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DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY
3D PRINTING While our research could not find evidence of 3D printing in the Australian farming system, we believe that this technol- ogy could deliver tremendous gains to our farmers. While this technology has gained a place in the automotive industry, its large application in farming is yet to be established. None- theless, 3D printing offers a myriad of benefits for smart farming, for example, a farmer can manufacture small farming equipment and appliances on a farm with less cost. In a 3D printing machine, one needs to insert a prototype or map of equipment along with key in- gredients. And, quite remark- ably, with one click a piece of equipment can be produced. With rural Australia’s excessive exposure to natural disasters, 3D printing can greatly help Australian farmers recover and rebound by quickly pro- ducing damaged machines, appliances, equipment, medi- cines etc. The large 3D printers (which can be organised with government support) can also help rebuild the houses/shel- ters in a matter of days at a relatively cheaper cost. BLOCKCHAIN Modern conscientious con- sumers demand the complete history of the food they buy and consume including where and how it was produced,
successfully piloted blockchain in collaboration with farmers and other stakeholders. The blockchain has also been pro- ductively used by olive farmers in France and pork meat and horticultural farmers in China. In Australia, AgriDigital has successfully piloted blockchain in the Australian grain industry and is slowly moving to other industries as well. Nonetheless, our research at CQUniversity (interviews with managers in the Australian agri-food supply chains) shows that the pace of blockchain adoption in the Australian farming system is slower than in other developed economies. This is mainly due to the following impediments: deficit of strong collaboration and resource sharing among the trading partners (especially downstream supermarkets); low level of awareness among many farmers about the poten- tial benefits of technology and how it works; and cost of im- plementation alongside a lack of sufficient financial support from the government. DRONES Drones are amongst the most advanced Agritech for smart and efficient farming. Drones can perform multiple tasks that previously required labour force such as spray- ing pesticides and fertilisers. Aerial visuals taken through a drone can help identify the
what kind of and how much fertilisers and pesticides were applied, and how it was stored and transported. Blockchain helps answer all such questions in an effective and reliable way. Blockchain is a digital ledger accessed and updated by all members in a supply chain net- work. Ideally, each member is connected through an app on the smartphone and shares/ traces all information from input suppliers to farmers to consumers. Each member of a network constantly uploads in- formation, often in real- or near real-time, on routine oper- ations which are being verified by relevant authorities and other members, reducing the risk of information tempering, price manipulation, and fraud. With the blockchain platform, farmers can directly sell their produce to buyers eliminating multiple layers of commission agents. In case of a complaint about the quality and safety of the product, its source can easily be traced, allowing for the elimination of such prod- ucts from the food chain. That said, the blockchain is a perfect solution to deal with issues like the “pins in strawberries” stunt that occurred in September 2018. It can also facilitate regu- latory bodies to trace a case. To enhance traceability, trust, and visibility in transactions, com- panies like Auchan retail, Wal- mart, and Carrefour Italia have
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