Sarah Letlhogonolo Malatjie Cultivating the Future: Special Award
Hollard Insure and Farmingportal.co.za and Agri News Net - Young Agri Writers awards - 2024
The Revolutionary Role of Big Data in Shaping Agriculture -
When one thinks of agriculture, it may seem paradoxical to associate it with terms like "Big Data", given the industry’s deep roots in self-sufficient, age-old practices that have stood the test of time. Agriculture, which began centuries ago, has steadfastly remained the backbone of human civilization. This longevity prompts a critical question: “Does Big Data have a pivotal role in an industry that has existed and thrived for so long without it?”
Feeding the world has always been a challenging task, but recent times have brought even greater obstacles. According to the United Nations, the global population is projected to reach a staggering 9.7 billion people by 2050. This surge places immense pressure on agriculture to develop innovative and sustainable methods to meet increased demand. The challenge is not just about producing more food, but doing so sustainably, with fewer resources, while tackling critical issues such as climate change, food loss, and shifting consumer preferences. At this crucial juncture, Big Data analytics is poised to play a pivotal role, offering a data-driven approach to decision-making and providing a more integrated view of farming operations.
The pressing question then becomes: Why Big Data? Before we delve further, let’s break down this complex term. According to Gartner, "Big data analytics is the process of analyzing large and varied data sets, or big data, to uncover information including hidden patterns, unknown correlations, market trends, and customer preferences that can help organizations make informed business decisions.”
In an agricultural context, this means utilizing data-driven insights to maximize every aspect of farming—from crop yield prediction and early disease detection to seed development, precision farming, and supply chain optimization. The intersection of agriculture and technology will lead to practices that promote sustainable agriculture and more profitable farming. The goal isn’t to replace the age-old practices that are the backbone of agriculture, but to enhance their effectiveness through the power of data.
Let’s explore Big Data in action. Infarm, a tech-driven urban farming company, has pioneered the first global, cloud-connected vertical farming network. By placing Big Data at the core of their operations, Infarm has managed to save 214,000 square meters of land and 154 million litres of water. They collect more than 50,000 data points throughout each plant’s lifecycle, enabling them to continuously enhance yield, quality, and nutritional value while minimizing resource usage. Founded in 2013, Infarm now boasts over 1,000 "Infarmers" and a portfolio of 75 different crops, with their global impact on sustainable agriculture just beginning to unfold and showing us what the fusion of agriculture and technology has the capability to do.
Agriculture has always been a tale of two stories, and it would be remiss not to view this intersection with the same balance. On one hand, Big Data in agriculture offers significant benefits, including:
- Enhanced Decision-Making: Big Data provides real-time insights into crop health, weather patterns, soil conditions, and livestock management. This enables farmers to make more informed and precise decisions quickly and to manage risk better.
- Efficient Resource Allocation: Big Data allows farmers to monitor and analyze resource use through predictive analytics, applying resources only where and when needed. This lowers costs and increases profitability.
- Supply Chain Efficiency: Looking beyond the farm, Big Data can streamline logistics and distribution, ensuring that food reaches consumers more quickly and with less loss.
However, this intersection of smart technology and agriculture isn’t without its challenges, including:
- High Initial Costs: Implementing Big Data technologies requires significant investment in infrastructure, which may be prohibitive for small-scale farmers, therefore creating a digital divide.
- Complexity: Managing and interpreting large datasets can be daunting, requiring skills and knowledge that some farmers may lack.
- Data Privacy Concerns: The collection and sharing of farm data by third parties may raise concerns about privacy, security, and ownership once the data is out of farmers' hands.
Although this integration carries some risks, the greater danger lies in ignoring the transformative potential of Big Data in shaping the future of agriculture. As the world continues to digitize, the role of technology in farming will only grow. The future of farming has never looked brighter and the possibilities so endless.
I am Sarah Letlhogonolo Malatjie, a Project Administrator at Urban Farmer on the "Proudly Poultry" project, empowering smallholder poultry farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa. Holding an Honours in Agricultural Economics, I’m passionate about agricultural solution development, inspired by Duke Ellington’s quote: “A problem is a chance for you to do your best."
