The stereotype of an Aussie farmer has changed little over many decades. They are usually male; they are probably among the least educated people you could meet; they have red faces and white foreheads (from sitting on a tractor and under a big hat all day); they don’t have much to say for themselves and, when they do talk, it is pretty slow coming out. They are canny rather than clever.
Whether or not that stereotype ever reflected reality, I can assure you it bears little resemblance to the farmers I meet every day. Today’s Tasmanian farmer could be male or female (or anything in between); they are highly educated; they are businesspeople first and spud-diggers second. They are still canny and they are ultra smart; and they think outside the square.
Today, a young person considering a career in which they use their brains more than their brawn might seriously consider agriculture. Modern farming in Tasmania is for the smartest among us, no longer for those who were born into a farm or who can’t get a job doing anything else.
The Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers Association is working with the state government, the university, the CSIRO and a range of other world wide organisations on a fascinating and radical project. The likes of the World Bank and other project partners have been drawn to Tasmania for a groundbreaking application of technology called Sense-T, or Sensing Tasmania.
Basically, it involves linking a vast network of sensors around the state, some existing, some new, in the soil, in waterways, within the crops themselves, among the livestock, among the vines. That network delivers a continuous stream of data about weather, geographical and climate information, soil moisture, water flow, growing conditions – and much more. This information is of vital importance to farmers, fishers and winegrowers.
The analogy I like to use to describe the capability of Sense-T is a Formula 1 racing car. Each time the car passes the pits, using digital telemetry, it downloads masses of vital information to the pit crews, who can then advise the driver to back off fuel consumption, conserve his tyres or pull over because the engine is about to explode.
Sense-T combines historical and spatial data with real-time sensing data to deliver critical information throughout the state. It is particularly applicable to agriculture, aquaculture, viticulture and water management.
Farmers optimise their agricultural production by having access to real-time microclimate, irrigation and soil information. That means they can minimise their use of water and other inputs and improve their environmental performance, all of which makes both the individual farm and the industry more sustainable.
Sense-T was born of two issues: how Tasmania could best use fast broadband and how to diversify the economy, particularly with the uncertainty over the future of forestry. This is a co-operative effort in the true sense of the word. The sensors are owned by the government, private individuals – such a farmers and winegrowers – and private companies. The information they deliver is collated and the outcomes are publicly available so everybody gets to share.
One of the benefits of Sense-T is that it is creating a demand for young people to study STEM subjects – science, technology, engineering and maths – so that they can get jobs within the system. That could involve sensor installation and calibration, data research, as well as pure raking opportunities. At the moment, there is a shortage of STEM students in Tasmania.
Sense-T can provide provenance information – proving where food comes from, how it was grown, in what conditions. Sense-T collects real-time data about the conditions under which food is produced, processed, transported, stored and sold. That information is becoming available to consumers, producers and distributors to verify and improve the quality of food products. It literally provides the story from paddock to plate.
With these new tools and access to astounding data, it is clear that not only will our farmers be ahead of the pack, but Tasmania will soon be the place to come to pursue research in technology and sustainable development, food safety and agriculture.
When you combine the intellectual talents of our producers, the university, the Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture, the CSIRO and the new Centre for Food Innovation in Launceston, and the amazing talents and reach of the project’s commercial partners, the sky really is the limit.
As I said, the farmers of yesteryear wouldn’t know their modern counterparts.
TFGA CEO Jan Davis’ Mercury column today
