AROUND INDUSTRY NEW PARTNERSHIP COMBINES SENSORS AND ANALYTICS TO MAXIMISE WATER USE EFFICIENCY CSIRO and Australian agtech company Goanna Ag recently announced a partnership that combines sensors and analytics to maximise the water use efficiency of irrigated crops. This technology, called WaterWise, is an Australian first in that it measures crop water stress and predicts future water needs in real time, providing irrigators with a tool that can help them save water or produce more crop per drop. Goanna Ag, which produces agricultural sensing systems for water-use efficiency, will be delivering WaterWise’s smart analytics as a data stream to their on-farm customers. CEO Alicia Garden said that for Goanna Ag and its customers, being involved in this innovation means they can access brand-new, Australian-made, science-based technology and incorporate it into their existing GoField system.
Plants do the talking The WaterWise system lets the plants do the talking with in-field sensors that measure the canopy temperature of crops every 15 minutes. It then sends the data to CSIRO’s sensor data infrastructure, adds in the weather forecast and uses machine learning to apply CSIRO’s unique algorithm to predict the crop’s water requirements for the next seven days. WaterWise team leader Dr Rose Brodrick explained that predicting the future is the real breakthrough science. It means that for the first time, growers can see the water stress of their crops at any point and predict their future water needs. When things are normal it’s easier to predict when a plant will need water, but a temptation for irrigators if they are not sure is to just add water. The advantage of using high tech is that water users can be more confident in their decision making because of the data they have access to. Developing and commercialising this new technology involved a range of skill sets from agronomists to plant physiologists, data and machine learning experts, software engineers, social scientists and innovation specialists. And it was done in record time. The next steps for WaterWise are to take it from in-field based canopy sensors to drones or satellites. Goanna Ag expects the system incorporating WaterWise will be commercially available in time for the 2020 summer cropping season. Source. CSIRO website.
TORO FOUNDATION DONATES TO GLOBAL CORONAVIRUS RELIEF
Above: CSIRO's Dr Rose Brodrick with a prototype WaterWise sensor in tomatoes. Photo: David Ducros Right: Goanna ag canopy sensor in CSIRO tomato trials near Swan Hill in Victoria. Photo: Goanna Ag
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In April 2020, The Toro Company announced that was donating $US500,000 through the Toro Foundation to help families and communities worldwide that have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The funding will focus on providing food, health and humanitarian assistance. “Supporting our customers and communities is an important part of our culture and core to who we are as a company,” said Rick Olson, chairman and chief executive officer of The Toro Company. “Now more than ever, it is critical that we come together to respond to the unprecedented challenges posed by COVID-19 and to support those most vulnerable in our communities.” The contributions include commitments to several global non-profit organisations that are helping in relief efforts, including the American Red Cross and the International Committee of the Red Cross, Feeding America, the World Food Program, the United Way Worldwide, and United Way organisations in communities where Toro employees live and work. An additional element of the global giving effort includes a special program for its employees who wish to personally
