Australia's national science agency, CSIRO has unveiled an innovative new platform that combines artificial intelligence, machine learning and cloud-based geospatial technology to deliver reliable, independent and robust farm data and analytics.
Developed in conjunction with rural technology start-up Digital Agriculture Services (DAS), the Rural Intelligence Platform is the first ever software to comprehensively assess and monitor rural land anywhere in Australia.
The software draws on information from trusted data sources on productivity, water access, yield, land use, crop type, rainfall, drought impact and more.
"The platform brings together in one place and refines a range of technologies developed by CSIRO in order to provide a picture of what has happened on a property over the years as well as the current situation," CSIRO Agriculture and Food Deputy Director, Dr Michael Robertson said.
The platform uses satellite imagery to track paddocks and their performance over time. Information from Australia's digital soil map is incorporated and climate information interpreted to show drought, frost, heat stress for livestock and other risks.
More accurate information
"The Rural Intelligence Platform will help the agribusiness community calculate the risks associated with certain investments or management decisions," Dr Robertson said.
DAS estimates that annually around $125 billion in agricultural economic decisions in Australia are based on unreliable or incomplete data.
"The platform provides accurate information that can help to identify vulnerability or the most promising options for investment that will build resilience.
"This is a whole new model for rural analytics which will make it easier to quantify risk and prepare for challenges like climate volatility and change."
The Rural Intelligence Platform analyses data from a range of sources using machine learning algorithms to make sense of the data with a clarity that wasn't possible before.
The platform incorporates an AI-initiated Automated Valuation Model that is capable of valuing rural properties instantly with up to 90 per cent accuracy. Previously this was only possible for residential properties, where there are a wide range of valuation and analytic tools for real estate.
DAS has secured $4.25 million in funding
Since it was established in partnership with CSIRO in 2017, Melbourne-based DAS has secured a total of $4.25 million in funding from founding equity and R&D partner CSIRO, Australian ASX-listed agribusiness Ruralco and private investors.
DAS is already working closely with a number of leading companies to pilot the Rural Intelligence Platform, with some of the strongest uptake coming from the property, financial services and insurance sectors.
"Digital agriculture is far more than just on-farm technology, it's also about improving off-farm decision making and this platform lays the foundation for Australia to become a leader in new generation agricultural analytics," DAS CEO Anthony Willmott said.
"This is about supporting the ecosystem that supports the farmer – ensuring that farmers, business, policy makers and anyone invested along the agricultural ecosystem has the right rural data to make more informed decisions."
The market for digital agriculture in the Asia Pacific region is estimated to be worth $10-25 billion by 2028, fuelled by pressure to meet challenges from population growth and climate change.
DAS CEO Anthony Willmott … ‘more than just on-farm technology’
