Feb 12 2019
Adoption of emerging technologies in Australian agriculture is expanding at a rate faster than the consumer’s capacity to understand the opportunities - creating an urgent need to explore community perception and regulatory challenges around the use of new technologies.
This is the focus of two new AgriFutures Australia-funded reports: Emerging technologies in agriculture: Consumer perceptions around emerging agtech undertaken by GHD and AgThentic and Emerging technologies in agriculture: Regulatory and other challenges by ACIL Allen Consulting.
The reports deliver critical insights for government, industry and Rural Research and Development Corporations in the areas of regulation and community perceptions. They consider changes needed to safeguard industry use of new technologies and point out the opportunity cost of getting it wrong.
Robotics, for example, can reduce producer operating costs. For a farm investing
$100,000 per annum on insecticides, herbicides, and fertilisers, it is claimed that robots could reduce these costs by up to 40 per cent due to the bots’ ability to spread chemicals in precise locations and in optimum volumes.
The value-add is clear, however ACIL Allen’s research reveals farmers need guidance to help demystify common concerns accompanying the use of robotics, such as insurance, ethics, standards and data ownership and protection.
Meanwhile, research conducted by GHD and AgThentic revealed there is confusion and scepticism around blockchain amongst primary producers, as it is often associated with cryptocurrencies. These perceptions can lead to barriers to adoption which in turn effect consumers.
Understanding and, where possible, proactively identifying and mitigating perception issues is critical to ensure farmers continue to adopt beneficial technologies, while consumers have confidence and trust in the way their food and fibre goods are produced.
AgriFutures Australia Managing Director, John Harvey, insists Australian agriculture needs to stay ahead of the curve when it comes to understanding the potential regulatory impact of technologies, and possible negative perceptions that might prevent technology use.
“With the sector likely to increase its reliance on new technologies over the short to medium term, it’s important not to become complacent by assuming we will always have free and easy access to new technologies,” said Mr Harvey.
“These reports offer clear actions to help industry and government understand what needs to be done to support agtech adoption on our farms.
“If we don’t address these actions, the sector may be locked out of emerging technologies or be unable to capitalise on opportunities that our international competitors have access to. The reports are instrumental in identifying what the challenges and impediments are and provide practical solutions in areas that will have the greatest impact.”
AgriFutures Australia Senior Manager, Business Development, Jennifer Medway said the reports promote the need for industry, government and agribusiness to proactively engage with consumers to identify possible concerns early to overcome adoption bottlenecks.
“We take the role of helping to prepare industry for what is coming seriously, and keeping our finger on the pulse to proactively address issues as they arise is key to this,” said Ms Medway.
AgriFutures Australia is committed to looking beyond today towards tomorrow and works to identify cross-sectoral opportunities and challenges for the agricultural sector. These reports contribute to the AgriFutures™ National Rural Issues Program which includes the recent Horizon Scan series, offering a watchlist of emerging technologies.
The reports are funded by the AgriFutures™ National Rural Issues Program, which forms part of the AgriFutures Australia National Challenges and Opportunities arena.
Source: https://www.agrifutures.com.au/