Data, a key element for agricultural performance
Agricultural Big Data feeds computer models that enable intelligent management of farming practices. This is known as “Smart Agriculture” and is designed to help farmers meet the economic, environmental and human challenges of the 21st century.
Farmers or technicians who use agricultural data therefore benefit from clear, relevant information that will enable them to make informed, quantified decisions about the farming practices to be analyzed and implemented.
Data-driven” farms
Farms are businesses almost like any other. That is, with performance and profitability objectives. Decisions are therefore necessary in the management of the activity by its operator. More and more decisions are being guided by agricultural data analysis. We call these companies “data driven”, meaning that they are driven, or rather accompanied, by the precious information revealed by the data.
Before becoming data-driven, companies (or farms) must first define the elements to be measured, analyzed or compared. For example, they may want to look at the results of a new variety planted. Once determined, these metrics need to be linked to all of the data collected to study them.
How does agricultural data work?
Data collection
Using computer tools such as software or applications, farmers enter information related to their practices in the office or in the field. Accounting and field monitoring are of course important sources of data.
Connected agricultural tools such as consoles and other on-board systems on harvesters measure the quality and quantity of crops. They therefore generate and record data. Connected objects such as smart irrigation systems, weather stations, drones or plant growth sensors also capture and record data at the plot level.
Agricultural data: owned by farmers
The use of agricultural data is based on the guarantee of security and respect for the information shared by farmers. Agricultural data is both personal and professional data of the farmer.
Personal data is governed by the RGPD: European General Data Protection Regulation, which requires digital operators to respect the rights of individuals and to secure their data. For the professional data of legal entities, the law of contracts applies. In France, farmers retain “control over the use” of their farm data whether it is entered by themselves or by a third party.
This means that if a farmer gives explicit consent for the collection of their business data, they still retain control over the access and use of their data.
source : smag.tech