Precision Farming An opportunity for application of Mathematical Methods? Dr Tristan Eagling Knowledge Transfer Manager KTN Agri-Food Team

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1 Precision Farming An opportunity for application of Mathematical Methods? Dr Tristan Eagling Knowledge Transfer Manager KTN Agri-Food Team

2 Agri-food challenges John Beddington s Perfect Storm Need for Sustainable Intensification producing more output from the same area of land while reducing the negative environmental impacts

3 The UK Agricultural Industry

4 Agricultural Land use UK geographical differences Image courtesy of Calum Murray, Innovate UK Utilised agricultural area = 17.2 million ha (70% UK land) Climate & topography mean geographical differences in UK land use North & West = Pastoral farming: grassland for livestock production South & East = Arable farming: land that can be ploughed to grow crops

5 Animal production & products 2010 Value of production ( million ) Cattle Beef and veal Milk Pigs Pigs and pigmeat 978 Sheep Mutton and lamb 981 Poultry Poultry and poultrymeat (from Chickens, turkeys, ducks and geese) Eggs 561 Aquaculture Finfish (mainly salmon & trout) 484 Shellfish 25 Source: Agriculture in the United Kingdom 2011 &

6 Arable and horticulture farming systems & products Combinable Crops 2010 Value of production ( million ) Wheat (Milling & Feed) Barley (Malting & Feed) 537 Oilseed rape (Oil) 674 Dried Peas & Field Beans (Protein) 12 Root Crops Potatoes (Early, Maincrop & Seed) 638 Sugar Beet 197 Fresh fruit & veg Fresh vegetables Fresh fruit 604 Source: Agriculture in the United Kingdom 2011

7 Fluctuation in production and price of wheat.

8 Precision Farming

9 Precision Farming Definition (Wiki) Precision farming is a farming management concept based on observing, measuring and responding to inter and intra-field variability in crops. Crop variability typically has both a spatial and temporal component which makes statistical/computational treatments quite involved. The holy grail of precision agriculture research will be the ability to define a Decision Support System (DSS) for whole farm management with the goal of optimizing returns on inputs while preserving resources.

10 Current applications Arable Farming Mainly arable crop production systems, but potential for other crops e.g. grassland 1) Satellite Navigation for farm machinery: a) Controlled traffic farming Vehicles use same traffic lanes every year, boosts yields due to reduced soil compaction b) Auto-steer and position guidance Assists with correct fertiliser/chemical appliance, reducing under/ over-appliance (e.g. no overlaps) Savings in fuel, time and costs, reduced machine wear etc

11 Current applications Arable Farming 2) Yield mapping at harvest GPS and yield monitoring data to show variation in yield across a field - Achieved by monitoring harvest yield using measurement technology on Combine Harvester - Subsequently adjust inputs like fertiliser in following growing cycle to target application in the correct areas to boost yields, using fertiliser sprayers with Variable Rate Technology

12 Current applications Arable Farming 3) Monitoring variation in growing crop - Using optical sensors mounted on satellites - Monitor crop growth, allows optimum application of inputs like fertiliser to boost yields/ reduce costs - Monitor disease risks/ outbreaks

13 - Particular problem is detecting animals in heat and ready to be artificially inseminated, requires substantial labour time to monitor cattle Current applications Livestock Farming Case Study - The problem: Labour shortages for in heat detection in cattle - UK has shortage of skilled labour to work on dairy farms - Also, increased animals/labour unit - Average UK dairy herd size increased by 51% between 1998 & 2008 (76 & 112 cows respectively) - Need for technologies to support or replace farm labour

14 Current applications Livestock Farming Case Study A solution - Cows move around more when in heat - Monitoring devices now available to monitor movement of cattle - Use three-axis accelerometer technology, same movement-detection hardware found in computer consoles like the Nintendo Wii controller.

15 Current applications Livestock Farming Case Study - Technology usually contained in collar attached to cows neck - Continuously monitors an individual cow s activity and algorithm automatically detects changes in normal behaviour indicating patterns characteristic of heat - Sends signal wirelessly to mobile phone to indicate cow in heat & ready to be inseminated - Ensures cows are successfully impregnated, reduces inefficient time-lapses between next birth & new lactation Image courtesy of Silent Herdsman.

16 Summary of Precision Farming processes 1. Measure variability (within field or herd) 2. Process data to make decisions and adjust management practices 3. Optimise performance a) Financial (Decrease inputs, increase outputs) b) Environmental (e.g. reduced Nitrogen fertiliser leaching into water courses)

17 Precision Farming Challenges & Opportunities 1. Is it possible to improve automation i.e. reducing human monitoring or calibration, make simple to use 2. Interpreting large and complex data sets, from various sources, integrating and delivering user-friendly actionable decisions 3. Developing improved algorithms to pick up very subtle changes in behaviour/ growth patterns 4. Is it possible to accurately predict yield in advance of harvest Predict how much available for sale, enable efficient marketing & reduce risk (Futures vs harvest sale vs store)

18 Precision Farming Challenges & Opportunities 5. Helping farmers understand the benefits vs costs of new technologies Need for clear, proven R.O.I before they adopt Need to quantify impact of technologies 6. Helping farmers understand and optimise levels of machinery on-farm (High capital, & risk averse) 7. Improved decision support incorporating the whole system: On-farm, weather, input and market prices etc

19 Precision Farming Challenges & Opportunities 9. How to avoid islands of data 10. The end-user is very variable size of farm, different production systems, different environments 11. Farmers are traditional! Technology must fit with existing management systems 12. Soil degradation, water shortages, climate change, new & emerging diseases are all problems which could be addressed by precision farming.

20 Funding opportunities 70m Agri-Tech Catalyst Funding for projects arising from any sector or discipline that are aimed at addressing relevant Agri-Tech challenges 2.3m Agri-Food Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs)

21 Thank You For Your Attention

22 Funding Opportunities

23 Agricultural Research a UK Government Priority The UK is facing global challenges. Our research is world class, but we need to be better at taking our great scientific research and applying it. This pamphlet sets out eight great technologies where we can do exactly that images/publications/eight%20great %20technologies.pdf

24 UK Agri-tech strategy The Vision: We want the UK to become a world leader in agricultural technology, innovation and sustainability; exploit opportunities to develop and adopt new and existing technologies, products and services to increase productivity; and contribute to global food security and international development. uk-agricultural-technologies-strategy

25 UK Agri-tech strategy Launched M to help implementation - 70M Agri-Tech Catalyst Fund - 90M for Centres for Agricultural Innovation

26 Agri-Tech Catalyst 70m investment in collaborative R&D over 5 years to support agricultural innovations Support is available for projects arising from any sector or discipline that are aimed at addressing relevant challenges Multi-disciplinary collaborations are encouraged

27 Agri-Tech Catalyst Scope Primary crop and livestock production, including aquaculture Non-food uses of arable crops (for example, for biomass) Food security and nutrition challenges in international development Challenges in downstream food processing, provided the solution lies in primary production

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29 Applying for Round 3 Funding 2 stages for industrial research award 1st stage deadline 8th October stage for early and late stage awards Deadline 7th January 2015 More information:

30 Agri-Food Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs) Partnership between business & academia - must be driven by business need Embedding a recent graduate (Associate) with a company to formalise a collaborative relationship with an academic partner

31 Agri-Food Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs) New competition, ring-fenced Agri-Food funding 2.3m to be invested by TSB + 7 co-funders Projects to be around 2 years (6 months - 3years) Annual project budget of ~ 65k Typically 67% grant funding for SME and 50% for large company Batch deadlines from May 2014 until Feb 2015 Normal KTP application process contact regional advisors