Digital Agriculture: Expectations, Reality, and the Future

Feb 01, 2023

Exploring the challenges facing digital agriculture and the future direction for technology on the farm.

By Haley Bilokraly
Farms.com Intern

Precision agriculture, digital farming, digitalization, and smart farming. These buzz words sound exciting for the agriculture industry, but how are they really implemented?

Dr. Alex Melnitchouck, Chief Technology Officer at Olds College, addressed these advancements during the 2022 Western Precision Agriculture Conference and Ag Technology Showcase in November 2022.

Recent technological growth in precision agriculture has been successful with the utilization of navigation, sectional control, field logistics, fleet logistics, and remote sensing tools. However, Dr. Melnitchouck believes the industry still has a desire for further development of technology.

Dr. Melnitchouck shared that agriculture has been the slowest industry to take part in digitalization, the process defined as collecting data and using it to make better business decisions. But this inactivity is not without good reason.

Unlike the media or finance industry, who are leading the digitalization process, it’s not easy to digitize farming. As Dr. Melnitchouck pointed out, “How do you digitize wheat, barley, canola, corn, soybeans, and potatoes? You still have to put rubber boots on and grow physical assets.”

While outlining the difference between dreams in agriculture technology and their reality, Dr. Melnitchouck detailed how technology like satellite imagery, real-time moisture measurements, and field weather stations are more complex than they initially seem.

So, what does the future of digital agriculture look like? How can digitalization in agriculture happen when there are many of variables to consider? Find out by watching the full video below.

Video: The FCDC and AgSmart Bring Plant Breeding to a Wider Audience

In the vast prairies of Alberta, Olds College’s Field Crop Development Centre (FCDC) stands as a beacon of innovation and research in the agricultural world. The institution has become a key player in advancing agricultural technologies and practices. The FCDC’s commitment to applied research has driven them to seek effective means of disseminating their findings and creating a positive impact on the farming community.

One such avenue that aligns with their mission is AgSmart, an event dedicated to showcasing cutting-edge agricultural technologies. The coming together of the FCDC’s annual Field Day and Ag Smart has proved to be a natural fit, fostering a synergy that benefits both parties and propels the agriculture industry forward. The FCDC Field Day took part in conjunction with AgSmart for the first time this week on Aug. 1-2 in Olds, Alta. FCDC Program Director Kofi Agblor and Olds College VP of Development Todd Ormann sat down for an interview with Marc Zienkiewicz to discuss the significance of the two events taking part together and what the future holds.

The Intersection of Research and Technology The essence of the FCDC lies in its dedication to plant breeding and new seed varieties, particularly barley and triticale. While conducting research is essential, it becomes meaningful when its benefits are shared with the wider community. This is where AgSmart steps in, providing a key venue for the FCDC to showcase their research. This union between research and technology creates a holistic and enriching experience for farmers, ranchers, and industry professionals, the pair said.

Seeds as Technology For the FCDC, the partnership with AgSmart goes beyond mere event collaboration. It is about creating an environment that bridges the gap between seeds and smart technology, Ormann said. The college believes that for technology to truly revolutionize agriculture, it must begin with a strong foundation — high-quality seeds. As the saying goes, “it all starts with a seed.” To demonstrate this critical aspect, the collaboration aims to showcase the seed value chain as an integral part of the smartphone.

The Birth of a Powerful Alliance The idea of joining forces emerged when staff realized the potential synergy between AgSmart and the FCDC Field Day. With just a few days separating the two events, a proposal was put forward to merge them. The marketing and communications teams from both sides worked seamlessly to ensure the essence of both events remained intact, creating a powerful alliance that leverages the strengths of each, Agblor said.

Driving Advancements in Breeding For Agblor, the partnership with AgSmart has tremendous potential to drive advancements in breeding and other technology. With technologies like drones and imaging becoming integral to phenotyping, breeding is no longer confined to vast fields to assess thousands of plants manually. Instead, it benefits from the data-rich insights brought about by smart technologies. These advancements make breeding more efficient, precise, and instrumental in shaping the future of agriculture.

Overcoming Challenges Together While the partnership between Olds College and Ag Smart has been a resounding success, there are challenges on the horizon. Securing stable funding for long-term breeding initiatives is crucial to sustain progress. The college is committed to navigating these challenges and investing in agriculture’s future sustainably, Agblor said.