HOW TO get useful new technologies onto farms – and what barriers that effort might face – is to be the subject of a webinar, led by tech innovation company Cambridge Consultants and Agri-EPI Centre, on Thursday January 28.

It seems there are a host of challenges along the farm-tech 'innovation journey', including a disconnect between early technology developers and farmers; difficulties in companies finding the right business models and return-on-investment for their products; regulatory issues; skills gaps; and challenges with product testing in a seasonal farming environment.

The event will feature expert panellists representing different stages of farm-tech development and adoption:

  • Ben Scott Robinson, chief executive of The Small Robot Company, dealing with initial concepts;
  • Chris Roberts, head of Industrial Robotics at Cambridge Consultants, supporting concept development;
  • Dave Ross, chief executive of Agri-EPI Centre, an ‘enabler’ that brings together public and private sector partners;
  • James Green, group director of Agriculture at G’s Fresh, representing on-farm end users.

This panel will explore some of the key issues involved in ensuring a new idea can move from concept stage right through to being put to effective use in supporting efficient, productive and sustainable farming.

Event host, Cambridge Consultants’ head of Automation and Autonomy, Sajith Wimalaratne, explained: “We’re excited to have a strong panel of experts who will be discussing why it takes so long to get new technological solutions onto farms, and why, despite no shortage of concepts, there is currently so little farmers can use.

“We hope to identify ways of easing some of these issues that will help to ensure new technology which really meets farmers’ needs can be deployed more quickly and effectively.”

Mr Ross added: “Agri-EPI’s role is to bring together those with the know-how to drive innovation in farming and food production and our webinar promises to be a really exciting journey around the key challenges and potential solutions to getting technology in place that really meets farmers’ needs.”

The free webinar runs between 11am and noon on January 28. Further details and registration can be found at https://agri-epicentre.com/event/webinar-developing-agrisector-solutions-from-idea-to-reality/