Digitization in agriculture: From the cowshed to the computer

While autonomous driving is still a pipe dream in the automotive industry, it is already state of the art in agriculture. That's why Christian Metz from the Center for Digitalization.Bavaria explains in detail in an interview why even aerospace companies should take a closer look at digitalization in agriculture.

Christian, how did you come to the topic of digitization?

Christian Metz: Basically, I come from a completely different corner - not a digital one, but from classical agriculture. I grew up on a farm in Lower Bavaria and, via detours, ended up studying agriculture at Weihenstephan. Of course, the networking of disciplines was always exciting, which ultimately brought me to the topic of digitization .

Interesting. In the preliminary interview, you reported what agriculture has to do with aerospace. How exactly are these two areas related?

Christian Metz: In agriculture, there are very many fields of activity for aerospace. For example, satellites that observe the earth from the air and thus provide image material. From these images of the Earth can also benefit agriculture, because so, for example, statements about nutrient levels and other soil parameters can be made. With GPS-controlled agricultural machinery, large areas of arable land can of course be worked much more efficiently and precisely.

And how does the aerospace industry benefit from this?

Christian Metz: Among other things, through cross-industry exchange. When two industries exchange ideas, it often draws attention to new opportunities. Technology transfer is therefore a big topic. Innovation is only possible when people exchange ideas.

The agricultural industry is - perhaps also due to the daily involvement with the dynamic topic of "working in and with nature" - a very innovative industry that applies many key digital technologies. We are talking here, for example, about the use of techniques such as robotics, artificial intelligence and precisely also the space services mentioned, with the help of which, for example, early warning systems for droughts can be implemented. It is a very clear win-win situation for both sides.

As already mentioned, you work at the Zentrum Digitalisierung.Bayern. Why are you so intensively involved with digitization in agriculture?

Christian Metz: Digitization in agriculture means more efficient and also more environmentally friendly work. For example, soils, air and water can be better managed and conserved. In relation to the major issues of our time such as climate change , sustainable food production or preservation of biodiversity, agriculture plays a major role.

Farmers are facing an increasing number of challenges. More closeness to nature, more environmentally friendly work, more animal welfare, stricter standards - but at the same time they still have to work economically. And especially for the smaller farms often found in Bavaria, these are major challenges that can be met with the means and possibilities of digitization.

What exactly can digitization do here?

Christian Metz: With the help of digitization, concepts and solutions can be developed for ecological management with simultaneous increases in yield or constant yields, or also for the efficient use of scarce resources. Example of this could be an optimized use of fertilizer, so a precise calculation of exactly how much fertilizer is needed by the plant at its location.

And how does that look then at the small farms mentioned?

Christian Metz: A concrete plus point could be, for example, quality increase. For example, in a farm with cattle, the animals can be equipped with sensors that provide data on their health, movement or food intake, among other things. At the same time, pastures can also be equipped with sensors that report aspects such as maturity and composition of the forage grass. It gets exciting when both data sets are combined - so it can be broken down quite simply, for example, where a cow can best graze and how it can be optimally fed.

How does the Center for Digitization.Bavaria provide concrete support in this regard?

Christian Metz: On the one hand, we deal with developments and trends in agriculture and digitization . We provide impetus throughout the industry. We want to promote digitization projects that benefit society and sustainable agriculture. And to do this, we bring together different players: Scientists, small companies from the agricultural sector, associations, administration, users and consumers. In other words, everyone who has something to do with the topic or would like to have something to do with it. That's how we want to advance digitization in agriculture.

What is your special discipline at the Center for Digitalization.Bavaria?

Christian Metz: Good land management deals with a holistic approach - from the field to the shelf. We have picked out two key areas.

One of them is the topic of data platforms. What actually is a data platform? Explained vividly, a data platform is a collection and linkage of different data. This data all has different formats and comes from different players. If you now manage to bring this data together, you can generate new knowledge from it. Analyses of this can consequently support the farmer in his decisions. One example is the combination of regional weather data, data on area-specific plant growth, which can come from the satellites mentioned, and data on yields in previous years. These data are combined and harmonized in data platforms. A recommendation for action for the farmer is then derived from the evaluation, which he can use in combination with his experience for optimal management.

Our second topic is classic online commerce as we know it from Zalando, Amazon and Co. - in other words, e-commerce for agriculture.

To stay with the topic of e-commerce - what paths are farmers currently taking here in view of the Corona pandemic?

Christian Metz: Of course, farmers buy via e-commerce, i.e. primarily things like fuel, lubricants or spare parts for agricultural machinery. In addition, however, they can also use e-commerce as a sales channel. In recent years, direct sales of agricultural products have boomed - so why not buy or sell more online in the future? The "farmer around the corner" would thus become an online store, and several small farms together would form a kind of "digital weekly market". In this way, not only can the company's own reach be expanded, but completely new customer groups can also be tapped. So we see that digitization and agriculture go well together in practice.

The interview was conducted by Dr. Kord Pannkoke, Head of Business Development at Bayern Innovativ GmbH.

Listen to the full interview as a podcast: