Transforming big data into smart data

The first was mechanical, which arose between the first and second world wars, while the second, scientific, took place between the 60s and 90s with the onset of commercialised sprays and fertigation.

Digital agtech is part of the current third wave - and all roads lead to big data.

But what does it mean, and are we realising its full potential yet?

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Big data refers to when traditional data mining techniques cannot uncover insights or learnings from within a data set because the amount of data is too big.

And no wonder, with over 20 billion online devices globally generating 2.5 billion gigabytes of data every single day and growing exponentially.

So far, agriculture is one of the industries least impacted by big data and associated technologies.

But the potential wins can be huge, and Aussie agtech company The Yield is seeking to make the value of big data a reality for growers and across the supply chain.

The Yield uses artificial intelligence techniques like machine learning to develop accurate weather predictions at microclimate level.

THERE are a wealth of benefits stemming from these insights, from productivity gains and resource management to input optimisation and decreasing the risk of crop loss or damage through weather events.

"While we can't change what mother nature delivers, we can create new pieces of information that help growers to read her mood," The Yield's chief customer officer, Felicity Turner, said .

Speaking at the recent Australian Nut Conference in Sydney, Ms Turner discussed the challenges the industry faces when it comes to realising the full value of big data.

"There are many sources of data available to us today, but much of it is siloed," she said.

"Not only do we have to go to multiple locations to collect it, but the data is often presented in raw form, so calculations are performed in growers' heads in an effort to extract some meaning or value from it."

The real potential lies in new information that is created when big data sets are analysed and transformed.

Beyond this, companies like The Yield are working to ensure that the right information finds its way to growers, at the right time and in the right format.

"Uncovering insights is just the first step. The second part of the equation is to design apps or interfaces that make it possible for growers to quickly and easily visualise information, so they can use it to make decisions on the go," Ms Turner said.

"It took us two years and a significant amount of R&D before we felt we had this right - and talking to growers to really understand the challenges they needed us to solve was key."

The next challenge for the industry when it comes to realising the full potential of big data is to start building solutions that allow for interoperability.

"We need to solve problems with technology, and not let technology drive our solutions. But we also need to be willing to collaborate in the interest of unlocking more value for growers," Ms Turner said.

For more information on The Yield or its sensor and analytics system Sensing+, contact Alex Cheal on 0417 533 260.