Kontext

Scottish agriculture faces a period of significant change and our industry must quickly and confidently adopt new technology to allow it to compete effectively in domestic and global markets. The project represents a critical step in demonstrating the power of readily adoptable and affordable agri-tech solutions to the industry and provide a low cost ‘on-ramp’ for farms of all sizes. The UK is behind other major agricultural economies in embracing the ‘internet of things’ (IoT) in agriculture, and risk being left further behind unless farmers and their associated supply chains understand the practical benefits to be gained from data driven farming and embrace these technologies.  Fortunately, there is already a large variety of IoT sensors and devices available to purchase, negating the need to develop our own.  The project’s focus is on the rapid deployment of existing tools – devices and analytics – to deliver accelerated uptake and benefits. Sensor technology will allow the creation of bespoke ‘farm specific’ solutions that can facilitate better business decision making, and also provide solutions to non-economic challenges facing the farming sector, including health and safety and environmental protection.