Opinion: Why we need to invest in agricultural innovation

Just as agriculture encompasses a variety of products, systems and business types, the term agritech is expanding.

For many people, it might bring to mind drones or robots, but to me it's a term that captures a much broader range of innovation.

To overcome the persistent labor shortage issue, automation and robotics are being used to search, detect and harvest produce.

See also: Did the UK's agricultural technology centre achieve its goals and what happens next?

About the Author

Phil Bicknell is CEO of the UK Agritech Centre. Here he explains why and how we need more public and private investment in agritech.

Artificial intelligence tools are being used to help farmers make data-driven decisions and enhance farm management.

Drones and satellite data and imagery will be used to track soil conditions and detect crop diseases.

Additionally, biotechnology and gene editing techniques are being used to eradicate diseases and improve animal health and welfare – just some of the innovations in agricultural technology.

But despite the endless opportunities that agritech brings to our industry, there are still some myths that hold back some of that potential.

One such misconception is that agritech is solely focused on agriculture, when in reality agritech innovations are developed and implemented across a wide range of sectors of today’s agriculture industry, including horticulture, aquaculture and forestry.

Another misconception is that agritech is costly. Agritech companies are very much aware of the financial pressures in the sector, and many are focusing on developing low-cost technologies, such as drones and data apps, that offer high value and help reduce costs.

And while there is a perception that agritech is only developed for large or corporate agricultural businesses, agritech innovations are being developed for and in partnership with farms and agribusinesses of all sizes and specialisms.

The fourth misconception is that agritech is incompatible with regenerative, circular and sustainable agricultural practices.

Again, many companies are very focused on developing sustainable solutions that counter the effects of climate change, support biodiversity and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Other disorders

While these myths and misconceptions can be overcome, other major obstacles must be addressed to accelerate the development and adoption of agricultural innovations.

One key challenge is that in a complex and fragmented industry, bringing such innovations to market takes time, and the clock is ticking: over the next 10 to 15 years, we need to significantly transform our food production and supply chains, yet it often takes 5 to 10 years to commercialize innovations.

A new survey by the UK Agricultural Technology Centre also found that four in 10 respondents said access to finance was the biggest barrier to developing new technologies.

This was followed by resource and time constraints and the ability to attract investment, while more than one in four agri-food companies experienced regulatory hurdles.

However, the sector is experiencing an overwhelming demand to explore, develop and implement new technologies and solutions.

Now is the time to seize the opportunity to drive unprecedented levels of agricultural innovation, for the benefit of the agriculture and agri-food sector, food security for consumers and protection of the environment.

More strategic and targeted government funding should be directed towards longer-term research and adoption programs, and funding should be de-risked for private investors to stimulate long-term investment in agricultural technology projects and businesses.

With the UK Agricultural Technology Centre, the UK’s largest specialist agricultural technology organisation, recently formed through the merger of the Centres of Innovation Excellence in Crop Health and Protection, Livestock and Agricultural Engineering, and Precision and Innovation, and with major funding from Innovate UK, we are committed to using science to accelerate progress and become a global leader in agricultural technology innovation.

Sources 1/ https://Google.com/ 2/ https://www.fwi.co.uk/news/opinion-why-we-need-to-invest-in-agri-tech-innovation The mention sources can contact us to remove/changing this article

What Are The Main Benefits Of Comparing Car Insurance Quotes Online

LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / June 24, 2020, / Compare-autoinsurance.Org has launched a new blog post that presents the main benefits of comparing multiple car insurance quotes. For more info and free online quotes, please visit https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/the-advantages-of-comparing-prices-with-car-insurance-quotes-online/ The modern society has numerous technological advantages. One important advantage is the speed at which information is sent and received. With the help of the internet, the shopping habits of many persons have drastically changed. The car insurance industry hasn't remained untouched by these changes. On the internet, drivers can compare insurance prices and find out which sellers have the best offers. View photos The advantages of comparing online car insurance quotes are the following: Online quotes can be obtained from anywhere and at any time. Unlike physical insurance agencies, websites don't have a specific schedule and they are available at any time. Drivers that have busy working schedules, can compare quotes from anywhere and at any time, even at midnight. Multiple choices. Almost all insurance providers, no matter if they are well-known brands or just local insurers, have an online presence. Online quotes will allow policyholders the chance to discover multiple insurance companies and check their prices. Drivers are no longer required to get quotes from just a few known insurance companies. Also, local and regional insurers can provide lower insurance rates for the same services. Accurate insurance estimates. Online quotes can only be accurate if the customers provide accurate and real info about their car models and driving history. Lying about past driving incidents can make the price estimates to be lower, but when dealing with an insurance company lying to them is useless. Usually, insurance companies will do research about a potential customer before granting him coverage. Online quotes can be sorted easily. Although drivers are recommended to not choose a policy just based on its price, drivers can easily sort quotes by insurance price. Using brokerage websites will allow drivers to get quotes from multiple insurers, thus making the comparison faster and easier. For additional info, money-saving tips, and free car insurance quotes, visit https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/ Compare-autoinsurance.Org is an online provider of life, home, health, and auto insurance quotes. This website is unique because it does not simply stick to one kind of insurance provider, but brings the clients the best deals from many different online insurance carriers. In this way, clients have access to offers from multiple carriers all in one place: this website. On this site, customers have access to quotes for insurance plans from various agencies, such as local or nationwide agencies, brand names insurance companies, etc. "Online quotes can easily help drivers obtain better car insurance deals. All they have to do is to complete an online form with accurate and real info, then compare prices", said Russell Rabichev, Marketing Director of Internet Marketing Company. CONTACT: Company Name: Internet Marketing CompanyPerson for contact Name: Gurgu CPhone Number: (818) 359-3898Email: [email protected]: https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/ SOURCE: Compare-autoinsurance.Org View source version on accesswire.Com:https://www.Accesswire.Com/595055/What-Are-The-Main-Benefits-Of-Comparing-Car-Insurance-Quotes-Online View photos