What's happening to the traditional farm? How innovation is transforming agriculture

Ben Brookes discusses how the landscape of the farming industry is changing and why innovation could be the answer to the new focus for the agricultural sector.

This year will likely see even more changes for farmers. Following the UK’s departure from the European Union and a global awareness of the affects of climate change, the farming industry will be further influenced by changing subsidy schemes and a technological revolution in the field.A new focus on agricultural technology, the push to fight against climate change across the UK, a growing concern for productivity, and changes to agricultural funding post Brexit will become momentous factors for farmers.

The importance of innovation on the farm

Policies, technologies, markets and consumer demands will greatly shape the landscape of the UK farming industry over the next 20+ years. With a significant focus on new agricultural goals of more food, lower emissions, less land impacted and more resilience.

Farmers will need to stay up to date with the latest agri-tech advancements to not only maintain a productive business, but also to partake in grants and subsidies post Brexit.

According to the Department of Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, an October 2018 survey indicated that an increasing number of farmers implemented innovative measures.

54% of farmers introduced a significant modification to their business, while 33% said they would likely employ one of these six common types of innovation in the near future:

• New or specialist machinery
• Crop management
• Precision approaches
• Livestock management
• Technology
• Business management

What might happen to subsidies?

Technology may ultimately provide the solution to helping farmers ensure not only productivity increases, but also eligibility for funding opportunities as priorities will move from how much land a farmer cultivates to being environmentally beneficial.

Technological advancement could be the key to making more efficient use of land and resources at our disposal.

According to the Department of Food & Rural Affairs, the most common motivations for innovation:

• Increase productivity
• Lower costs
• To make things easier for self and employees

Consider the following:

Have you considered how the agri-tech movement and new "green" subsidies will affect you? Ask yourself...

• Is your farm using high-tech or low-tech solutions?
• What are the benefits to investing in new innovations, technology or specialist equipment?
• Do you have the finance to invest in farming innovations?
• Which agri-tech options would be most beneficial to your farm?
• How could changes to subsidies affect your farm?

The content of this post is up to date and relevant as at 01/06/2019.

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