A recent Institute of Agricultural Management (IAgrM) survey has found that 83% of respondents believe more must be done to support the growing role of technology and automation in agriculture.
The survey shows that 90% believe that automation and artificial intelligence could be a missed opportunity for the sector, and 86% believe that technology and innovation will play a significant role in improving farm management – although finding skilled labour could hinder progress.
The availability of labour affected 89% of respondents when discussing full-time workers, and 70% of those looking at part-time workers.
Another consideration is upskilling the workforce, with 55% believing that technical skills are the most important, while 47% said digital literacy and 37% prioritised health and safety knowledge.
The results have been released ahead of the IAgrM annual conference in November. Victoria Bywater, IAgrM director, said: “It looks like AI is here to stay and we’re starting to see more practical applications reaching farms, whether it’s targeted crop nutrition, precision pesticide application or weather forecasting,” she says.
“But these findings make it clear we need to support the workforce to realise technology’s true benefits, like increased efficiency and decision-making ability, which will be key themes at this year’s conference.”
