Agtech is more accessible than you think

Dylan Wedel has a grassroots approach to agtech.

He believes that integrating agtech solutions on your farm or agribusiness doesn’t have to cost a fortune.

Dylan is the Sugar Research Australia District Manager and part of his mission is to create and broaden opportunities in irrigation with the help of agtech products easily found at the local hardware store.

“The biggest opportunity is the irrigation space. Irrigation utilization in the region is nowhere near as high as what it potentially could be.

“We're trying to grab what's out there and try and apply it to the sugar industry. So that's how we're bringing agtech into the sugar industry - through irrigation.

Sugar Research Australia is the sugar industry’s peak research body and Dylan’s role is to be the intermediary between researchers and growers.

Dylan is the Sugar Research Australia District Manager and part of his mission is to create and broaden opportunities in irrigation with the help of agtech products easily found at the local hardware store.

Essentially, whatever is keeping a grower awake at night, Dylan communicates that onto the researchers and then supports the researchers to find a solution.

“Once we get the solution, we then feed it back to the growers and help them adopt it. So that's the kind of continuous cycle that we're involved in here.”

As a mining engineer turned grower, Dylan for many years has been trialing different types of controllers and communication networks, but found they werea bit immature in their technical readiness.

However in the past five years, the accessibility and accelerated availability of of home automation technology, has opened the window of opportunity for those in the sugar cane industry.

And that was Dylan’s light bulb moment..

He said home automation systems such a Google Nest and Alexa have good support systems in terms of user interface software and accessibility.

“But it's just a matter of trying to use those switches and sensors to apply it to an irrigation pump or a valve to be able to open and shut a hydrant.”

Dylan says growers are worried about the initial and ongoing financial outlay when considering introducing technology on farm. 

He said in most cases, irrigation technology is already available and doesn’t require new technology to be designed.  

“So, it's just trying to take technology and apply it to irrigation rather than having an irrigation type piece of technology.

“It is a bit of an economic and social challenge. Many people don't feel comfortable with new technologies.

“I think if, if people are familiar with it, hopefully they feel more accepting to try it, because home automation space is meant to be for people of all abilities.”

Dylan said SRA utilises demonstration farms, which showcase the ‘off the shelf’ agtech solutions and how growers can turn their pumps on and off – making irrigation more efficient as possible.

“The tools, like an automated pump controller are low cost but improve the running of your farm within two weeks.”

Dylan said there is a positive future for SRA and trying to build more value from the products they are building.

“There is an appetite to build productivity and look for alternative products – it is an exciting step in the right direction.

“If you're a farmer you need to be maximizing the return - you can do that.

“You need to be trying to always break the barrier.  How can I grow more with less?”

To find out more about Sugar Research Australia visit: https://sugarresearch.com.au/