With there being a need to increase food production by 60% by 2050 in Europe, agricultural technology developers Farm21 partnership manager Dewald de Vos says precision farming tools, such as the solution offered by Farm21, help farmers to make informed decisions, based on real-time data.

The European agriculture sector faces climate change, stricter environmental requirements and a growing population, along with increasing input costs.

Soil erosion is costing Europe €10-billion a year, leading to a loss of yield, while more traditional plant protection measures are being outlawed, owing to the detrimental effects these have on the environment.

Data, however, can be used to make an informed decision when, for example, measuring soil-moisture content. The readings can be used to identify wilting points and the full capacity point for the soil.

Using Farm21’s digital platform, the Farm21 application, farmers can set thresholds. The system will proactively warn farmers when the sensor readings indicate the wilting point, or threshold, of a specific plant without their going into the platform or to the field. Farmers can then take a proactive approach, thus ensuring that the plant is healthy.

For example, a flower grower was able to use Farm21 sensors’ humidity and temperature readings for better decision-making benefits regarding their flowers.

For this farmer, if the temperature in the canopy of the flowers breaches 15º, there is risk of pest and disease which would damage the flowers.

Using the solution enabled the farmer to know beforehand when there were hotspots and take the necessary steps to protect the flowers.

Traditionally, farmers use weather information available to the public, but Farm21’s sensors can provide localised information, which may differ from the information produced by a weather station in a different location.

For farmers, such as the flower grower, this difference in temperature can be critical, as it can be detrimental to the plants before they flower.

Further, precision farming can also assist in ensuring that yield goals are met.

In farming, the specific phenological stage of plants’ development is important in determining the success of the crop. If optimal soil moisture and growing conditions are not provided or met, the produce will essentially be stunted during this growth period, explains De Vos.

Moreover, having real-time, accurate and specific data during critical times in the phenological stages of the plant allows for informed decision-making, which, in turn, can ensure that farmers meet their yield goals.

De Vos adds that Farm21 is building a system into its platform that enables growers to enter a cultivation plan for a specific season into the system to help them meet their goals.

The system will also be able to measure the “growing degree days”, which refers to the weather-based indicator for assessing crop development. The system will provide information regarding the amount of heat a plant needs to absorb for it to move into its next phenological stage.

While the system is in its infancy, De Vos explains that, within a few years and with enough data, Farm21 wants to turn its platform into “a virtual agronomist”.

Farm21 currently operates in 15 countries worldwide. The company is running about 15 trials with companies to track a variety of plants’ growth and growing conditions and areas in South Africa.

Through its continual research and development, the company aims to develop technology that can revolutionise the way farms operate, he concludes.