innovations in agriculture with kevin walsh

more and more as playing a role in today’s market from factories to field operations. Farmers are trying to automate parts of their operations with machinery as a result of high pressure on labour availability and government requirements and we are starting to change the way we develop varieties to meet this demand. Factories are being more efficient with packing machines and factory operations of forklifts.

Where do you see agricultural technology going in the next 10 years?

The rate at which agricultural technology is developing is increasing and the cost of this technology also has decreased making it more and more interesting for farmers to develop their own systems. I think field scouting drones will be here within next few years. Drones may be able to help farmers to optimize the use of inputs (seed, fertilizers, water), to react more quickly to threats (weeds, pests, fungi), to save time crop scouting (validate treatment/actions taken) and estimate yield from a field. Raw data collected by drones gets translated into useful and comprehensible information for farmers thanks to specific algorithms. Some of the information these images could provide is:

• Plant Counting: Plant Size, Plot Statistics, Stand

Number, Compromised Plots and Planter Skips • Plant Height: Crop Height and Density • Vegetation Indices: Leaf Area, Anomaly Detection, Treatment Efficacy, Infestations and

Phenology • Water Needs: Damage/Drown Out Drones ensure a permanent monitoring of the crop in the field from planting to harvest. Bigger focus on labour and efficiency localization of crops being closer to consumption markets.

What is the future of agricultural innovation and technology? How do you define it? How do your growers define it?

The investment in technology will continue, being more sustainable and efficient is critical to the industry. With changing climates and high pressure on prices, the need to innovate is a critical factor of success. Innovation comes in many forms: product, growing, packaging the demand for better tasting crops, following the trends and being at the forefront.

industry

What are the challenges or obstacles currently in the way of the process of adapting to and adopting innovation for growers? Is there anything that is favoring or hindering this process?

Cost is always the first factor in return on investment and how farmers validate the benefits of using new technology. The topline profit is always a major decision point. A lot of customers focus on longterm investment when adopting new innovation or changing practices.

Seminis strives to be a solutions-provider for our growers by investigating and understanding these new agricultural innovations. Through understanding how these new innovations are being utilized to address obstacles in the field we are able to develop solutions to solve these challenges through connecting to our general breeding goals and focus of high uniformity and developing crops which are adaptable to harvesting and growing operations. By identifying new ways to solve challenges seen by the current generation of growers we can help the following generations be better than the last.

advancing beyond the basics

seeds | science | service

Maragogi

• Early short-day onion • Firm with small root attachment • Very thin neck • Suitable for the fresh market

Buzios

• Medium short-day onion • Well adapted for productions in the

Northern Cape • Ideal for the fresh market • Medium-early cultivar

Hacienda*

• Vigorous early intermediate onion • Large, uniform, round medium brown bulbs • Excellent productivity and great adaptation to the summer growing conditions in Limpopo province (sowing in

December)

Itaparica*

• Early short-day onion suitable for the fresh market • Very uniform bulbs of excellent quality • Very thin neck to ensure quick drying • Deep round shape with straw-brown skins • Good range of adaptation