How interoperability between AgTech can help Canadian farmers

Machines talking and understanding each other is the key to allowing farmers to better take advantage of their foray into precision agriculture technology. 

By Andrew Joseph, Farms.com

Presenting at the 2021 Farms.com-sponsored virtual Precision Agriculture Conference & Ag Technology Showcase held November 16-18, Kevin Doolin discussed the importance of interoperability in precision agriculture.

Doolin works at the 100-percent self-funded Walton Institute, a research centre headquartered in Waterford, Ireland and with a North American satellite office in Springfield, Ohio.  

A definition of interoperability is: the ability of computer systems, software or technologies to communicate, exchange and utilize information.

Doolin discussed the European Union perspective of digitization and the promotion of digital technologies and noted how Canada can learn from it.

Throughout the presentation, he highlighted many of the problems the EU came across, such as the lack of interoperability between platforms/systems; and no flow of data between different apps, and the limited availability of reliable cost/benefit analysis, a lack of broadband connectivity between areas, and even ownership of the farm data.

However, Doolin noted there were many opportunities for the farming sector and rural areas to take advantage of.

Watch the video below for Doolin’s presentation in its entirety to learn more of these opportunities and his efforts via the Demeter program: