Leading the digital revolution in agriculture

THE Victorian Government has unveiled its plan ensure Victoria’s $14 billion agriculture sector is best-placed to capitalise on new technologies, placing the state’s farmers at the forefront of the digital revolution.

Victorian Minister for Agriculture Jaala Pulford launched the government’s Digital Agriculture Strategy last week to ensure our agriculture sector is supported and encourage farm businesses to embrace technology.

“As Australia’s premier agriculture state and home of innovation, Victoria is well placed to lead agriculture’s digital revolution,” she said.

“We’re supporting and leading research in agricultural technologies, helping reduce barriers to widespread technology adoption on-farm, and building the digital capability in our sector.

“Our farmers are world-class, highly skilled and innovative – we look forward to working with them every step of the way to harness the power of digital adoption.”

Digital technologies have huge potential to make farming more productive and profitable, and help the agricultural sector meet the challenges of climate change and extreme weather.

Digital agriculture can also help support development in regional communities and younger generations are keen to work with technology.

Through increasing use of digital technology, the agriculture sector will attract and retain young people to live and work in regional and rural communities.

The strategy is backed by $27 million from the Victorian Government to help Victorian farmers adopt digital technologies, including the $12 million Onfarm Internet of Things (IoT) trial.

The trial focuses on the major sectors of dairy, broad-acre cropping, sheep and horticulture in regional Victoria.

The trial will enable farmers to see the on-farm benefits of digital technologies specific to their industry and by doing so, promote greater uptake of technology and competition across the sector.