The Innovation Hub at the Royal Norfolk Show will show you how current research and emerging technologies will help farmers to feed our growing population sustainably.
Opening up big data to farmers – Agrimetrics interactive demonstration
Information about soils, weather, land use, disease threat and past performance of varieties is needed for good decision-making. Although much of this data is available it is captured in a wide variety of formats and databases and not easily accessible. Agrimetrics, was established as a big data centre for the agri-food sector and it is pulling together a strong set of data that can be used to benefit UK food production.
Compatibility is a big issue in the industry. Agrimetrics will be using an interactive demonstration to show how an open data resource can be used to support farmers to benchmark their performance, create evidence for planning and for companies of all sizes to deliver new products and services.
Wensum Demonstration Test Catchment Project: Clean water with less waste
Working with farmers, the Wensum Project has been testing and assessing how a variety of land management measures can reduce run-off into the river whilst maintaining farm profitability.
The University of East Anglia will be displaying a 3D model that demonstrates how agricultural activity can be adjusted to reduce loss of nutrients, there will be a water analysis laboratory and a display of some of the cover crop plants and how their root systems can help.
The Wensum is recognised as one of the most important chalk river habitats in the UK, with over 100 plant species and a rich invertebrate fauna.
Soil on your boots, decision making in your hands – SOYL
The company will be showing how an iPhone app can help farmers improve the precision of their farming. On a single farm, there is a great deal of variation between fields; in topography, soil type, and nutrition levels. SOYL is set to showcase a range of products: to manage variable rate applications, improve soil structure, map soil nutrients and identify variants in phosphorus, potassium and magnesium.
Improving communication with cows – Smartbell
Smartbell brings the expertise of an experienced herdsman to an automated dairy system. Using a ‘FitBit’ for cows, it is able to detect changes in behaviour by individual animals that may indicate that they are in pain, becoming fertile, pregnant or unwell or not eating.
Just in time spraying – CropAngel
Precision application of agrochemicals, where and when required is the new future. CropAngel is one of the first companies to explore the use of drones for spraying and they will be discussing the latest developments.
Watch our show story video on Crop Angel below
Let there be more light – University of Essex
The importance of the length of the growing season to yield is being increasingly understood and the University of Essex will be discussing this with the help of an interactive thermograph.
Waste not want not for a new age – NIAB
As food and other organic waste decompose, flies, bacteria and fungi feeding on it convert the material to another form. This process can be used to create secondary metabolites of enormous commercial importance; antibiotics can be made this way, for example or new types of protein for animal food. Even ingredients for cosmetics can be made from fruit skins, seeds and other ‘waste’ as NIAB will explain.
For more information visit www.agritech-east.co.uk/events/innovation