Advancements in technology, data collection, analysis, and collaboration among farmers, researchers, and agro companies are the key factors that drive growth in the agriculture sector.
With a view to boosting efficiency, performance and meet environmental standards, the Canadian telecom company TELUS has recently launched a drive, which aims to expand the use of technology in Canadian farmlands. TELUS has an agricultural division with more than 1,200 experts that help the agricultural industry by providing innovative solutions.
As per Darren Entwistle, president, and CEO of Telus, TELUS agriculture strives to expand the usage of innovative solutions in the agriculture sector to boost efficiency in the agricultural sector and position Canada as one of the leading suppliers of safe and sustainable food.
Some of the main areas where the company provides technical assistance to the farmers are – crop planning, protection, checking the fields for pest infestation, and controlling them.
As per the company, different players in the agricultural sector, like the seed growers, farmers, food manufacturers, restaurants, and supermarkets, aren’t able to share data efficiently; they are mostly working in isolation. By providing technological assistance at each level of the food chain, the company aims to increase yield, reduce waste, and most importantly, improve the food quality.
The agricultural industry is highly fragmented, and there are potentials for high-efficiency gains with the help of data. Worldwide food production has been predicted to grow 56% during the period of 2010 to 2050. Enhanced connectivity, digital solutions and data systems will have a key role to play in meeting growing food demand by increasing the efficiency of the limited farming lands.
Over the last year, Telus has been built up through several acquisitions, assembling a suite of agriculture industry assets to boost its capabilities. Besides building its agricultural unit, the company has also partnered with companies for enhanced satellite imagery, increasing its capabilities to monitor and forecast severe weather conditions. This association will also provide the farmers access to key data for soil monitoring, drought, snow cover, and crop development, thus empowering them even more.
It can be difficult to predict what shape the agricultural technology will take in the coming years, but with the companies like TELUS taking the initiative to empower the farmers using the latest technology, we can expect to see many promising pilot projects and agricultural trends soon.
