How Growers Can Make Informed Decisions About Ag Tech
September 4, 2024 Technology is a vital part of controlled environment agriculture, but it’s also one of the most expensive. Before implementing new technology in their operations, growers must take several factors into account to ensure they make informed decisions for their business. Every CEA facility is different, and the right technology for one grower isn’t necessarily the right fit for another.
What Growers Should Consider
Nowadays, almost every grower uses some form of agricultural technology in their operations. From low-tech tunnels to high-tech greenhouses, there are thousands of tools for growers to keep production running smoothly. And while it may be tempting to invest in the newest piece of ag tech, it’s important to keep its business value in mind.
Jennifer Waxman | Photo: Seed2Source
According to Jennifer Waxman, founder and managing partner of the agribusiness consulting firm Seed2Source, growers should know the ins and outs of their operation before investing in technology. This means understanding what crops they’re growing, how to grow them and the funds they’re working with.
“[Technology] is typically crop-specific, so if you grow multiple types of crops, you should invest in technology that can support that.” Waxman said. “This is the first step, then you can consider the budget for future expansion.”
Technology in CEA Now and Moving Forward
Ag tech shows no signs of slowing down, but what will its primary focus be moving forward? Waxman sees AI as a top priority for Ag Tech companies in the industry in recent years.
“Tech companies in CEA are really focusing on AI right now,” Waxman said. “Some are going to succeed and some aren’t.”
In addition to AI, Waxman explained how technology continues to focus on the pain points most CEA growers face daily. One of these challenges is harvesting crops, and implementing advanced harvesting equipment continues to be an industry-wide need.
“There’s great technology for harvesting lettuce right now,” Waxman said. “But it still has a long way to go before it can harvest multiple types of crops and not just lettuce.”
Food safety is another common issue CEA operations face, and Adam Wright, co-founder of Seed2Source, said it’s the most critical. While automation makes growers’ lives easier, a food safety violation could put them out of business instantly.
“Food safety technology is a very wise investment because your brand could disappear in a second if you don’t make food safety a priority,” he said. “Once food safety isn’t a concern, growers can improve the flow of their operation and decide what kinds of technology will make their operation more efficient.”
Sarah Lombardi | Photo: Sarah Lombardi
Accurate Data is Key
According to Sarah Lombardi, general manager at Red Sun Farms Ontario, growers don’t need to buy the newest, most expensive CEA technology to increase efficiency. Keeping track of data is key when making decisions for technology, even if a grower chooses to track it manually.
“From a higher level, we track our daily natural gas usage, monthly hydro usage, packaging costs, sales revenue, etc.,” Lombardi said. “Capturing and analyzing these key performance indicators (KPIs) and key account indicators (KAIs) daily, weekly, and monthly helps us to be more conscious when making decisions.”
While it’s helpful to have labor software in the greenhouse, collecting accurate data is what really matters in the long run. If a grower chooses to collect data manually, they must make sure it’s precise so they can set reasonable goals for their operation and make informed decisions when choosing ag tech for their facility.
“Labor software is a must in the greenhouse and I’m sure most farms have it, but if you don’t, manual tracking is fine too,” Lombardi said. “As long as you are capturing the data accurately, that’s all that matters. Take that data and create benchmarks and targets that are attainable in your operation.”
This article is part of our August edition of CEAg World Insights. Click here to view the entire interactive report.