working Challenge on project to 23 March 2016 Submission of entries Social and local media - join the conversations and tell your stories April 2016 Winners Prizes Judging announced awarded 7 Form team Research Preparing submission: Written submission 3 minute Planning A Possible Starting Point Written - Plants and Team prizes video pitch Programming, making video Imagine getting a plant to grow. This is a natural process Registration of course, but there are things that can School prizes be done Testing, to help evaluating it on its way. If we think about the plant formas a machine, it will be taking inputs (light, nutrients, water, CO 2 ) carrying out a process (photosynthesis) and producing outputs (carbohydrates for growth and producing harvestable products and oxygen). As well as altering the inputs, there are of course other factors that can help (or hinder) a plant s growth: Team experiences Temperature Drainage Pests and diseases Wind Nutrients Weeds Soil type Sunlight H 2 0 O 2 CO 2 Plant Photosynthesis C 6 H 12 O 6 Inputs Process Outputs There are set physical things that we can do to improve growing conditions: for example they could be grown in a greenhouse or we could place a windbreak around them. Sometimes, however, the steps need to be more responsive. Instead of a set feature, they might need something to be monitored and controlled. Digital systems can detect all of the factors in the illustration above. For example, a light sensor can measure Moisture the intensity of light and, if this is recorded Control continuously, how many hours a day light lands Water supply on the plant. detector As well as recording inputs, a digital circuit system can also be used to control an output such as moving shades to reduce the light, or switching on additional lighting. However, this Inputs is only one kind of project. Instead Process of monitoring the plants as they Outputs grow to modify the conditions, the system could be one that tests conditions, such as soil drainage or the presence of particular nutrients.

8 The Farm CO Tech Challenge 2 Plant Photosynthesis C 6 H 12 O 6 8 Inputs Process Outputs An Input - Process - Output Example We know that plants need water. However, if there is too much water; they may become waterlogged and die. What might be needed is a system to detect if the soil is drying out and, if it is, to supply more water. There is an input (the moisture of the soil) providing data to a process (detecting if the moisture is too low and, if so, signalling for a response) which controls an output (a water supply being turned on). This can be represented by a block diagram. The arrows represent the flow of information. Moisture detector Control circuit Water supply Inputs Process Outputs This is a simple example but it demonstrates how you can ensure plants are watered as and when necessary. Applying the Input-Process-Output approach is key to many real-life applications of computer science and it will be essential for your project. Some examples of these elements are shown below, but this is certainly not an exhaustive list: Input Could be data entered by the user Could be information from a sensor - e.g. rainfall, temperature, GPS location Information from other devices could be used Information from database (online or offline) could be used Processing Taking input(s), applying logic and converting into a format for output Combining inputs from multiple sources This programming element could be a portable device, a PC or App Output Action - e.g. turn on a light, play a sound, turn on a tap, drive a motor Display a message Give an instruction Send an Post to social media There s no reason why a system should only have single inputs and outputs. For example, the vents on a greenhouse might need to be closed if the temperature falls or if it gets windy (or both).

9 9 Thinking More Broadly Although healthy crops (and lots of them) is one measure of success, don t only consider monitoring the plants themselves. There s more to successful agriculture than that. Here are some more possible starting points: Soil Soil is incredibly important. It is the foundation of all life on Earth - without it, we couldn t grow the food we need to live. But it s at risk from many different threats including erosion and compaction. Every second we lose farmland the size of a football pitch and it takes nature over 500 years to replace 25mm of soil. Through The Good Growth Plan Syngenta is doing everything they can to help growers protect it. Soil can be lost (eroded) through wind or water. If soil is compacted, rainwater will flow over the surface, taking soil particles with it. It will also mean that plant roots will not be able to move down through the soil and the crops will be stunted. Could something be developed that can help the farmer understand the status of their soil and risks of erosion - is it like a brick or a sponge? Farm Safety Like many places of work, a farm can be a dangerous place. Could an innovation be developed that can help to keep people safe on the farm - either the people working on the farm, their families or other visitors? It could be, for example, something that manages the movement of traffic in the farmyard, such as automatic gate closers or warnings when gates are not closed properly. Water Managing water is an important component of growing crops. One low tech example to measure water depth in rice fields is to use wide, vertical pipes called pani pipes. This is an example of simple technology working well - could it be improved with digital technology? How about a way of devising a system to measure the water level in the pipe? What might the system do in response? Think about the outputs a system could control to achieve the wetting and drying to get the plants to grow well.

10 10 Crop Ripening Could something be developed to monitor crop ripeness? If we know the best time to harvest strawberries or tomatoes we can reduce waste. How might this work? Could the light reflected from the surface of fruit be measured and warn farmers when picking should commence? This would involve finding out how the amount of light reflected from the surface of fruit alters as its colour changes. Biodiversity Monitoring Biodiversity is a critical component of a healthy farmed environment. Beneficial insects are needed for pollination and for helping to manage pests. Motion triggered cameras have been used to detect large wildlife, but could something be developed to detect smaller biodiversity? Perhaps using sensors and imaging equipment and reporting on it? This will need to reflect on the type of animal, how and when it moves and whether a record is needed or a response required. Crop Storage A successful harvest is not the end of the story. Food can be damaged and wasted during storage and transport. Could a system be developed to monitor the conditions in crop stores to prevent spoilage - measuring CO 2 levels, humidity and temperature - and then alter them? This would need appropriate sensors, ideas about where to place them and how to change the conditions in the store.

11 11 High Tech Inspiration Robotic monitoring of soil conditions Robots find it difficult to move over farmland if they have wheels or legs, but an approach like a hamster ball could solve that problem. This example was developed by the Technical University of Madrid and enables the soil conditions to be monitored, indicating, for example, if more fertiliser is required. SmartVineyard This system was developed to monitor conditions in vineyards. It detects factors such as leaf moisture and humidity and measures weather conditions. It then uses these to predict which types of disease the conditions are right for and therefore what the farmer needs to protect against. This means that preventative measures are only used when needed but can be applied where and when necessary to avoid losing crops. Orchard protection This system involves orchards being fitted with a wide range of sensors, picking up on soil moisture or leaf wetness and even animal traps to detect threats to crops. Data is processed and outputs include informing the farmer of conditions and controlling irrigation. This is linked to weather monitoring and can provide advanced warning of conditions that need action. The system can even release pheromones to disrupt the mating of pests. Smart irrigation and more The OnFarm system combines data from a wide range of sources. Sensors gather data on a wide range of variables such as wind, air pressure, moisture and frost, process it against trends and use it to provide a dashboard on a screen. The output shows a farmer how conditions compare with what could be expected for the time of year and provides alerts if conditions change and require intervention. It also provides a messaging service so that responses using staff can be organised.

12 12 The Judging Criteria Entries will be judged by a panel of experts drawn from the spheres of agricultural science, digital technology and education. Entries should be made in one of three categories: Group 1: students aged 11 to 14. Students will be eligible to make an entry in this group if they are under 14 or are in the academic year in which they turned 14. This is irrespective of whether they are following a public examination course (such as GCSE) in that year. Group 2: students aged 14 to 16. Students will be eligible to make an entry in this group if they are under 16 or are in the academic year in which they turned 16. Group 3: students aged 16 to 19. Students will be eligible to make an entry in this group if they are under 19 or are in the academic year in which they turned 19. Entries can be made by groups of up to five students: Entries are admissible from individual students; these will be judged alongside entries from groups. Entries may have had the involvement of a larger group. This is acceptable; however up to five students need to be named as leading and coordinating. If groups consist of students from more than one age group, the entry should be made in the group determined by the age of the oldest student. All groups will be judged according to the same criteria: 1. The project should be based on a need that is relevant to the aims of the Challenge and priorities of Syngenta s Good Growth Plan. It should address one or more of the areas of productivity, biodiversity, soils and safety. (20 marks) 2. The project should demonstrate originality and creativity in the development of a solution. (20 marks) 3. The solution should be developed in a logical and rigorous way, including the selection of hardware, use of software, role of programming and testing of the product. (20 marks) 4. Both the process and the outcome should be clearly and thoroughly evaluated. (20 marks) 5. Key features of both the process and the outcome should be clearly and effectively communicated. (20 marks) The judges will consider both the written submission and the video and each of the criteria will have equal weighting.

13 13 The Submission Process Each submission should consist of a written piece of up to 1500 words, a video of up to three minutes in length, and a registration form* (*to be completed by your teacher/tutor). The questions for the written piece are at the end of this guide, remember to give each question consideration, don t use up all your words on one question. You will also have to prepare a video pitch for your invention (think Dragon s Den or The Apprentice). Your video should tell the judges all the key things they need to know about your invention, not just about your design journey. Things to include are: a. Introduce the team name and school b. Why did you create your invention, what is the problem/challenge/need? c. Demonstrate your invention or prototype, how does it work? d. Where could it be used? What difference would it make? Although the judges will be evaluating both the written submission and video pitch together, it is important that each one makes sense when viewed in isolation. Hints and Tips for Submissions The judging criteria are essential - consider these carefully. These are what the judges will use to score the projects. The ideas on this page might also be helpful. 1. Think about how the project is relevant to Syngenta s Good Growth Plan. Your project can address one or more of the themes but it doesn t have to address everything. Doing one thing well is better than doing many things poorly. 2. There are no prizes for complicating things; in fact, simpler is often better. This is particularly true if the design is for something that will have to work in inhospitable conditions, be sold to people who don t have much money or work in parts of the world where technical support is limited. 3. The team can have up to five people in it. All the projects will be directly compared with others in the same age group (i.e. no allowances are made for the size of the group). Selecting the team is important: it needs to cover the full range of skills needed. 4. Good projects build on other people s ideas but don t copy them, remember judges will be checking entries and undertaking online research. 5. The judges are interested in both how the team went about it and what you came up with. 6. Remember that one of the criteria relates to clarity of communication. However good the project is, it needs to be explained well. All the judges will know of the project is what is in the submission. A good idea is to show the completed submission to someone who knows nothing about the project, give them the judging criteria and see what they think. 7. Avoid being too descriptive; trivial detail isn t needed. It s better to focus on how the solution was developed and why it s effective.

14 14 8. Diagrams are a good way of explaining things. Flow charts and block diagrams don t use many words but convey meaning well. 9. When it comes to the video pitch there are no marks for gimmicky extras. However it is worth getting the production basics right. Make sure the subject is well lit and that the sound quality is good. Avoid jerky hand-held shots and crash zooms (it isn t a music video). 10. Every project has to overcome problems. Don t ignore these, but explain how they were solved. This is a good way of convincing the judges that the team is great at problem solving. Using Social Media Social media channels like Twitter, Facebook and YouTube are a great way to keep up to date with news regarding. team will be posting regular updates, useful links and videos through our Twitter, Facebook and YouTube accounts. You can follow us and join the conversation at Twitter*: Facebook*: Farm Tech Challenge UK Farm Tech Challenge UK Don t forget to use #FarmTechUK in all your posts. *You must abide by school and site rules regarding access and use of particular sites. For example, Twitter and Facebook require everyone to be at least 13 years old before they can create an account.

15 15 Written Submission Template Title of project: Team name: Name of school: Entries are in one of three categories: Age range: Tick to indicate age group: Students aged 11 to 14. Group 1 Students aged 14 to 16. Group 2 Students aged 16 to 19. Group 3 Remember! Your submission should not exceed 1500 words. Groups will be judged according to the same criteria: 1. a) Briefly describe your innovation (max 50 words) b) How is this project relevant to the aims of the challenge and priorities of Syngenta s Good Growth Plan? (It should address one or more of the areas of productivity, biodiversity, soils and safety).

16 16 2. Where did you get your idea from? How did you develop your idea? How is this an improvement on existing solutions? 3. How did you choose the particular technology to deliver your project (hardware, software and the role of programming)? How did you test your invention? 4. Did you encounter any problems or challenges in developing your technology and how did you overcome them? 5. How could you improve on your invention? What would you do differently next time?